1965 Porsche 356C

The Porsche 356C, manufactured between 1964 and 1965, was a sports coupe and Cabriolet designed by Porsche internal designer Erwin Komenda. It featured a rear-mounted flat-4 cylinder engine driving the rear wheels.

The Porsche 356C was introduced for the 1964 model year and was designated in-house as the T6. Exterior changes from the 356B were minimal, with the hubcaps being the only distinguishing 'C' feature that indicated this was a car now with all-round disc brakes. Also the round exterior mirror, common to the B model, was carried over.

The range of engines for the Porsche 356C was reduced to three, with the existing 60hp version in the 356B was phased out. Instead, the 75hp engine of the previous 1600 Super represented the entry-level engine. The final and most powerful version of the 356C's engines was the 2000GS Carrera delivering 130hp.

The Porsche 356C was the final model before the introduction of the all-new 911 and focused on mechanical rather than aesthetic improvements. The 1964 and 1965 cars culminated with the pushrod-operated SC engine and the complex quad-cam Carrera 2 unit. This model also served as development for Porsche into the widespread use of all-round disc brakes and much work was undertaken to improve the tail heavy bias of earlier cars with the addition of larger anti-roll bars and a steering damper.

With any Porsche 356 purchase, body and chassis condition are major considerations. The Karmann bodied 'C' is notoriously prone to structural corrosion and restoration costs are expensive. Thankfully, a thriving owners club and good parts availability ensure this is less of a challenging prospect.

For the present day, Porsche 356 owners enjoy an enthusiastic reception to their cars. From the evolution of the Pre A models to the last of the C derivatives, all have encouraging investment potential with early cars and Carrera GS models commanding high premiums.

Throughout its production, the Porsche 356 was never presented with any credible competition from equivalent manufacturers. The Jaguar E-Type, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, and AC Ace all offered similar characteristics in isolation but it was the 356 that brought this together in one package. The final C models were the ultimate evolution of this, showcasing many features to appear in the eagerly awaited Porsche 911.