The sporty Porsche 356 was produced by the notorious German automaker from 1948 to 1965. It went through several revisions during its production, resulting in the 356, 356A, and 356B versions. Particularly, the last one received an improved suspension system, which provided a smoother ride and better handling.
Source: Carscoops
The 356th was a groundbreaking sports vehicle that evolved to become more refined and powerful. The A and B were some of the most desirable versions due to their improvements over the original 356. Introduced in 1959 and produced until 1963 the B version featured several significant changes over the A, including a new T5 body style, improved brakes, and a more powerful engine. It was also available in coupe and convertible versions, as well as a “Super 90” variant that featured a more powerful engine.
Source: Richmonds
In the early 1960s, the Porsche 356 had been in production for almost a decade. While the sports vehicle had become an icon in its own right, the engineers knew that they could do better. That’s when they set out to create the Porsche 356B, the successor to the original 356. The development of the B version began in 1959 when the German company’s engineers started to work on a new version of the legendary model. The team was led by Erwin Komenda was responsible for the design of the original 356. The son of the company’s founder Ferry Porsche joined Komenda and was heavily involved in the development of the new model. The team started by improving the chassis of the 356, making it more rigid and better able to handle the power of the engine. They also worked on the automobile’s suspension, making it more responsive and better able to handle corners at high speeds. In addition to the mechanical improvements, the team also focused on the design. They wanted to create a more streamlined and modern look for the 356B, while still maintaining the classic Porsche style. To achieve this, they made subtle changes to the vehicle’s bodywork, including a redesigned front hood and a new rear bumper. One of the biggest changes made to the B version was the introduction of a new engine. While the original automobile had a 1.6-liter flat-four engine, the new model featured a 1.6-liter flat-four engine that had been updated with new technology. This new engine was capable of producing 75 horsepower, which was a significant increase from the original 356’s 60 horsepower. After months of development and testing, the 356B was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1960. The new car was an instant hit, with critics and enthusiasts alike praising its improved performance and sleek new design. Over the next few years, the company continued to refine the 356B, releasing several different versions. In 1962, the company introduced the 356B Carrera 2, which featured an upgraded engine and a new four-wheel disc brake system. The Carrera 2 was an even bigger success than the original 356B, cementing Porsche’s reputation as a manufacturer of high-performance sports cars.
Source: MotoAuto
The 1960 marked the introduction of several key changes and updates. Visually, the 1960 release remained very similar to its predecessor, but there were a few key differences. The most notable change was the addition of twin grilles above the engine compartment lid, which provided better engine cooling. The headlights were also slightly larger than those on the 356A, and the bumpers were redesigned to better absorb impacts. The interior of the 1960 edition was also updated, with a new steering wheel and a revised dashboard that featured a single large gauge for the speedometer and a smaller gauge for the tachometer. The seats also featured a new, more comfortable design. Under the hood, the 1960 version saw some significant changes as well. The base engine was a 1.6-liter flat-four that produced 60 horsepower, which was an increase over the 356A’s 1.5-liter engine. The transmission was also updated to a more robust four-speed unit, which provided smoother shifting and better performance. The suspension was also revised to provide a more comfortable ride. In addition, the 1960 release was available in several different models, including the Coupe, Cabriolet, and Roadster. The Coupe was the most popular model, with a total of 11,640 units produced, while the Cabriolet and Roadster each had a production run of around 2,500 units.
Source: Road Scholars
The 1960 release became the pioneer Porsche model to include an electric sunroof option known as the “Electromatic Sunroof.” This innovative sunroof was controlled by a switch placed on the dashboard and was accessible in both the Coupe and Cabriolet models. The sunroof allowed drivers to view the sky and featured a tinted glass panel that enabled regulation of the amount of light penetrating the car. Today, this uncommon feature is highly desirable and scarcely found in the market.
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