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.
At the same time, certain mechanical components, including the engine case and some suspension components, were based on and initially sourced from Volkswagen.
From the earliest, 1,100 cc Gmünd beginnings, the overall shape of the 356 remained more or less set.
In 1951, 1,300 and 1,500 cc engines with considerably more power were introduced. In April 1952 the split windscreen was replaced by a slightly V-shaped, single windshield, which fit into the same shape opening. In 1953, the 1300 S or "Super" was introduced, and the 1,100 cc engine was dropped.
%E2%80%AC.jpg)
%E2%80%AC%20%E2%80%AB%E2%80%AC.jpg)
%E2%80%AC.jpg)
%E2%80%AC%20%E2%80%AB%E2%80%AC.jpg)