How Does It Drive?

The 356 may be far more than a Beetle in fancy bodywork but you should still be realistic in your expectations for performance, on the basis many have well under 100PS (74kW) to play with and early ones could have as little as half that. Zero to 60 times in the teens and top speeds around 100mph on a good day don’t sound too impressive in a modern context but a good 356 should prove just how meaningless numbers are for quantifying a driving experience.

The four-cylinder engine may not be as exotic as the six of a 911 either but it’s still smooth and characterful, with a distinctive sound of its own. The slippery aerodynamics mean a 356 is impressively fast and refined on a cruise as well, while a properly sorted one should have the kind of precision to the controls we associate with later Porsches, albeit with the clear-headed minimalism of a true original.

Quirks like offset, floor-hinged pedals and a long-throw gearshift (synchronised after 1953) add to the vibe rather than detract, and a properly set up 356 should be an absolute delight.

What’s Good?

‘Unique’ is a much over-used description but, truly, there’s nothing out there that looks like a Porsche, and in the 356 we have the origins of that distinctive shape in its purest form. Earlier models with their smaller bumpers and unadorned bodywork are perhaps the most elegant, the coupe establishing that iconic profile the 911 lives by to this day while the various cabriolets and Speedsters have an effortless Californian cool alluding to summer road trips in the sunshine.

While originality is increasingly valued, the 356 also responds well to tasteful customisation and modding, be that inspired by the motorsport vibe of the Carrera variants, minimalist versions stripped of bumpers and chrome or even ‘outlaw’ low riders or restomods with seriously feisty engine upgrades. A broad church, then. But at its heart a 356 remains unmistakeable, no matter how original or otherwise.

What’s Bad?

For the uninitiated the Porsche scene can appear intimidatingly complicated, tribal and teeming with self-appointed experts claiming their voice is the only one worth hearing. Add to that a bewildering array of model types, the detail model year updates for the purists to obsess over, plus the seemingly endless variations on engine capacity and states of tune to choose from, and the path to a perfect 356 can look baffling.

Add to that the interchangeability of parts and you really need to know what you’re looking for – and looking at – before making a big financial commitment. You also have to factor in that even the youngest cars are now nearly 60 years old, so finding a truly rust free one is going to be near impossible, while restoring a rotten one to an appropriate standard could prove ruinous. There’s no such thing as a cheap 356 any more, either. Very much buyer beware, especially given the emotional draw and risk of heart overtaking head.

Which Model To Chose?

Rarity and proximity to Porsche’s origin story means ‘Gmünd’ 356s are the preserve of truly elite collectors, split or ‘bent’ screen ‘Pre-A’ models similarly coveted for their originality. If you’re after one of the faster 356s the appeal of the Carrera models is clear, but they’re also hugely expensive and the specialist care required for the exotic engines rules them out for most real-world buyers.

That leaves the rest of us pondering ‘regular’ pushrod engined A, B and C models. Bodystyle will be down to preference but the iconic looks of the Speedster come at a cost, with cabriolets (distinguished by the taller, ‘framed’ windscreen) not far behind. All things relative coupes are more attainable, and for design and driving purity look very attractive indeed. For the cleaner styling a 356 A coupe would seem a very appealing choice, the B and C offering progressively more power, driveability and luxury.

Overall, having settled on your preferred shape the common advice across all variants would be to buy the best you can afford with a solid history verifying its condition and provenance.

Specifications – Porsche 356 A 1600 Super

1.6-litre four-cylinder, petrol

75PS (55kW) @ 5,000rpm

117Nm (86lb ft) @3,700rpm

Four-speed manual, rear-wheel drive

850kg

14.5 seconds

109mph

1948-1966 (all models)