Reviews
Let's get this out of the way first: Porsche 356: 75th Anniversary Is the best book about cars I have ever read. Period. Part of the reason may be that the book focuses on a single model and follows its evolution from creation to perfection but the truth is that every aspect of this book has been produced with the highest quality. -- JoeFarace.com, "...tells the in-depth story and is a must-have book for anyone that loves Porsche and sports car history."-- StuttCars.com, "Gordon Maltby spent 26 years editing the Porsche 356 Registry, peering into all corners of the Porsche garage: the cars, the family, the designers, the production process, the side projects, the racing, the history, the sales, the trends, and the drivers. His new book, Porsche 356: 75th Anniversary, reflects that deep and wide experience in a way that no book by a first-time author ever could."-- Porsche 356 Registry
Synopsis
" Porsche 356: 75th Anniversary relates the full story of Porsche's original sports car from the first Gmund coupe to today's beloved collector car. Porsche's first car, the 356, entered the market in 1948 and celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023. Porsche 356: 75th Anniversary celebrates this iconic sports car that launched one of the greatest brands in automotive history. Ferdinand Porsche was a brilliant engineer who, prior to World War II, had been involved in a variety of significant automotive engineering developments including the first hybrid drive vehicles. From the early 1900s, Porsche was developing racing cars including the Mercedes SSK and the mighty Auto Union Grand Prix. During this period, Porsche also developed the groundbreaking Volkswagen, which would prove critical to his postwar, namesake automobile manufacturer. The Type 356 was developed by Ferdinand's son ""Ferry"" Porsche and introduced in 1948. Though the rear-engine layout was based on the Volkswagen, most similarities ended there. The 356 had a unique chassis, higher performing engine, and a handsome wind-cheating body. Little known outside Germany initially, by the early 1950s the 356s were lauded for their excellent handling, build quality, and growing volume of competition successes. Porsche's 356 evolved over its 17-year life through four distinct series: pre-A, A, B, and C, with coupes, cabriolets, Speedsters, Hardtops, and Roadsters among the many body variations. Equipped with the ""Carrera"" 4-cam engine, the 356 was a force in sports car racing. Dedicated competition models were developed beginning in 1953, and the Rennsport Spyders dominated road racing, endurance, and hill climb events for over a decade. The 356 story includes a cast of fascinating characters, from those engineers who designed the cars, to race drivers who built the ""giant-killer"" mystique, to owners like James Dean and Janis Joplin who fell in love with the little bathtub-shaped sports cars. From titled European gentlemen in the 1950s to movie stars like Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the 1960s, the first Porsches attracted enthusiasts and racers alike. Today, the car has an even wider following among collectors including Porsche fans like Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno. ""356 Fascination"" continues with ongoing restoration efforts, vintage racing, and an ""Outlaw"" movement, all enhanced by large-scale events that celebrate the car's history. Porsche 356 75th Anniversary tells the in-depth story and is a must-have book for anyone that loves Porsche and sports car history. ", Porsche 356: 75th Anniversary relates the full story of Porsche's original sports car from the first Gmund coupe to today's beloved collector car. Ferdinand Porsche was a brilliant engineer who, prior to World War II, had been involved in a variety of significant automotive engineering developments including the first hybrid drive vehicles. From the early 1900s, Porsche was developing racing cars including the Mercedes SSK and the mighty Auto Union Grand Prix. During this period, Porsche also developed the groundbreaking Volkswagen, which would prove critical to his postwar, namesake automobile manufacturer. The Typ 356 was developed by Ferdinand's son "Ferry" Porsche and introduced in 1948 . Though the rear-engine layout was based on the Volkswagen, most similarities ended there. The 356 had a unique chassis, higher performing engine, and a handsome wind-cheating body. Little known outside Germany initially, by the early 1950s the 356s were lauded for their excellent handling, build quality, and growing volume of competition successes . Porsche's 356 evolved over its 17-year life through four distinct series: pre-A, A, B, and C , with coupes, cabriolets, Speedsters, Hardtops, and Roadsters among the many body variations. Equipped with the "Carrera" 4-cam engine, the 356 was a force in sports car racing. Dedicated competition models were developed beginning in 1953, and the Rennsport Spyders dominated road racing, endurance, and hill climb events for over a decade. The 356 story includes a cast of fascinating characters , from those engineers who designed the cars, to race drivers who built the "giant-killer" mystique, to owners like James Dean and Janis Joplin who fell in love with the little bathtub-shaped sports cars. From titled European gentlemen in the 1950s to movie stars like Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the 1960s, the first Porsches attracted enthusiasts and racers alike. Today, the car has an even wider following among collectors including Porsche fans like Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno. "356 Fascination" continues with ongoing restoration efforts, vintage racing, and an "Outlaw" movement, all enhanced by large-scale events that celebrate the car's history. Porsche 356 75th Anniversary tells the in-depth story and is a must-have book for anyone that loves Porsche and sports car history., Porsche's first car, the 356, entered the market in 1948 and celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023. Porsche 356: 75th Anniversary celebrates this iconic sports car that launched one of the greatest brands in automotive history., Porsche 356: 75th Anniversary relates the full story of Porsche's original sports car from the first Gmund coupe to today's beloved collector car.
