![](https://images.hive.blog/DQmWe8g7ta9KMKQjQRZbRifARPzChPJDMqbuqtPb2KyGUTP/b5935cd7363dbaf6.webp) ![](https://images.hive.blog/DQmRhbiFXj2yDyNG98GVeiMZ6CSytcuq1YPDvNgqrCXaBHE/2babbc90cb6aa041.jpg) --- ### 1958 Porsche 356 — The Car That Built an Icon Before the 911 became a household name, there was the **Porsche 356**. Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche’s vision of a lightweight, rear-engine sports car put Zuffenhausen on the map and created a motorsport and design legacy that endures to this day. The 356 was Porsche’s first production automobile. Conceived in 1948, it evolved continuously through four distinct series: the original “Pre-A” Gmünd cars (1948–1955), the 356 A (1955–1959), the 356 B (1959–1963), and the final 356 C (1963–1965). The 1958 model shown here is a **356 A T2** — widely regarded as the sweet spot of the range, with improved brakes, a fully synchronized gearbox, and the refined 1.6L pushrod flat-four. ![](https://images.hive.blog/DQmbhjsxLTGNByiqZTdYXJHLtK4bbKMpi4AjU1jvtaVa6sR/428be0d9c4897a84.webp) ![](https://images.hive.blog/DQmVZkmgEmta8677c8ZMDvy61FCAbndoVx9Myw5fARkS9qb/def9d4e0e861c6a7.jpg) ### Under the Rear Lid | Spec | Detail | |------|--------| | Engine | 1,582 cc air-cooled flat-four (Type 616/15) | | Power | **60 hp** (Normal) / **70 hp** (Super) | | Top Speed | ~160 km/h (100 mph) | | Transmission | 4-speed fully synchronized manual | | Weight | ~950 kg (2,100 lbs) | | Wheelbase | 2,100 mm (82.7 in) | | Production (356 A total) | ~21,000 units | The 356’s engine was derived from the Volkswagen flat-four but heavily reworked by Porsche engineers. It featured aluminium cylinder heads, roller-bearing crankshaft, and twin Solex carburetors. The Super variant added higher compression and a different camshaft for 70 hp. ![](https://images.hive.blog/DQmfF5FrSmzLbLSmKbZEWYPk7272Xa8UA5J1xdM5x4VZgH5/884bf1c5425c7d03.jpg) ![](https://images.hive.blog/DQmYqLEe7VzdYfv48EkVSNi7u5X6m1CFCwnKZ3rjkzyYPX9/2bcacce492972c54.webp) ### Design That Defined a Decade The 356 A T2 featured subtle but important styling updates: a one-piece curved windshield replaced the split screen of earlier cars, the bumper overriders were reshaped, and the legendary “speedster” seating position — lower and more reclined — became available. The body, designed by Erwin Komenda — who also penned the Volkswagen Beetle — was aerodynamically efficient for its era, with a drag coefficient of approximately 0.39. Every panel was hand-formed steel, and quality varied from car to car, giving each 356 a unique personality. ![](https://images.hive.blog/DQma6YHNWQEhporr3KoCdpoUnXjtjUcaxbZ46BAuiEgQNTF/83dffbfe80346308.webp) ![](https://images.hive.blog/DQmWQnSEQD78m7UPu24MRbTq3UKHWQDwzGFHnhZi989kzBs/841d983decf8e931.webp) ### Coachbuilt Variants Porsche also supplied rolling chassis to coachbuilders. Notable examples include: - **Reutter** — built the majority of 356 coupe bodies - **Karmann** — produced hardtop coupes - **Beutler** — Swiss coachbuilder that crafted unique cabriolets ![](https://images.hive.blog/DQmSp4KtMdagpqoD7vVmNdoBGZPFjH9DufPQVDa7L5p84ZU/51587b40902eda75.jpg) ![](https://images.hive.blog/DQmPRyNYD8Qmos6GWZ3tqRPm6cr7gt8PN9fij1VkqPnSqzN/441347349051e830.jpg) ### On the Road Driving a 1958 Porsche 356 today is an exercise in purity. Light, direct, and communicative, it rewards smooth inputs and punishes abrupt ones. The engine note is unmistakable — a deep, thrumming buzz from behind the seats that rises to a distinct Porsche flat-four wail at high RPM. There is no power steering, no servo brakes, and no electronic aids. Just you, the road, and 60 German horsepower doing their absolute best. ![](https://images.hive.blog/DQmeqAMcir7VuiK2CRvQjcjjaWyQXjei5A5xnTZ5Cq1uYWN/cc15840024d7f0b8.jpg) ### The Porsche 356 in South Africa Porsche 356s were sold in South Africa from the 1950s, but the most remarkable SA connection came later. In 1963, **Lindsay Saker** in Johannesburg assembled **50 Porsche 356 B T6 models** from CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kits — the only Porsches ever assembled outside of Germany. These cars used local content including batteries, tyres, windscreens, and upholstery, and are today among the most collectible 356 variants worldwide, with surviving examples valued at over R2 million. Porsche’s presence in South Africa has only grown since, with the brand celebrating over 60 years in the country. The 356 remains a revered piece of motoring history among South African collectors. ### Legacy The 356 laid the foundation for everything Porsche would become. Its rear-engine layout, lightweight philosophy, and focus on driver engagement directly influenced the 911 that replaced it in 1964. Today, well-preserved 356 A models fetch **$80,000–$200,000+** at auction, with rare Speedsters and Carrera GT variants commanding stratospheric prices. More than six decades later, the 356 remains a benchmark for what a pure sports car should be: simple, beautiful, and endlessly engaging. --- *Sources:* - [Wikipedia — Porsche 356](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_356) - [Porsche Museum — 356 History](https://www.porsche.com/stories/innovation/the-porsche-356-story) - [Hemmings — Buyer’s Guide: Porsche 356](https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/buyers-guide-porsche-356) - [Crossley & Webb — 1963 Porsche 356 B T6, 1 of 50 SA-assembled cars](https://www.crossley-webb.com/auctions/porsche-356-b-t6/) - [Driven Magazine — 60 Years of Porsche in South Africa](https://www.drivenmag.co.za/60-years-porsche/) --- *If you could pick any vintage Porsche to own — a 356 Speedster, a 911 S, or something else — which would it be and why?*

OEM+ Porsche 911