Porsche 356

Porsche’s first car, the 356, entered the market in 1948 and celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023. Porsche 356: 75th Anniversary celebrates this iconic sports car that launched one of the greatest brands in automotive history.
Ferdinand Porsche was a brilliant engineer who, prior to World War II, had been involved in a variety of significant automotive engineering developments including the first hybrid drive vehicles. From the early 1900s, Porsche was developing racing cars including the Mercedes SSK and the mighty Auto Union Grand Prix. During this period,

Porsche also developed the groundbreaking Volkswagen, which would prove critical to his postwar, namesake automobile manufacturer.
The Type 356 was developed by Ferdinand’s son “Ferry” Porsche and introduced in 1948. Though the rear-engine layout was based on the Volkswagen, most similarities ended there. The 356 had a unique chassis, higher performing engine, and a handsome wind-cheating body. Little known outside Germany initially, by the early 1950s the 356s were lauded for their excellent handling, build quality, and growing volume of competition successes.
Porsche’s 356 evolved over its 17-year life through four distinct series: pre-A, A, B, and C, with coupes, cabriolets, Speedsters, Hardtops, and Roadsters among the many body variations. Equipped with the “Carrera” 4-cam engine, the 356 was a force in sports car racing. Dedicated competition models were developed beginning in 1953, and the Rennsport Spyders dominated road racing, endurance, and hill climb events for over a decade.

The 356 story includes a cast of fascinating characters, from those engineers who designed the cars, to race drivers who built the “giant-killer” mystique, to owners like James Dean and Janis Joplin who fell in love with the little bathtub-shaped sports cars. From titled European gentlemen in the 1950s to movie stars like Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the 1960s, the first Porsches attracted enthusiasts and racers alike. Today, the car has an even wider following among collectors including Porsche fans like Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno. “356 Fascination” continues with ongoing restoration efforts, vintage racing, and an “Outlaw” movement, all enhanced by large-scale events that celebrate the car’s history.

Porsche 356 75th Anniversary tells the in-depth story and is a must-have book for anyone that loves Porsche and sports car history.

Author Biography

Gordon Maltby has owned 31 Porsches over 50 years, doing most maintenance and restoration himself. He wrote the highly regarded Motorbooks title Porsche 356 and RS Spyders and has co-authored and edited several Porsche technical, historical, and buying guide books in the years since. He was editor of the Porsche 356 Registry bi-monthly magazine for 28 years, evolving it into a 76-page full-color publication. He lives in Minnesota with his wife and a cobalt blue Boxster.

Grant Larson was born in Billings, Montana and grew up in Wisconsin. A passion for cars led to studies at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, then at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. After three years at Audi in Munich, he joined Porsche as an exterior designer in 1989. He was lead designer for the Boxster prototype, as well as the Carrera GT show car, the Panamera, various 911s and special editions, race cars and most recently, the 935. He is currently Director of Special Projects at the Porsche Weissach studios