Porsche 356 Specs by Generation
Updated 2026-11-03 · CarWhere Research
Quick answer
The Porsche 356 is covered here across 4 US-market generations, from the 356 pre-A (1950–1955) to the 356C (1964–1965), 17 trims in all. In the 356C, output runs from 74 hp (356 C 1600 C) to 128 hp (356 C 2000 GS Carrera 2).
356C 356 specs (1964–1965)
What changed in the 356C
The last 356 replaced the B in September 1963, looking almost identical but with four-wheel disc brakes as standard, recognisable by flat hub caps without the crest. The engine range was cut to three: the 75 PS 1600 C, the 95 PS 1600 SC and the 2.0-liter Carrera 2. Production ended in 1965, with final cars delivered in May 1966; about 16,700 were built.
| Trim | Model years | Body | Engine | Power (hp) | Torque (lb-ft) | Drive | Transmission | 0–60 mph (s) | Top speed (mph) | Curb weight (lb) | Base MSRP (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 356 C 1600 CPorsche quotes 75 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. Top speed is Porsche's 175 km/h, converted. Porsche lists 935 kg dry weight. | 1964–1965 | Coupe, Cabriolet | 1.6L air-cooled flat-4 | 74 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | 109 | — | — |
| 356 C 1600 SCPorsche quotes 95 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. 95 PS figure from Wikipedia. | 1964–1965 | Coupe, Cabriolet | 1.6L air-cooled flat-4 | 94 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 C 2000 GS Carrera 2Porsche quotes 130 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. | 1964–1965 | Coupe, Cabriolet | 2.0L air-cooled flat-4, four overhead cams (Fuhrmann) | 128 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
Sources for 356C: Porsche Classic: Model 356 C · Porsche Newsroom: Blue wonder (356 C 1600 restoration, with technical data) · Wikipedia: Porsche 356 (cross-check)
356B 356 specs (1960–1963)
What changed in the 356B
The 356 B arrived in September 1959 with the T5 body: bumpers and headlights raised, larger bumper guards and a twin-bar horn grille. The T6 update of September 1961 widened the front lid, moved the fuel filler to the right front wing and added a second rear-lid grille. Engines ran from the 60 PS 1600 to the 90 PS Super 90, with the 2.0-liter four-cam Carrera 2 at the top; the Roadster replaced the Convertible D. Roughly 31,000 were built.
| Trim | Model years | Body | Engine | Power (hp) | Torque (lb-ft) | Drive | Transmission | 0–60 mph (s) | Top speed (mph) | Curb weight (lb) | Base MSRP (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 356 B 1600Porsche quotes 60 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. Roadster 1960–62. | 1960–1963 | Coupe, Cabriolet, Roadster, Hardtop | 1.6L air-cooled flat-4 | 59 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 B 1600 SuperPorsche quotes 75 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. (75 PS figure per the 356 C page, which reused this engine). | 1960–1963 | Coupe, Cabriolet, Roadster, Hardtop | 1.6L air-cooled flat-4 | 74 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 B 1600 Super 90Porsche quotes 90 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. 90 PS figure from secondary sources; '90' rear badge. | 1960–1963 | Coupe, Cabriolet, Roadster, Hardtop | 1.6L air-cooled flat-4 | 89 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 B 2000 GS Carrera 2Porsche quotes 130 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. The GS-GT competition version reached 140 PS per Porsche. | 1962–1963 | Coupe, Cabriolet | 2.0L air-cooled flat-4, four overhead cams (Fuhrmann) | 128 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
Sources for 356B: Porsche Classic: Model 356 B · Wikipedia: Porsche 356 (cross-check) · Porsche Classic: Model 356 C
356A 356 specs (1956–1959)
What changed in the 356A
Launched in September 1955, the 356 A (T1, later T2) brought a curved one-piece panoramic windshield, revised suspension and a 1.6-liter engine family alongside the outgoing 1.3. It was the first road Porsche offered with the four-cam Fuhrmann 'Carrera' engine. Open variants were the Cabriolet, Speedster and, for 1959, the Convertible D, plus a Hardtop; teardrop tail lights arrived in March 1957. About 21,000 were built.
| Trim | Model years | Body | Engine | Power (hp) | Torque (lb-ft) | Drive | Transmission | 0–60 mph (s) | Top speed (mph) | Curb weight (lb) | Base MSRP (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 356 A 1300 / 1300 SuperPorsche quotes 44 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. The 1300 Super had 60 PS. Both dropped in September 1957. | 1956–1957 | Coupe, Cabriolet | 1.3L air-cooled flat-4 | 43 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 A 1600Porsche quotes 60 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. Speedster 1956–58, Hardtop 1958–59, Convertible D 1959. | 1956–1959 | Coupe, Cabriolet, Speedster, Hardtop, Convertible D | 1.6L air-cooled flat-4 | 59 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 A 1600 SuperPorsche quotes 75 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. | 1956–1959 | Coupe, Cabriolet, Speedster, Hardtop, Convertible D | 1.6L air-cooled flat-4 | 74 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 A 1500 GS CarreraPorsche quotes 100 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. Dual ignition, shaft-driven cams; later Carrera versions grew to 1.6 liters. | 1956–1959 | Coupe, Cabriolet, Speedster | 1.5L air-cooled flat-4, four overhead cams (Fuhrmann) | 99 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
Sources for 356A: Porsche Classic: Model 356 A · Wikipedia: Porsche 356 (cross-check) · Porsche Classic: Model 356 B
356 pre-A 356 specs (1950–1955)
What changed in the 356 pre-A
The first Porsche-badged car, the 356/1 roadster, was approved in June 1948 and built in Gmünd, Austria, around a VW-derived 1.1-liter air-cooled flat-four; series production moved to Stuttgart in 1950. Early cars have a two-piece split windshield, replaced by a one-piece bent windshield in 1952, with separated bumpers following. Engines grew through 1.3 and 1.5 liters, with Super versions, and the US-market Speedster arrived for 1955. About 7,600 pre-A cars were built.
| Trim | Model years | Body | Engine | Power (hp) | Torque (lb-ft) | Drive | Transmission | 0–60 mph (s) | Top speed (mph) | Curb weight (lb) | Base MSRP (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 356 1100Porsche quotes 40 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. PS figure from secondary sources. | 1950–1954 | Coupe, Cabriolet | 1.1L air-cooled flat-4 | 39 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 1300Porsche quotes 44 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. | 1951–1955 | Coupe, Cabriolet | 1.3L air-cooled flat-4 | 43 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 1300 SuperPorsche quotes 60 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. (figure as listed for the 356 A 1300 Super). | 1954–1955 | Coupe, Cabriolet | 1.3L air-cooled flat-4 | 59 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 1500Porsche quotes 55 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. PS figure from secondary sources. | 1952–1955 | Coupe, Cabriolet | 1.5L air-cooled flat-4 | 54 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 1500 SuperPorsche quotes 70 PS (DIN); hp here is that figure converted, not a period US SAE rating. PS figure from secondary sources. | 1953–1955 | Coupe, Cabriolet | 1.5L air-cooled flat-4 | 69 | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
| 356 1500 SpeedsterLow, chopped-windshield open car with slot-in side windows, also offered as 1500 Super Speedster. Introduced late 1954 for the US market. | 1955 | Speedster | 1.5L air-cooled flat-4 | — | — | RWD | 4-speed manual | — | — | — | — |
Sources for 356 pre-A: Porsche Classic: Model 356 · Wikipedia: Porsche 356 (cross-check) · motor-car.net: Porsche 356 (1948–1955) · Porsche Classic: Model 356 A
0–60 mph figures are Porsche-claimed unless marked † (instrumented magazine test). "—" means we could not confirm the figure from a primary source. MSRP is US base price at launch, excluding destination.
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Related Porsche 356 pages
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Frequently asked questions
How many generations of the Porsche 356 are there?
This page covers 4 generations of the Porsche 356 sold in the US: 356 pre-A (1950–1955), 356A (1956–1959), 356B (1960–1963), 356C (1964–1965).
How much horsepower does a 356 C 1600 C have?
The 356 C 1600 C makes 74 hp from its 1.6L air-cooled flat-4 and a 109 mph top speed.
How much horsepower does a 356 B 1600 have?
The 356 B 1600 (1960–1963) makes 59 hp from its 1.6L air-cooled flat-4.
What is the most powerful and quickest Porsche 356?
The most powerful 356 listed here is the 356 B 2000 GS Carrera 2 at 128 hp.
What changed in the 356C?
The last 356 replaced the B in September 1963, looking almost identical but with four-wheel disc brakes as standard, recognisable by flat hub caps without the crest. The engine range was cut to three: the 75 PS 1600 C, the 95 PS 1600 SC and the 2.0-liter Carrera 2. Production ended in 1965, with final cars delivered in May 1966; about 16,700 were built.
How can I see how a specific Porsche 356 was optioned from the factory?
Spec tables show what each trim offered; the options on an individual car are recorded against its VIN. A Porsche build sheet decoded from the VIN lists the factory option codes, original paint and interior, as the car was built.
Sources
Figures were compiled by CarWhere from Porsche press material and model pages first, then instrumented tests from the car press where Porsche did not publish a US figure.
More Porsche reference
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- Porsche build sheet by VIN
Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with Porsche AG or Porsche Cars North America.