The Porsche 356 is the name of a line of used cars from 1948 to 1965, and is considered the first car produced by Porsche. “356” alludes to the fact that this is Porsche's 356th design office project. Although the Porsche brand is closely adapted to the 911 model, these models from Porsche's early years are highly valued today, they are not used for their performance or sportiness, but for their rarity, beauty and historical value. Well-maintained models, mainly convertibles, can easily reach figures in excess of $ 150,000.00. In 2004, a Sports Car International magazine elected the 356C or the 10th best car on its list of the best of the 60s. Today, this collector's item maintains its car status that has stood the test of time and most of it still runs in great condition. Although it is a principle very similar to the derivatives of the Volkswagen Beetle that emerged in the post-war period, the 356 paved the way for the formation of the brand as it is today, serving as the basis for the design of the 911, and defining the paradigm known as "Porsche" currently. Few units were brought to Brazil, and the model generated a certain market for fiber replicas, especially at the time of the import ban, during the military governments.
A history of the 356 merges with the history of Volkswagen and Porsche itself. Directly derived from the post-war Volkswagen Beetle, this model differs from many other Volkswagen changes through direct participation by the Volkswagen's designers - Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, his son Ferry and the Austrian designer Erwin Komenda.
There is some controversy about whether this same model or the first factory model. The prototype was preceded by the similar Porsche 64 (also known as 64K10), built before World War II, but the vehicle was actually a modification of the pre-war Beetle commissioned by Ferdinand Porsche by Volkswagen itself, built for a specific race in Italy . It is evident that the design directly inspired the first 356 prototype (a "spider" model with a central engine, known as "Number 1"). Its condition of "modified Beetle", however, becomes difficult to classify as a product of the company that today it knows like Porsche.
In fact, the Beetle and Porsche share more than just the origin. As previously mentioned, the Porsche 356 concept was created by Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche and designed by Erwin Komenda, both of which are very important numbers in the development of the Volkswagen company. Of course, many details of the project had a common source.
In the 1940s, after the devastating World War II, the Porsche Ferry selected the dream of a factory car that bears the family name (despite involving the Porsche design office, a Volkswagen owned by the German government). Its original idea was to build a new car, however, as the post-war difficulties forced or used beetle parts (engine, transmission, etc.). Then, in 1947, the works carried out, with the construction of a wooden mold, where aluminum plates were hammered, forming the first prototype, a "spider" model (without cover and with two seats), with central engine.
After the prototype, a company produced a series of 50 aluminum coupés, already with a rear engine and with the traditional format, known as "Coupés Gmünd" (city in which a firm disclosed if installed). Soon, production of the model with steel body begins, which gradually evolved over the years in body (coupe, roadster, convertible) and engine (from the original 1.1L to the 2.0L). Presented in 1965, the well-maintained 356 models can reach very high prices today.