The first ten years of Porsche production saw rapid evolution. The first Gmünd-build 356 coupes of 1948 and used a 1,086cc Volkswagen-derived engine. Like the Porsche-designed Volkswagen, the flat-four sat behind the rear axle and drove the rear wheels through a four-speed non-synchromesh transmission. Independent suspension was by torsion bars and rear swing axles. Brakes were drums at all corners. By 1958, the 356 model had evolved into the 356A and engine choices included 1300 and 1600 displacements, although only the larger engines usually came to the United States. Visually, the A was the same but different. Clearly a Porsche 356, there were detail improvements. The instrument panel was new, the windshield was a one-piece curved glass panel and all bodies were built by Reutter in Stuttgart. The transmission was all-new and wheels were down to 15 inches—from 16. More change came in 1960 with the 356B. The bumpers were heavier and higher to provide better parking protection and the headlamps were raised in the fenders. Parking lights were also raised and mounted outboard of the horn grilles. The interior came in for its share of changes, too. There was more headroom thanks to lower seats, and the rear seatbacks were split so that one or both could be folded. There were also rear vents for defrosting the back window and vent wings in the doors of all coupe bodies. Essentially unchanged, the suspension was still by swing axles in back and torsion bars all around. Brakes remained hydraulic drums, although the actual drums were finned cast aluminum units with iron liners and better seals to keep the brakes dry inside. The base engine was a 1,600cc unit producing 60 horsepower (DIN), while the 1600S model made 72 horsepower and the 1600S 90 generated 90 horsepower. Those horses were transmitted to the rear wheels by way of an all-synchromesh four-speed transaxle. All three engine offerings were available in the United States, while body choices included coupe, sunroof coupe, hardtop coupe, cabriolet and roadster. The 1960 model on offer is an original and rare sunroof coupe with the most desirable of the pushrod engines of the day—the Super 90. The 90 stood for the DIN horsepower rating, but the SAE rating stood at 102 bhp, which compared well to the 88 horsepower of a 1960 MGA and was roughly equivalent to that of an Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce. Finished in white with red interior, few cars received both the sunroof option and the most powerful of the 1600 engines. But there’s a reason: Porsche equipped this car with the hot engine and the sliding top because it was one of the earliest 356Bs and it was used as a factory demonstrator. It is rare, it is gorgeous and it would be ideal for road events like the Colorado Grand or New England 1000.
The first ten years of Porsche production saw rapid evolution. The first Gmünd-build 356 coupes of 1948 and used a 1,086cc Volkswagen-derived engine. Like the Porsche-designed Volkswagen, the flat-four sat behind the rear axle and drove the rear wheels through a four-speed non-synchromesh transmission. Independent suspension was by torsion bars and rear swing axles. Brakes were drums at all corners. By 1958, the 356 model had evolved into the 356A and engine choices included 1300 and 1600 displacements, although only the larger engines usually came to the United States. Visually, the A was the same but different. Clearly a Porsche 356, there were detail improvements. The instrument panel was new, the windshield was a one-piece curved glass panel and all bodies were built by Reutter in Stuttgart. The transmission was all-new and wheels were down to 15 inches—from 16. More change came in 1960 with the 356B. The bumpers were heavier and higher to provide better parking protection and the headlamps were raised in the fenders. Parking lights were also raised and mounted outboard of the horn grilles. The interior came in for its share of changes, too. There was more headroom thanks to lower seats, and the rear seatbacks were split so that one or both could be folded. There were also rear vents for defrosting the back window and vent wings in the doors of all coupe bodies. Essentially unchanged, the suspension was still by swing axles in back and torsion bars all around. Brakes remained hydraulic drums, although the actual drums were finned cast aluminum units with iron liners and better seals to keep the brakes dry inside. The base engine was a 1,600cc unit producing 60 horsepower (DIN), while the 1600S model made 72 horsepower and the 1600S 90 generated 90 horsepower. Those horses were transmitted to the rear wheels by way of an all-synchromesh four-speed transaxle. All three engine offerings were available in the United States, while body choices included coupe, sunroof coupe, hardtop coupe, cabriolet and roadster. The 1960 model on offer is an original and rare sunroof coupe with the most desirable of the pushrod engines of the day—the Super 90. The 90 stood for the DIN horsepower rating, but the SAE rating stood at 102 bhp, which compared well to the 88 horsepower of a 1960 MGA and was roughly equivalent to that of an Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce. Finished in white with red interior, few cars received both the sunroof option and the most powerful of the 1600 engines. But there’s a reason: Porsche equipped this car with the hot engine and the sliding top because it was one of the earliest 356Bs and it was used as a factory demonstrator. It is rare, it is gorgeous and it would be ideal for road events like the Colorado Grand or New England 1000.
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
