Everything about Volkswagen cars


vagowners.com keyword stats



Most current MSN search phrases:

+custom paint jobs 60s style on cars  
Most current Yahoo search phrases:

build a vw trike  

The Porsche 356 Timeline

The Porsche 356 was a sports car buffsamateur racing go hand in hand. And so
dream. The 356 was the brain child ofthe Speedster is born and an instant
Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche. The bodysuccess with more than 4000 sold in just
style was the work of Erwin Komenda and5 years.
the mechanical came off the VW Beetle1955:
the design of Ferdinand Porsche Sr.The 1600 motor makes it to production.
When it first hit the market it wasThe 1500 GS Carrera motor which is being
available as a roadster, cabriolet, anddeveloped for the race track suddenly
coupe and over the years it saw manyfinds its way into the 356 line. The A
changes both in power and style. Youline is introduced which has several
might be surprised to discover that thesmall changes to the body style.
356 Porsche was actually Porsche's first1956:
production automobile and one has toThe 10,000th 356 comes off the assembly
admit it was a great pick!line and it is celebrated at the
This timeline is a bit rough around thefactory.
edges but it will give you and idea of1957:
how the 356 evolved from start toMore improvements saw the T2 prototype
finish.with the new transmission. The 644
1948:replaced the 519 with a much better
Just after the war Porsche located toshifter, dual nose mounts, and much
Austria so that they could be closer tobetter synchros.
parts suppliers. Ferry Porsche was the1958:
designer of the 356. He was the son ofThe Carrera engine continued to see
Dr Ing Ferdinand Porsche who was theimprovements that produced higher
founder of Porsche. The original carhorsepower. The Convertible came to
used a tubular chassis with an 1100ccmarket replacing the Speedster and it
engine so it was both light and quick.was much taller and luxurious than its
The gearbox was designed by Frolich andpredecessor.
Komenda designed the body of the 356.1959:
The original 001 raced at the InnsbruckThe last Speedster is released and the
city race and it won in the 1100cc class1300 engine is also dropped.
on its very first run. Not surprising!1960:
The original 001 sits in the FactoryThe 356B is given the Super 90 motor.
Museum.The 90 has a counterweighted crank,
1949:Solex P40-II Carburetor, and sodium
The first 356 Cabriolet is built withfilled valves.
alloy aluminum.1961:
1950:The hardtop is introduced and is
The factory moves to Zuffenhausen andinstantly a hit and is fondly nicknamed
begins producing the 356 where they willthe "Notchback". Over 1700 of these
stay until 1965 producing around 80,000cars sold in less than two years.
cars.1962:
1951:Porsche is talking with Reutter about
Innovation continues to impress thethe purchase of the coach maker. The
world with the 356 Cabriolet and the newfactory launches Christophorus which is
split windshield. The 1.3 liter wasa Porsche lifestyle magazine.
chrome plated with aluminum cylinders1963:
and the very first synchromesh356C is brought to market with the 95 HP
transmission came to be. The 356-002SC engine. It has 4 wheel disc brakes,
wins hands down at the LeMans in theand it is available with an optional 12
1100cc class.volt electric system.
At the age of 75 Dr. Ing Ferdinand1964:
Porsche Sr. died at the age of 75. ByThe 356 production has moved over the
this time 1400 people worked under the10,000 a year number.
direction of Ferry Porsche.1965
1952:The final Cabriolets come off the
The 1488 cc 70 HP super engine isassembly line.
introduced.After several evolutions the 356 came to
1953:be retired in 1965 but today the car
A deal is made with New York's Maxstill remains sought after and it is
Hoffman which allowed for thecommon to find them selling for over
introduction of the 356 in the United$175,000. Back in the 1950s you could
States. It wasn't long before Hoffmanbuy that car new for $4000.
became the US importer for PorscheThe 356 also made it big in the movies
making arrangements for the Porsche linestaring in Top Gun, 48 Hrs and Another
to be carried around the country. This48 Hrs. And Janis Joplin has a
was also the era where split windshieldspsychedelically painted 356C. The 356
became bent windshields.underwent many changes over the years
1954:some mechanical while others cosmetic
Hoffman convinces Porsche that they canbut what remained consistent was its
gain more market share by producing acharm, style, sportiness, and speed.
stripped down version of the 356 forStill today this is a car that gets
less money specifically designed for thenoticed.
west coast where fair weather and



1 A B C D 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108