356 World: Keeping Bathtubs Alive

Because the Porsche 356 is so frequently and enthusiastically raced, it is easy to forget that it is really a touring car that has adapted well to competition. The factory quickly recognized the inherent limitations of the 356, and prototypes of both the legendary 550 Spyder and the four-cam Carrera engine were being tested as early as 1953. The fact that this happened two full years before the release of the 356A should indicate the priority Porsche placed on its racing program!

Despite its shortcomings, the humble 356 was still a decent performer on the track. As a club racer, it was a respected opponent, and by the mid-1950’s, the powerful new Carrera engine had found a welcome home in the back of the 356. The new engine increased horsepower by a full one-third, offering 110HP(DIN) to the 70HP of the 1500S. With such a powerful engine, there was no reason to expect that the 356 couldn’t continue to earn a living on the track.

Beginning in November 1955, the Carrera 356’s were outfitted to one of two specifications, either GS or GT. The GS-spec cars were the “street” cars, and retained all the standard equipment that the Porsche customer had come to expect. Also noteworthy is that the GS cars had a slightly detuned Carrera engine of 100HP…a clear admission by Porsche that these engines were very temperamental, and the loss of a few horsepower was a fair trade for increased reliability on the street.

The GT cars, however, were an aggressive development of the basic 356, and reflected the experience of both the factory and private owners in fielding competitive cars. The primary goal of the GT specification was weight reduction, and the cars left Stuttgart with no undercoating, sound insulation, or even carpeting! Simpler bumpers with plain aluminum trim were standard on these cars, although bumpers were usually removed before racing. Additional GT-spec equipment included upgraded drum brakes, and the now-valuable “GT gas-tank”, which allowed 80 liters of fuel versus 52 liters for the standard cars.

A Porsche 356 Super-90GT as seen at Lime Rock's Rennsport Reunion in 2001. Only a handful of these cars were ever made. Note the decklid louvers, simple bumpers, and the famous "GT-script" on the rear of the car. That signaled serious intentions! (GHill photo)

As history has shown, these were successful cars, but improvements became necessary as competition heated up in both Europe and the US. With the release of the new “T-2” series in 1957, the GT specification was expanded to include the addition of aluminum doors, hoods, and engine covers. The engine covers also received louvers in 1958, which gave a decidedly aggressive look to the rear end. Side windows were changed to lightweight Plexiglas, and the heavy window regulators were removed as well. A notched leather strap now controlled the window height! Aluminum Speedster-style seats were also included, and were much lighter and supportive than the Coupe seats. A factory roll bar was optional equipment, and many of the GT cars had this installed, especially the Speedster GT’s...for obvious reasons.

Big changes came in 1960 with the “T-5” series. The GT-spec was still an option, but the Carrera engine was not! Outside of a handful made for special customers, the finicky four-cam was laid to rest for a few years to be re-engineered. Without the Carrera engine around, a new club racer was made available…the S-90GT. This was a T-5 Super-90 coupe in GT-trim, but it was no slouch either! The hot new S-90 engine was a real tiger, and it weighed much less than the Carrera motor, so the car’s handling was significantly better.

The final chapter in the GS/GT story was the Carrera-2 series. However, despite having more horsepower than before, the new Carrera-2 showed clear signs of obsolescence on the track, and most of them were outfitted to the GS-spec, which had none of the race-oriented modifications, and really just amounted to the Carrera-2 engine upgrade in a luxury car package.

The GS/GT series of 356’s allowed Porsche to provide for their customers a respectable competition car during the company’s early years. The 550 Spyders and Formula cars were developed for serious international racing, but the heart and soul of Porsche motorsports really lies with the club racers, and during the 1950’s and early 60’s, those racers drove their way to the winner’s circle in 356GTs.

Zuffenhausen’s Hot Rods...the 356GT’s!