The original 356, also known to connoisseurs as “pre-A”, is easily identifiable by its split windscreen. From mid-1952, this was replaced by a curved windscreen, made out of one piece of glass.
After Porsche had built around 50 356s in Gmünd, production was moved to Zuffenhausen, in Germany. Not only did the factory move, but from the moment the 356’s bodywork was built in Germany, it was no longer made of aluminium, but from more conventional steel.
The spiritual father of the 356 was Ferdinand, nicknamed “Ferry”, Porsche. Ferry was the son of Ferdinand Porsche, the actual founder of the sports car brand that later became so famous. According to tradition, Ferry Porsche took his inspiration from his then Volkswagen Convertible, which was equipped with a mechanically driven supercharger. He discovered that a relatively small car, provided with sufficient power, offered more driving pleasure than a large car equipped with an engine with an abundance of power.
The 356 would be produced in 4 different series. These were respectively the “pre-A”, the 356 A, 356 B and from the mid-sixties, the 356 C. Of all series, besides of course the Coupé version, there were also open models available, in Cabriolet, Roadster and Speedster variants. From the 356 A, which was delivered from the end of 1955, there was the option of ordering the new Carrera engine, known for its 4 overhead camshafts, which with an output of 100 hp was significantly more powerful than regular power.
The 356 B followed in the Autumn 1959, identifiable by a front bumper with larger bumper rosettes and headlights which where placed higher in the bodywork. The horn grilles were also different from before, as was the front lid handle, which was now wider at the bottom.
The final appearance of the 356, the 356 C, was, apart from the fitting of disc brakes all round and a more powerful engine, largely identical to the 356 B.
With a total of over 76,000 356s produced, production came to an end in 1965, partly because of the recently launched 911.
This very fine-looking Porsche 356 B “T5” Cabriolet was first registered on October 24 1960, and was delivered new in Nordrhein, located near Dusseldorf in Germany. The original colour combination was “Elfenbein”, a typical cream colour, combined with a red leather interior.
After decades of use, it was decided to start a no expenses spared restoration in Germany, by a company with high prestige in the classic car world.
During the restoration, it was decided to paint the 356’s bodywork in silver-grey metallic after being completely overhauled. In combination with this beautiful exterior colour, it was decided to finish the interior in black instead of the original red.
Although this is now an older restoration, the 356’s current condition shows that the work done was of a very high standard. The bodywork is still in excellent condition, with the fitting seams being correct and the paintwork showing a nice patina.
The chrome parts where partly restored at the time and are still in good condition.
The chassis and the floors, including the boot floor, as well as other rust-prone parts were replaced and then extensively treated to prevent future rust.
In the interior, the seats, door panels and dashboard were reupholstered with black leather during the restoration, and the carpets and the interior ceiling of the convertible roof were also renewed. The entire interior shows a nice patina and combines beautifully with the silver-grey exterior partly due to the colour chosen. An important detail about this 356 is that the S90 engine has been completely rebuilt and is also ‘matching numbers’. All engine parts actually belong together.
The entire overhaul was carried out by Porsche Support J. Inzinger in Mierlo, an established name in the world of Porsche.
During the overhaul, it was decided to add counterweights to the crankshaft, resulting in the engine spinning more quietly. Together with the all-new stainless steel exhaust system and revised Weber carburettors, a fantastic performing and sounding 356 has been created. As all the work has only recently been carried out, the actual running-in is yet to take place! Besides all the work on the engine, the wishbones and steering knuckles have also been replaced and the 356 has been fitted with front disc brakes instead of the originally fitted drum brakes. The Porsche is fitted with a 6V battery and, in addition to the now-mounted wooden Nardi steering wheel, the original steering wheel is still present. A nice addition to the history is an original birth certificate, as well as a valuation report from Belgium, where the car is currently registered. With the recent fine weather, we expect it won’t be long before we can hand over this beautiful Porsche 356 Cabriolet to its new owner!
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