**Model History**

Prior to World War II Porsche designed and built three Type 64 cars for a 1939 Berlin-to-Rome race that was cancelled. In 1948 the mid-engine, tubular chassis 356 prototype called 'No. 1' was completed. This led to some debate as to the 'first' Porsche automobile, but the 356 is considered by Porsche to be its first production model. It was created by Ferdinand 'Ferry' Porsche (son of Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the German company), who founded the Austrian company with his sister, Louise.

Like its cousin, the Volkswagen Beetle (which Ferdinand Porsche Sr. had designed), the 356 is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, rear-engine, rear-wheel drive car with unitized pan and body construction. The chassis was a completely new design as was the 356's body which was designed by Porsche employee Erwin Komenda, while certain mechanical components including the engine case and some suspension components were based on and initially sourced from Volkswagen. Ferry Porsche described the thinking behind the development of the 356 in an interview with the editor of Panorama in September 1972\. '...I had always driven very speedy cars. I had an Alfa Romeo, also a BMW and others. ...By the end of the war I had a Volkswagen Cabriolet with a supercharged engine and that was the basic idea. I saw that if you had enough power in a small car it is nicer to drive than if you have a big car which is also overpowered. And it is more fun. On this basic idea we started the first Porsche prototype. To make the car lighter, to have an engine with more horsepower...that was the first two seater that we built in Carinthia (Gmünd)'.

The first 356 was road certified in Austria on June 8, 1948, and was entered in a race in Innsbruck where it won its class. Porsche re-engineered and refined the car with a focus on performance. Fewer and fewer parts were shared between Volkswagen and Porsche as the 1950s progressed. The early 356 automobile bodies produced at Gmünd were handcrafted in aluminum, but when production moved to Zuffenhausen, Germany in 1950, models produced there were steel-bodied. The aluminium bodied cars from that very small company are what are now referred to as 'prototypes'. Porsche contracted Reutter to build the steel bodies and eventually bought the Reutter company in 1963\. The Reutter company retained the seat manufacturing part of the business and changed its name to 'Recaro'.

The 356 was built in four distinct series, the original ('pre-A'), followed by the 356 A, 356 B, and finally the 356 C. To distinguish among the major revisions of the model, 356s are generally classified into a few major groups. The 356 coupés and cabriolets built through 1955 are readily identifiable by their split (1948 to 1952) or bent (centre-creased, 1953 to 1955) windscreens. In 1956 the 356 A appeared, with a curved windshield. The A was the first road going Porsche to offer the Carrera four-cam engine as an option. In late 1959 the T5 356 B appeared; followed by the redesigned T6 series 356 B in 1962\. The final version was the 356 C, little changed from the late T6 B cars but disc brakes replaced the drums.

**This Example**

This particular example is a lovely Porsche 356 B T6 1600 S Cabriolet (Reutter) from 1962\. The car was delivered new in Champagne Gelb with an black leather interior. Originally delivered with an lockable antenna and 2 speakers.

Sold new trough Porsche dealer Moritz, Reutlingen, Germany on 28 November 1962\. On 28 February 1976 the car was imported in Switzerland and sold to Chris Tanner (Switzerland) on 15 May 1992\. In **1992 the bodywork of the car was perfectly restored**for the current and dedicated long term owner (owner for 27 years!) The condition of the body is still very good a testament to the high quality of the restoration. Lots of documentation is available. The car has 87.100 km recorded. The black leather seems to be the original leather from new and is lovely.

Most recent work was done in March 2017, including much attention to the engine, brakes, door seals and a **new black mohair hood** was installed.

The air-cooled 4-cilinder boxer-engine produces 75 horsepower and is fitted with double Zenith carburettors. The engine is a correct 75 bhp B engine from the same year as the car. **This lovely Porsche 356 Cabriolet runs and drives very well.**

Price is a very attractive euro 125.000,-.

A tempting offer if you want to have a loved and cherished car suitable for enjoyable open top motoring or rallying.

VSOC's Sassenheim showroom is centrally located between Amsterdam and The Hague, only 17 km (11 miles) from Schiphol Airport. There is a broad selection of classic sports cars on display, in very good or excellent condition, varying from beautiful yet affordable sports cars to rare and valuable collectors' items. When you intend to visit us in The Netherlands, we would advise you to make an appointment so that we can give you some quality time. If you arrive by plane or train, we would be happy to pick you up at the airport or train station. Besides Dutch we speak English, German, French and Italian.