“Porsche is the simplest definition of the term Gran Turismo—a machine that is ‘grand’ for ‘touring’—a status symbol of connoisseurs who know automobiles and appreciate fine points of design and craftsmanship.” — Car and Driver , 1960 As he completed his design for what would become the Porsche 356, little did Ferry Porsche know his seemingly simple shape would catapult the family firm into one of the most well-respected sports car manufacturers in the world.

A shape so iconic it has remained largely unaltered even as it closes in on its eighth decade in production, it is a design of such simplicity and perfection that any deviation from the norm would be, and has been, considered automotive sacrilege.

The most potent mechanical variation of the 356 was the Carrera model, which was powered by the slightly detuned, Fuhrmann-designed four-camshaft, 1,600-cubic-centimeter racing engine.

Available in both “GT” race specification and “GS” touring specification, Porsche made sure that the...