In 1875 a world automotive genius was born. Ferdinand Porsche became a grand master of German motoring excellence and his name is linked to cars like the Mercedes-Benz 38/250, the 16-cylinder Auto Union Grand Prix car, the Volkswagen and even military vehicles such as the feared Tiger tank.
After World War Two Porsche was interned in France because of his engineering input with Nazi Germany. But the French, seeing pure automotive talent languishing in the doldrums consulted Porsche over the design of the Citroën 2CV.
Following his release Porsche settled in Austria where, with son Ferry, he started work on a sports car, powered by Volkswagen engines, which would start a dynasty.
These early cars became the forerunners of the great Porsches of recent years including the iconic 911.
But to me the formative Porsche was the 356 of the early 1960s which is generally acknowledged to be the baby of Ferry Porsche.
Its styling dismissed fashion and convention to create a timeless look.
Its simplicity of design could almost be mistaken for austere. It was, to all intents and purposes, a souped-up super VW.
The 356 was sold from 1948 through to 1965.
It was initially available as a coupé, cabriolet and later a roadster.
While the 356 changed over time with various mechanical refinements, the basic shape remained the same and was instantly recognisable year to year.
Coupe and cabriolet models were produced every year up to 1965, with the last 356B Roadster built in early 1963.
The final model, the 356C, featured disc brakes and two engine options, the most powerful pushrod engine Porsche ever produced: the 95 hp SC as well as the standard C at 75 hp. 356 production peaked at 14,151 cars in 1964, the year that the new 911 model went on the market, although the company continued to sell the 356C in North America through the end of 1965 as a lower-cost vehicle.
The 356's push-rod engine was later reused to power Porsche's entry level 912 model, produced between 1965 and 1969, after customers complained that the 911, at almost twice the price of the 356, was too expensive.
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