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| Porsche
356 Classics |
Broadcast
date : 6th August 2006 |
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Ferdinand Porsche designed many
famous cars, including the Auto Union Grand Prix machine in
the 1930’s, and of course, the Volkswagen Beetle. But the
first car to bear his name was the 356, first built in 1948 in
Austria.
It was unsurprising that this car was very much based on the
Volkswagen Beetle.
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They used an air-cooled flat-four engine, and
similar transverse torsion-bar front-suspension and
swing-axles at the rear.
Those first 356’s were rather modest cars, producing just 40 horsepower, and displacing 1100 cc.
Early engine sizes increased to 1500, and later to 1600 cc,
with the advent of the 356 A, which had a slightly
less-rounded shape.
Production moved to Stuttgart, Germany, after 1950. Throughout
the 356’s life, the car was improved.
A total of 82 000 Porsche 356’s were built, and production
ran right up until 1965, over a year after the Porsche 911 had
been introduced.
During that time the car was constantly improved, to the point
where the last 356 C models are still very drivable cars
today, easily able to keep up with the traffic.
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The Porsche 356 interiors are delightfully simple, but use the
highest quality of materials, which is why they last so long.
The same simplistic approach is applied to the later 911,
which was the logical successor to the 356, but interestingly
used not a single common part from its predecessor.
Porsche 356’s came in various guises, including coupés,
cabriolets and a low-windscreen Speedster.
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Peter Dorfer is South Africa’s foremost expert on Porsche
356’s, and operates Carrera Motors, a Randburg firm that
does beautiful restorations of these famous cars.
Carrera Motors has been in operation for over two decades, and
specializes in all Porsches, from the 356’s, through 911’s,
to the front-engined 944’s and 928’s.
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During our visit to Carrera Motors we were fortunate to see
work being carried out on a 356 Carrera 2, one of the most
sought-after of all Porsches.
The four-cam Carrera motor scored notable competition success
in the late fifties and early sixties with reported horsepower
figures of 150, and as high as 200 brake-horse-power.
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A very special Carrera version was offered, and its successor
was the 911 2,7 Carrera RS, produced in the early 1970’s.
Its flat six-cylinder motor was inordinately powerful, but
still displayed the same basic layout as the Beetle-based 356
engine. Although Porsche purists would be horrified at this
suggestion.
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The 356 SC95 was a very special rendition of the first Porsche
series, and Peter Dorfer’s daughter Martina can’t imagine
a life without a 356 presence.
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The B version of the 356 is distinguished by a narrower
bootlid opening, and a single engine-lid vent, as well as
distinct hubcaps.
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The C was the last of the line, and has the widest luggage lid
or bonnet opening of all.
This one, once owned by Car Magazine
editor John Bentley, now belongs to the 356 register co-ordinator,
Simon Woodland.
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And so to the oldest car at Kloofzicht, George Bosch’s 356
A. All sixty horsepower’s worth, and still going strong
after half a century.
And still capable of cruising at well over the legal speed
limit. It’s this excellence of engineering, this essential
toughness that makes owning a Porsche 356 so worthwhile.
This is why even the most hopeless basket case is seen as
something worth saving.
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The parts are available from Germany -
at a price, and like the 911, 356s are so strong, you can even
use them as everyday transport.
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