Porsche Owners Group

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Comment by Stephen Page on October 22, 2008 at 3:08pm

Porsche Racing History

Porsche stamina in racing has been sustained for 50 years. The first 356 aluminum coupe had hardly left the workshop in the company's former Gmund headquarters in Austria, when Porsche cars began making headlines at national and international events. Today, GT racing enjoys a high priority at the Stuttgart-based company. But sportscars stand proudly in the glorious racing history, too, highlighted by 14 marques and team championships, nine sportscar drivers´ world titles and uncountable victories.

Porsche continued this tradition in 2005 with the Porsche RS Spyder prototype and the Penske Motorsport team in the American Le Mans Series.

Comment by Stephen Page on October 22, 2008 at 3:05pm

1948 Porsche 356 Roadster

Work recommenced in the Porsche design office as early as 1946 under head designer Karl Rabe. The Stuttgart-based company had been temporarily domiciled in Gmünd/Austria since 1945. Inspired by Cisitalia activities, the idea of his own sports car increasingly dominated the thoughts of Porsche, particularly as in the meantime, despite the deep depression suffered by the German economy, the Volkswagen went into series production in Wolfsburg. Former Porsche employees were involved, and activities at Gmünd and Wolfsburg remained closely related. Thus, a project which Ferry Porsche had had in mind for some time started to take shape on the drawing-boards in the design office in Gmünd from 17th July 1947.

It became reality on 8th June 1948: A two-seater sports car based on VW parts, the first automobile bearing the Porsche name. It ranked as Type 356 according to the tradition of consecutive numbering of all designs. Ferry Porsche had set himself the goal of building a sports car of modest proportions, which on account of its ideal power-to-weight ratio and its low air resistance, could achieve high acceleration values and top speeds, optimal cornering behaviour and shorter braking distances than was possible with heavier cars. The 356 was to be shaped to hold the road well and enable a safe driving feeling at speeds which were already relatively high. The very first Porsche was a mid-engine car, whose engine - a modified VW unit - was mounted ahead of the rear axle. With 35 bhp and a ready for driving weight of 585 kg, the Porsche "Number 1" ran at a good 135 km/h.

Technical Specifications
Engine: Four-cylinder twin-valve induction engine as mid-engine, central camshaft with push rods, air-cooled
Power: 35 HP at 4.000 RPM
Displacement: 1.131 cc
Fuel system: Downdraft carburettor
Transmission: Rear drive, four-speed gearbox
Chassis: Steel tubular space frame with aluminium body, independent wheel suspension, mechanical drum brakes, tyres: 5.00 x 16
Dimensions and weight: Wheel base 2.150 mm
front track 1.290 mm
rear track 1.250 mm
weight 585 kg
Performance: Top speed 135 km/h

Comment by Andy & Trish Labout on June 22, 2008 at 1:59pm

Hello,

We have 1965 Porsche 911 #301481.

Andy & Trish Labout

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