HAYNES DESCRIPTION:

This was the first model to bare the name of the famous automotive engineer Dr Ferdinand Porsche. The first fifty were built in Austria with lightweight bodies but true production did not start until 1950 when the factory moved to Stuttgard. The vehicle was based on the Volkswagen that was in full production after the end of the second world war. Indeed the Volkswagen rear mounted air cooled, flat four engine was developed and formed a basis for Porsche engines up to and including the six cylinder 911 range. The 356 continued in production with various modifications and regular power increases, until 1965, making this one of the last built. Porsche’s are still made in the same factory in Stuttgart, which also houses a superb museum dedicated to the Porsche racing and road cars.