Porsche 356 (1948-1965): Illustrated History Books & Guides

Porsche 356: 75th Anniversary

This book presents a clear history of the Porsche 356, from the first Gmünd coupé to its status as a valued collector's car today. It outlines Ferdinand Porsche's early engineering work, including hybrid drive projects, racing cars for Mercedes and Auto Union, and the design of the Volkswagen, which later supported the creation of his own company.

The 356 was developed by his son Ferry Porsche and introduced in 1948. Although it shared a rear-engine layout with the Volkswagen, it featured its own chassis, stronger engines, and an aerodynamic body. By the early 1950s it gained recognition for precise handling, solid build quality, and many racing successes.
Across its 17-year production run, the 356 evolved through the pre-A, A, B, and C series, with a wide range of body styles. With the Carrera four-cam engine and dedicated competition models, the 356 became a strong contender in road racing, endurance events, and hill climbs.

The book also highlights the engineers, racing drivers, and well-known owners - from James Dean to Janis Joplin - who helped build the car's reputation. It concludes with the 356's continued presence in restorations, historic racing, and enthusiast movements. This 75th-anniversary edition offers a complete and essential account for Porsche enthusiasts.

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Porsche 356 (model years 1950-1965) - Essential Buyer's Guide

Would you love to buy the original Porsche 356, but are scared of owning an expensive lemon? Help is at hand! This is the complete guide to finding the best available example of the classic rear-engined Porsche 356 for a sum you can afford.
Insight from real ownership experience is coupled with unparalleled technical knowledge, resulting in the first dedicated guidebook for potential buyers of the Porsche 356.

A comprehensive guide, including an inspection checklist that buyers can use when viewing a car, photos of key areas to check, and known issues for each model.
Market and value data are also supplied to help give an idea of what a specific Porsche 356 is worth. The guide has an overview of key specifications and potential upgrades.
From whether a Porsche 356 is a suitable car for you, to the cost considerations to be taken into account when searching for and viewing a used model, the author aims to arm the prospective buyer with enough knowledge and insight to be able to assess any Porsche 356, and quickly conclude whether to make a purchase.
Take the first step towards finding your dream car, by reading this guide today.

Covers the Porsche 356, 356A, 356B and 356C, including Speedster, Roadster, Convertible D and Carrera. Models years 1950-1965.

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The 356 Porsche: A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity

This book provides a detailed, year-by-year guide for owners and buyers of the Porsche 356. Covering models from 1950 to 1965, it examines every documented and undocumented change, including major mechanical components. It also includes precise chassis number records and comprehensive listings of original colors and upholstery.

With over 45.000 copies sold worldwide, this book is now in its third revised edition - an impressive achievement considering only about 76.000 Porsche 356s were ever produced.

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Original Porsche 356 - The Restorer's Guide to all Coupé, Cabriolet, Roadster and Speedster models 1950-65

The Porsche 356, with its Volkswagen-derived rear-mounted air-cooled engine, established a lineage that continues today with the iconic 911. Known for its distinctive design, advanced engineering, and strong driving appeal, the 356 remains a highly regarded classic.

Produced in four model phases - Pre-A, A, B, and C - the 356 evolved with continuous improvements while preserving its original character. Many surviving examples exist today, but only a few retain their completely authentic specifications, a key concern for serious collectors. Determining the correct original details for restoration can be challenging, but "Original Porsche 356" provides the essential reference.

Reissued after being out of print for years, this classic study offers detailed information on the evolution of the model. It covers all variants, including the coupé and cabriolet, as well as the stylish Speedster and high-performance Carrera. The book documents factory-original specifications, equipment, and finishes, ensuring accuracy for restorers and enthusiasts.
Featuring 200 specially commissioned color photographs, "Original Porsche 356" showcases 18 outstanding examples, making it an invaluable resource for those passionate about this legendary sports car.

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Porsche - Origin of the Species

Jerry Seinfeld's Porsche collection boasts a hidden gem, the Porsche Gmünd coupe 356/2-040. Captured through Michael Furman's evocative portraits, this remarkably preserved 040 showcases the artistry, innovation, and determination behind its creation.

This iconic car serves as the inspiration for "Porsche Origin of the Species," an exploration by automotive historian Karl Ludvigsen into the influences and circumstances that birthed the first Porsche-badged sports cars. Ludvigsen delves into the Porsche team's journey to a Gmünd sawmill and examines the impact of pre-war and wartime Porsche cars and engines on the 356's development. He uncovers the real connection between the tube-framed Type 356 roadster and the first 356/2 coupes.

The book addresses these inquiries, revealing the powerful and enduring DNA that continues to influence Porsche's design and style in the twenty-first century. It unravels a tale of mechanical innovation, human drama, and the backdrop of world war. "Porsche Origin of the Species" is an essential read for car enthusiasts eager to understand the origins that shaped all subsequent Porsches.

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Porsche 356 (1952-1965) - Brooklands Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book featuring Porsche 356 models from the years 1952-1965. Describes the Porsche 356 A, B, C, S, SC, SS, GS, 1500, 1600, 2L, Carrera, Super, 75, 90, coupé and cabriolet.

• The 61 period articles, brought together from leading British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and engineering.
• Also driving impressions, original road tests, comparison tests, technical data, etc.

More information about Brooklands Portfolio books

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Porsche 356

After World War II, Porsche introduced its first car, the 356, in 1948. Produced until 1965, it evolved through four distinct series and came in coupe, cabriolet, speedster, hardtop, and roadster versions.
From 1953, racing models emerged, with Rennsport Spyders dominating competitions for over a decade. The 356 paved the way for Porsche icons like the 550 Spyder, Speedster, and 904.
It captivated both top European racers of the 1950s and Hollywood stars like Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the 1960s. Today, it remains a highly sought-after classic and a symbol of style.

This book explores the history of the 356 and its pivotal role in making Porsche one of the world's leading sports car brands.

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Porsche 356 (1948-1965) : Les racines de l'aventure

The Porsche 356, the brand's first car, was initially handcrafted by Ferry Porsche in Gmünd, Austria. He believed that 50 to 100 units would be enough to meet demand. However, by March 1951, the 500th Porsche 356 had been produced, followed by the 1, 000th just six months later.

By the time production ended in 1965, a total of 78.745 units had been built across all versions. Its legacy continued with the Porsche 912 until 1969, alongside the 911.

Today, the 356 is highly sought after by collectors. Some models, such as the Speedster, exceed €500.000 in value. Its appeal is not just due to its rarity - every Porsche has a unique character.

This book tells the story of the Porsche 356, from its creation in 1948 to the end of its production in 1965. It is a hardcover edition of the special issue "L'Aventure Automobile" No. 3.

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Porsche 356 - la genèse d'un mythe

Derived from the Volkswagen designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the 356 was the first production car to bear his name, marking the birth of a legend.

This book presents the complete history of the Porsche 356, including its rally and racing versions. It also explores the early years of a brand that became a symbol of sports cars and automotive excellence.

This revised and updated edition features nearly 300 illustrations, mostly in color. It also covers 356 Replica models, production figures, technical specifications of series models, and offers advice on buying and restoring these cars.

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Porsche 356: Nr. 5006 lebt - Der Start von Porsche in Deutschland

For almost sixty years it was considered lost: the Porsche 356 with chassis number 5006, one of the first seven sports cars built in Stuttgart.

In 2013 a phone call led Thomas König and Oliver Schmidt to an overgrown garden near Bremen. The clue to the "oldest Porsche" proved true: a unique car was waiting there. After a spectacular recovery, the vehicle was carefully restored over several years to its original 1950 condition.

König and Schmidt, founders of the Hamburg Prototyp Museum, have long collected rare Porsches. Yet this discovery became one of the most remarkable events of their career.

The book tells the story of this rediscovery and restoration. Porsche experts Thomas Ammann and Frank Jung add context and archive material. Every step of the eight-year restoration is illustrated with photographs.

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Die Geschichte des Porsche 356 No. 1

The Porsche 356 "Number 1" embodies the epitome of the dream car: With this vehicle, Ferry Porsche realized his long-held dream of owning his first sports car in 1948. Not only the design of the aluminum body served as a model, but also the ideals of driving dynamics and lightweight construction consistently form the foundation of the brand identity: the genes of the 356 "Number 1" are present in every Porsche to this day. The history of the roadster is as unique as the prototype itself.

This book, with some previously unpublished photographs and documents, traces the turbulent life of Porsche's first sports car from the first design drawing to the present day.

German edition.

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Porsche 356 No. 1 - The Story

The Porsche 356 "Number 1" epitomizes the dream car: In 1948, it fulfilled Ferry Porsche's long-held desire for his own sports car. Its aluminum body design set a standard, but more importantly, its emphasis on driving dynamics and lightweight construction became foundational to the brand.
The DNA of the 356 "Number 1" still influences every Porsche today. The roadster's story is as unique as the prototype itself.

This book, filled with photographs and previously unpublished documents, chronicles the tumultuous journey of Porsche's inaugural sports car from its initial design drawing.

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Porsche 356 - Fahrspass für Geniesser

Dirk-Michael Conradt, who has been associated with Porsche for decades, documents the history of the legendary Porsche 356, illustrated with photos from the Porsche archives, which convey not only the classic beauty of the 356 but also the spirit of those days.

Tracing the Porsche 356 feeling for connoisseurs takes center stage in text and images. This volume convincingly traces the career of the unique rear-engine sports car from the first designs in July 1947 based on the Beetle to the most modern 356, the C model of 1963, which only had its rounded shape in common with the VW.

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Porsche 356: Alle Modelle (1950-1965) - Praxisratgeber Klassikerkauf

The Porsche 356 was built between 1948 and 1965, was the first car to bear the name "Porsche" and it established the myth that has surrounded the sports cars from Zuffenhausen ever since. Ferry Porsche said when it was created that he simply couldn't find the car he had dreamed of, so he decided to build it himself.

The result was over 76 000 examples of this series. If you want to buy one of these examples, you should first find out in detail what you should definitely look out for when buying. This buying guide provides you with all the important information in a practical, compact and clear manner.

Assessing the condition requires a lot of automotive expertise and sufficient knowledge about the respective model so that you don't pay too high a price and don't overlook any hidden defects. This compact guide contains the weak points and special features of all Porsche 356 models from 1950 to 1965.

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Porsche 356 - made by Reutter

The Porsche 356 is not just any sports car. It is like a myth, a legend. It was born from the collaboration of two Stuttgart automobile companies that made history together: Porsche and Reutter.

Frank Jung, great-grandson of company founder Albert Reutter and head of the Historical Archives of Porsche AG since 2018, has followed the trail of this legendary joint production. This German book lets you share in the exciting creation of the Porsche 356 with many historical photos and previously unpublished documents.

Porsche and Reutter - this cooperation has made automotive history. On over 300 pages and with 500 illustrations, "Porsche 356 - Made by Reutter" tells an incomparable success story: The starting signal was the work on the forerunners and prototypes of the Volkswagen in the 1930s. Then the Reutter bodywork factory and the Porsche design office began to develop the first models for the Porsche 356.

Frank Jung documents the entire production period of the Porsche 356 from 1949 to 1964 in all its development phases up to the successful 911 model. Former employees and contemporary witnesses report on the creation process of the sports car legend, which is captured with unique images and texts.

2nd expanded edition 2019

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Porsche 356 (1948-1965) (Schrader Typen Chronik)

With the 356, Porsche laid the foundation for its now global reputation as an excellent sports car manufacturer. At the same time, the 356, built in five generations from 1948 to 1965, was an economic success model for the sports car manufacturer from Zuffenhausen. And thirdly and indisputably, the 356 - regardless of the generation - has long been a classic of automobile and especially sports car construction.
It is therefore high time to dedicate a volume to the 356 in this popular chronicle series.

Pages of the book "Porsche 356 (1948-1965)"

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