Footnotes

• Although Ferdinand Porsche had established his automotive design consultancy in the early 1930s, his name would not appear on a car until 1949. When it did, it graced one of the all-time great sports cars: the Porsche 356. Having commenced manufacture with a short run of aluminium-bodied cars built at Gmünd, Porsche began volume production of the steel-bodied 356 coupé at its old base in Stuttgart, at first in premises shared with coachbuilders Reutter and then (from 1955) in its original factory at Zuffenhausen.
  The work of Ferry Porsche, the 356 was based on the Volkswagen designed by his father and, like the immortal 'Beetle', employed a platform-type chassis with rear-mounted air-cooled engine and all-independent torsion bar suspension. Regularly revised and updated, Porsche's landmark sports car would remain in production well into the 911 era, the final examples being built in 1965.
  Outwardly very similar to the final 356Bs, the ultimate 356C model arrived in 1963 sporting four-wheel disc brakes - first seen on the 2.0-litre Carrera 2 - among numerous detail improvements. Engines available - both of 1.6 litres - were the 75bhp 'C' and 95bhp 'SC', the latter replacing the Super 90. Testing a 356C in 1964, Road & Track enthused over its comfort, quality and excellent performance, concluding, 'one would look a long time before finding a sports or GT car that offers more pure driving enjoyment.'
  A left-hand drive model dating from the penultimate year of production, this 356C remained with its first owner until his death in 1995, whereupon it was inherited by his business partner (the current vendor) and restored over the course of the next year or so. Accompanying documentation includes the original purchase documents and German registration papers (for the cherished number 'S-AU 111') together with all bills. Also included in the sale is a large quantity of spare parts, various maintenance manuals, the original Continental-specification headlamps, luggage rack and special suitcase for the boot. Finished in slate grey with black/Pepita interior, the latter equipped with electric sunroof in working order, the car is described as in generally very good condition and offered with Swansea V5. It should be noted that the engine has been changed.
  

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Category: Motoring / Motor Cars

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