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Porsche 356 Review

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Work began on what ended up to be the Porsche 356 during the Second World War when Ferry (Ferdinand) Porsche and a group of his faithful employees moved to Gmünd in Kà¤rnten, Austria. Drawings were completed in mid-1947, and a year later the government issued a permit approving the car.

The mid-engine roadster, originally made of light alloy, offers 1131 cc and up to 35 horsepower. The tubular chassis combined with the light engine made the car extremely quick for its time, and over the years the model evolved and became a rear engine car - although the iconic body shape never changed. After winning at the Innsbruck city race on its first outing, why would you want to change something so famous?

The Porsche 356 is a relatively obtainable car although many enthusiasts are now turning to kit cars to make the experience more enjoyable. Should you want to buy an original model, the best place to start looking is at classic car sites and auctions, although before you hand over any cash be sure to check the authenticity so you don't end up out of pocket.

There are a myriad of different 356 models, and as such you should know which one in particular you're looking for. Of course, with the body keeping its famous shape all of them look the same, which is why you'll need a spotter's eye. One way to spot an older model (pre 1955) is the windscreen; seen from above, older models make a slight V opposed to the curved windscreens of later models. Another thing to look for is the hood handle - should this have a hole in, it is likely that the car was made after 1952, as prior to this the handle was a full metal strip.

As you will know, classic cars require a little more love and attention than modern vehicles, but it is part of their charm and character - and once you get to know them a little bit better it's likely you'll hardly notice it. One top tip from engineers is to give your classic cars a proper engine warm up; this helps to avoid the gathering of harmful condensation in the engine and exhausts of older cars.

If you're only driving a short distance it is worth using a 'drive-away' warm up which allows you to drive off after around 30 seconds of the engine being on. It is the case that if you allow the engine to warm up whilst idle that the frictional wear of the engine will be less, although if you are not driving long enough for any condensation created to boil and evaporate it can cause issues wherever it gathers – most commonly in the crank shaft. However if you are driving long distances it is best to allow an idle engine warm up.

Amongst other things, the tyre pressure for classic cars varies from their modern counterparts and the Porsche 356 is no exception. Because of the lightness of this model and the unusual weight distribution, the pressure required is different from front to rear. Most manuals suggest a 24/28psi from front to back because the rear engine makes the car bottom heavy.

Of course, taking the time to offer your 356 care and attention is futile if you were then to have your pride and joy stolen or if it was involved in an accident without adequate Insurance. There are many providers now that offer specific classic car Insurance such as Cherished Carolenash, taking into account the extra needs of a classic car and how much they are cherished.
 

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