1964 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Cabriolet

Ferry Porsche and Karl Rabe began work on the Type 356 project in June 1947. The concept was to put a mildly tuned version of the four-cylinder Volkswagen engine and its gearbox in a tubular space frame. Volkswagen components such as suspension units, steering and brakes were used for economy and reliability.

The VW engine, mounted first ahead of the rear axle and then behind at (as in the BE), produced a paltry 25 hp in standard form but was improved by enlarging the ports and raising the compression ratio from 5.8:1 to 7.0:1. The roadster’s bodywork was designed by Erwin Komenda.

The first 356 models were built in Gmund, Austria until 1950 when Porsche returned to Stuttgart. The roadster version was joined by a coupe, and Beutler in Switzerland built some attractive convertibles. The little car’s lightness and agility led to its constant use in competition.

The Porsche company grew rapidly and the 356 was produced in greater numbers, its...