Pre-A through C
Compare Porsche 356 Pre-A, A, B and C series, open and closed bodies, and Carrera engines, with identification clues and questions for a specialist inspection.
Design and engineering in photographs
Three examples selected for the distinctions they make visible. Each photograph shows a particular car; its appearance is not a factory paint certificate.
Before the curved windscreen
The silver-grey competition-liveried coupe shows the early 356 silhouette. Porsche’s original-series guide distinguishes the later centre-creased windscreen from the curved pane introduced with the A; the racing graphics describe this photographed example, not a factory trim.
Engineering and history: Porsche Classic: original 356; Porsche Classic: 356 A.
A body revision you can read
The red coupe illustrates the late B body. Porsche dates the T6 revision to September 1961: a wider lower bonnet outline, a right-front-wing fuel filler and twin engine-lid ventilation grilles separate it from the earlier T5.
Engineering and history: Porsche Classic: 356 B.
The open-body alternative
The blue example with a dark fabric roof makes the open-body choice tangible. Porsche’s B-series reference lists the 1600, Super and Super 90 Roadsters separately; the photograph establishes the body example, not which engine is installed.
Engineering and history: Porsche Classic: 356 B.
Start with the series (Pre-A, A, B or C), then identify the body and engine. T5 and T6 are revisions within the B series, while Speedster is a body choice and Carrera identifies a mechanical performance family. These labels can describe the same car; they are not twelve successive generations.
Dates below are broad family periods, not a chassis-number decoder. Launch, model-year and final-delivery dates can differ; body and engine availability depend on year and market. Photographs illustrate examples and do not authenticate another car.
| Reference | Period | Category | Body / engine | Comparison or inspection question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 356 / Pre-A | 1948-1955 | Series | Coupe, cabriolet, early roadster Air-cooled flat-four | Distinguish divided and later centre-creased windscreens; establish which early body and mechanical specification the build record describes. |
| 356 A | 1955-1959 | Series | Coupe, cabriolet, Speedster, Convertible D 1.6-liter flat-four family | Curved windscreen marks the A; separate normal and Super engines from the mechanically different Carrera. |
| 356 B T5 | 1959-1962 | Series | Coupe, cabriolet, Roadster Flat-four, including Super and Super 90 | Raised headlights and bumpers distinguish the B from the A; do not assume it has the later T6 fuel filler and rear lid. |
| 356 B T6 | 1962-1963 | Series | Coupe, cabriolet, Roadster, Karmann hardtop Flat-four, including Super 90 | Compare the right-wing fuel filler and twin rear grilles with the earlier B; inspect whether replacement panels match the documented build. |
| 356 C | 1963-1965 | Series | Coupe and cabriolet 1600 C, 1600 SC, and Carrera 2 | Check the standard disc-brake setup and wheel specification; similar bodywork does not make a late B and C mechanically identical. |
| Reference | Period | Category | Body / engine | Comparison or inspection question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coupe | 1948-1965 | Body | Fixed roof Flat-four range | A fixed roof removes convertible-top operation from the comparison; inspect glazing, seals and repaired roof or pillar metal. |
| Cabriolet | 1949-1965 | Body | Open top Flat-four range | Operate the fabric roof and windows; compare seal condition and completeness with the simpler open-body alternatives. |
| Speedster | 1954-1958 | Body | Low-screen open car Flat-four range | Check the low windscreen and removable weather equipment; confirm the body identity rather than relying on a Speedster badge. |
| Convertible D | 1958-1959 | Body | Open top Flat-four range | Retractable side windows distinguish its equipment from the Speedster; verify roof and window operation together. |
| Roadster | 1959-1962 | Body | Open top Flat-four range | Identify the B-series build and body records; inspect the windscreen mounting, roof and glazing as a complete assembly. |
| Karmann hardtop / Notchback | 1961-1962 | Body | Fixed hardtop profile Flat-four range | Verify coachwork identity and roof construction in the records; do not classify a removable hardtop alone as a Notchback. |
| Reference | Period | Category | Body / engine | Comparison or inspection question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrera / Carrera 2 | 1955-1965 | Performance | Coupe, cabriolet, Speedster, Roadster Fuhrmann four-cam flat-four | Confirm the Fuhrmann engine identity and specialist service records; it is not just a trim level on a standard pushrod-engine car. |
Early Pre-A cars used a divided windscreen; later examples adopted a single pane with a central crease. The A introduced a curved one-piece windscreen. These are useful starting clues, but replaced panels and trim mean appearance alone cannot establish identity. Source: Porsche Classic: original 356; Porsche Classic: 356 A.
The B raised the headlights and bumpers. The T6 revision introduced in September 1961 brought a wider lower bonnet outline, a fuel filler on the right front wing and two rear ventilation grilles. Check the build date rather than assuming every B has the same body. Source: Porsche Classic: 356 B.
The C made disc brakes standard and used flatter hubcaps. Its outline remained close to the late B. The catalog range ends in 1965; Porsche separately records the final C delivery in May 1966, a delivery date rather than a new series. Source: Porsche Classic: 356 C.
A low-screen Speedster and a Convertible D are different ownership propositions: Porsche describes the Speedster with reduced trim and a rain top, while the Convertible D has retractable side windows. Inspect the roof and glazing actually fitted. Source: Porsche Speedster history; Porsche Classic: 356 A.
Ask a 356 specialist to reconcile chassis, engine and transmission identification with the available factory and restoration records. Request invoices and photographs from before paintwork; ask which structural panels were repaired or replaced and inspect the underside, door fit and roof openings. A shiny finish is not evidence of original metal.
Record the installed braking system, wheels and engine before ordering parts or comparing cars. A Carrera needs a different mechanical discussion: Porsche describes its Fuhrmann engine with four overhead camshafts, shaft drive and dual ignition. Ask who last serviced that particular engine and what work is documented. Source: Porsche Classic: 356 B.
For an open car, demonstrate roof erection, side-window fit and storage of removable equipment. For any body, request a cold start and an independent inspection covering leaks, braking, steering and corrosion. These are questions to put to the inspector, not an assertion that a particular model or pictured car has a defect.
The 356 breaks down first by series, then by open and closed bodies, with Carrera cars sitting in their own four-cam lane.
Series
1948-1955
The earliest shape and detail set, with the most delicate trim and the greatest premium on original metal.
Series
1955-1959
Sharper road manners and the classic Speedster period, with Carrera four-cam cars entering the story.
Series
1959-1962
The first major B-series facelift, recognized by the higher bumpers and headlamps.
Series
1962-1963
A short bridge to the C, with the external fuel filler, twin rear grilles, and larger rear window.
Series
1963-1965
The final 356 run, visually close to the B but easier to live with thanks to standard disc brakes.
Body
1948-1965
The purest read of the roofline, often the best way to study body fit, glass, trim, and stance.
Body
1949-1965
The more formal open 356, valued for correct top hardware, doors, and matching trim details.
Body
1954-1958
The elemental American-market icon: light, simple, and far more sensitive to originality than it looks.
Body
1958-1959
The Drauz-built successor to the Speedster, with more comfort while keeping the short-run collector appeal.
Body
1959-1962
The B-era open sport body, split across Drauz and D'Ieteren production in the details collectors inspect.
Body
1961-1962
A distinctive short-lived Karmann body style that trades on rarity, roofline, and condition.
Performance
1955-1965
The competition-bred 356 branch, where engine identity, documentation, and correctness dominate the car.
The 356 is the origin point. It carries the Volkswagen-derived idea forward, but the appeal is not nostalgia for a borrowed platform. The appeal is the way Porsche learned to make lightness feel expensive.
The early cars are intimate and handmade; the later A, B, and C cars are easier to use without losing the scale. Speedsters and open cars get the easy attention, but the coupes explain the shape best.
The collector read starts with originality. Matching mechanicals, honest metal, correct trim, and body style matter more than cosmetic freshness. A restored car can be wonderful, but the paperwork has to keep up with the shine.
Manufacturer histories support the dated identification facts cited above. Comparison questions and inspection prompts are editorial guidance, not a report from inspecting these photographed cars. Existing variant periods are orientation ranges; verify the individual build specification before purchase.
Photo credits identify the image source and recorded license separately. No current transaction dataset, original measurements or firsthand road test supports this guide. We do not publish a price estimate or condition score. Read our editorial method and corrections policy.
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