One of the all-time great sports cars, the 356 was the work of Ferry Porsche, who had been inspired by the FIAT-based Cisitalias of Piero Dusio. Ferry's 356 was based on the Volkswagen designed by his father, and like the immortal 'Beetle' employed a platform-type chassis with rear-mounted air-cooled engine and all-independent torsion bar suspension. Introduced in 1948, the Porsche 356 set a new standard for small sports cars and proved adaptable to all forms of motor sport including circuit racing and rallying. In 1951 a works car finished first in the 1,100cc class at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race, thus beginning the marque's long and illustrious association with La Sarthe. The first phase of development saw the 356's engine grow to 1.3 and then to 1.5 litres; the original split windscreen replaced by a one-piece; and a Porsche synchromesh gearbox adopted. 1955 marked the arrival of the restyled 356A, the newcomer being readily distinguished by its curved windscreen and 15" - down from 16" - wheels. Numerous further styling revisions differentiated the 356B of 1959 from its immediate predecessor while the engine - now standardised at 1,600cc - was available in three different stages of tune, the most powerful - apart from the four-cam Carrera - being the 90bhp unit of the Super 90. Although Porsche did not make a serious works effort in international rallying until the arrival of the 911, the 356 in private hands proved very competitive, being strongly constructed, light in weight and adequately powerful, especially in four-cam Carrera form. Early successes included private entrants Helmut Polensky and Walter Schluter's victory in the 1952 Liège-Rome-Liège Rally and the same duo's European Touring Championship the following year. And as late as 1961 the 356 proved good enough to bring works-assisted privateer Hans Walter the European Rally Championship. Today these versatile Porsche GTs are among the most competitive cars in their class in historic circuit racing and rallying. The 356B represents significant advances in driveability and comfort over earlier 356 models, and is a pleasingly quick way to enjoy the traditional Porsche values of quality, reliability and mechanical robustness. Currently registered on German 'Historic' plates, this left-hand drive 356B Super 90 formed part of the Huffman Collection from 1979 until 2009. In 2010, having had only two previous owners, the car was dismantled and repainted in Germany to the highest standards, the work being finished in March of this year (see bills on file). Finished in silver metallic with black interior, the Porsche currently displays a total of 6,025 miles on the odometer and is described by the private vendor as 'good' in all departments with a 'like new' engine. The car is offered with Porsche certificate of authenticity (confirming matching numbers), valid German Fahrzeugbrief and TüV/ASU (roadworthiness/emissions test) valid until 2012. Une des grandes voitures sportives de l'histoire, la 356 fut l'œuvre de Ferry Porsche qui avait été inspiré par les Cisitalia de Piero Dusio dérivées des FIAT. La 356 de Ferry naquit de la Volkswagen conçue par son père et, comme l'immortelle « Coccinelle », elle avait un châssis type plate-forme, un moteur refroidi par air monté à l'arrière et une suspension à quatre roues indépendantes par barres de torsion. Introduite en 1948, la Porsche 356 qui établit une nouvelle référence en matière de petites voitures de sport se montra apte à toutes les disciplines du sport automobile y compris la course sur circuit et le rallye. En 1951, une voiture d'usine finit première de la catégorie 1100 aux 24 Heures du Mans, marquant le début d'une longue et glorieuse association, avec « la Sarthe ». La première phase de développement porta sur l'accroissement de la cylindrée du moteur qui passa à 1 300 puis 1 500 cm3, l'abandon du pare-brise en V à deux glaces pour une vitre monopièce et l'adoption d'une boîte de vitesses synchronisée Porsche. L'année
One of the all-time great sports cars, the 356 was the work of Ferry Porsche, who had been inspired by the FIAT-based Cisitalias of Piero Dusio. Ferry's 356 was based on the Volkswagen designed by his father, and like the immortal 'Beetle' employed a platform-type chassis with rear-mounted air-cooled engine and all-independent torsion bar suspension. Introduced in 1948, the Porsche 356 set a new standard for small sports cars and proved adaptable to all forms of motor sport including circuit racing and rallying. In 1951 a works car finished first in the 1,100cc class at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race, thus beginning the marque's long and illustrious association with La Sarthe. The first phase of development saw the 356's engine grow to 1.3 and then to 1.5 litres; the original split windscreen replaced by a one-piece; and a Porsche synchromesh gearbox adopted. 1955 marked the arrival of the restyled 356A, the newcomer being readily distinguished by its curved windscreen and 15" - down from 16" - wheels. Numerous further styling revisions differentiated the 356B of 1959 from its immediate predecessor while the engine - now standardised at 1,600cc - was available in three different stages of tune, the most powerful - apart from the four-cam Carrera - being the 90bhp unit of the Super 90. Although Porsche did not make a serious works effort in international rallying until the arrival of the 911, the 356 in private hands proved very competitive, being strongly constructed, light in weight and adequately powerful, especially in four-cam Carrera form. Early successes included private entrants Helmut Polensky and Walter Schluter's victory in the 1952 Liège-Rome-Liège Rally and the same duo's European Touring Championship the following year. And as late as 1961 the 356 proved good enough to bring works-assisted privateer Hans Walter the European Rally Championship. Today these versatile Porsche GTs are among the most competitive cars in their class in historic circuit racing and rallying. The 356B represents significant advances in driveability and comfort over earlier 356 models, and is a pleasingly quick way to enjoy the traditional Porsche values of quality, reliability and mechanical robustness. Currently registered on German 'Historic' plates, this left-hand drive 356B Super 90 formed part of the Huffman Collection from 1979 until 2009. In 2010, having had only two previous owners, the car was dismantled and repainted in Germany to the highest standards, the work being finished in March of this year (see bills on file). Finished in silver metallic with black interior, the Porsche currently displays a total of 6,025 miles on the odometer and is described by the private vendor as 'good' in all departments with a 'like new' engine. The car is offered with Porsche certificate of authenticity (confirming matching numbers), valid German Fahrzeugbrief and TüV/ASU (roadworthiness/emissions test) valid until 2012. Une des grandes voitures sportives de l'histoire, la 356 fut l'œuvre de Ferry Porsche qui avait été inspiré par les Cisitalia de Piero Dusio dérivées des FIAT. La 356 de Ferry naquit de la Volkswagen conçue par son père et, comme l'immortelle « Coccinelle », elle avait un châssis type plate-forme, un moteur refroidi par air monté à l'arrière et une suspension à quatre roues indépendantes par barres de torsion. Introduite en 1948, la Porsche 356 qui établit une nouvelle référence en matière de petites voitures de sport se montra apte à toutes les disciplines du sport automobile y compris la course sur circuit et le rallye. En 1951, une voiture d'usine finit première de la catégorie 1100 aux 24 Heures du Mans, marquant le début d'une longue et glorieuse association, avec « la Sarthe ». La première phase de développement porta sur l'accroissement de la cylindrée du moteur qui passa à 1 300 puis 1 500 cm3, l'abandon du pare-brise en V à deux glaces pour une vitre monopièce et l'adoption d'une boîte de vitesses synchronisée Porsche. L'année
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