Porsche 356/1

Porsche 356/1

Porsche No. 1 Type 356, Porsche Museum
Overview
Manufacturer Porsche
Production 1948, only 1 made
Designer Erwin Komenda
Body and chassis
Class 2-door sports car
Body style Roadster
Layout RMR layout
Powertrain
Engine 1.1 L Type VW369 B4
Dimensions
Wheelbase 82.7 in (2,101 mm)
Width 65.4 in (1,661 mm)
Curb weight 585 kg (1,290 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor none
Successor Porsche 356

The Porsche 356/1 was the first real Porsche car created by Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche. This prototype car was a two-seater open roadster with a mid-mounted, air-cooled flat-4 engine of 1,131 cc displacement that produced 40 horsepower (30 kW). While the body was an original design, most of the mechanicals (including engine and suspension) were derived from the Volkswagen Beetle which Ferry's father, Ferdinand Porsche, had designed.

The aluminum roadster body of the 356/1 was designed by Porsche employee Erwin Komenda in April 1948 at Gmünd and completed only a month later. Smooth and low, the 356/1 set the pattern for later 356s with one fundamental difference; the engine of the production cars was moved behind the rear axle (to reduce costs and make room for two additional seats). The car was registered by the state of Carinthia (Kärnten) with the license plate K45-286 and made its maiden voyage on June 8, 1948.

The Porsche 356/1

Only one 356/1 was made and it is on display at the Porsche Museum, Stuttgart.

See also

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Porsche 356 No. 1 Roadster.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, October 05, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.