The work of Ferry Porsche, and one of the all-time great sports cars, the 356 was based on the Volkswagen designed by his father.

Like the immortal 'Beetle', the 356 employed a platform-type chassis with rear-mounted air-cooled engine and torsion bar all-independent suspension.

In 1951 a works car finished first in the 1,100cc class at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race, thus beginning the marque's long and illustrious association with Le Sarthe.

Constant development saw the 356's engine grow first to 1.3 and then to 1.5 litres, the original split windscreen replaced by a one-piece, and a Porsche synchromesh gearbox adopted.

1955 marked the arrival of the 356A, the newcomer being readily distinguished by its rounded windscreen and 15" - down from 16" - wheels.

Numerous styling revisions differentiated the 356B of 1959 from its immediate predecessor, and the engine - now standardised at 1600cc - was available in three different stages of tune, the most powerful - apart from the four-cam Carr...