A Bite of History - Mike Thies

Porsche 356

Before the world knew Porsche as a maker of high-performance sports cars, there was the Porsche 356, the model that started it all. Launched in 1948, it was Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche's vision of a lightweight, rear-engine sports car that could handle curves like a dream.

Built in a tiny Austrian sawmill-turned-factory, the first 356s were handmade with aluminum bodies. Later models switched to steel and production moved to Stuttgart, Germany. Despite its humble beginnings, the 356 quickly earned a rep for being nimble, reliable, and just plain fun to drive.

The 356 evolved over four main versions, Pre-A, A, B, and C, before bowing out in 1965, making way for the legendary 911. But make no mistake: the 356 laid the blueprint.

Today, it’s a classic icon; cool, curvy, and coveted by collectors worldwide.