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Caramba Carrera - Porsche 356 Carrera in the (historic) test

Name: Porsche 356 Carrera 1956
Brand: Porsche

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Created on March 1, 1957

Text:

R. A. Sant

Photos:

Archiv Porsche AG

Porsche AG / Porsche Schweiz AG

Archiv

Archiv Porsche AG

Porsche AG / Porsche Schweiz AG

Archiv

Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - the lady also seems to be taken with the fast Porsche

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Porsche 356 A Carrera Coupé (1956) - the Carrera Coupé of the 1956 model year

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Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - elegant, functional and incredibly fast

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Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - Steering wheel and dashboard of the fast Porsche

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Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - the king-shaft engine

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Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - the engine of the Carrera, seen from the front

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Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - the Carrera engine seen from behind

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Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - View into the trunk at the front

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Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - the two ignition distributors are controlled directly by the crankshaft

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Porsche 356 A 1600 Carrera GT 'V2' (1957)

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Porsche 356 A Carrera (1961) - Werner Rüfenacht at the 3rd Slalom of Payerne

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Porsche 356 Speedster Carrera (1957) - Goetze, Strähle and von Frankenberg set three international automobile records over 1000 miles, 2000 km and 12 hours

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Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - elegant, funktionell und sauschnell

Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - Lenkrad und Amaturenbrett des schnellen Porsche

Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - der Königswellen-Motor

Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - der Motor des Carrera, von der Stirnseite gesehen

Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - der Carrera-Motor von hinten gesehen

Porsche 356 Carrera (1958) - Blick in den Kofferraum im Bug

Summary

With the 'Carrera', Porsche launched the most powerful 356 in 1955. 105 and 110 hp respectively seemed almost astronomical for a 1.6-liter engine in the mid-fifties, so the Porsche engineers had to dig deep into their bag of tricks and technology and draw on their motorsport experience. It almost goes without saying that the world and the magazine 'hobby' were impressed by the result. This article reproduces the text of a driving report at the time, including the test values. The Carrera is shown in historical photographs.

This article contains the following chapters

Differences only in the technology
On board the racing car
From gentle lamb to wild tiger
Common sense helps the service life
No oversteer?
Suitable for everyday use
Heating could be improved
City versus sports setting
Quite expensive, but also very fascinating

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Outside our garden door, I briefly pressed the horn three times. Erika immediately appeared, already booted and spurred, to test drive one of the fastest production cars in the world. I got out, threw myself into position and said with the solemnity appropriate to the moment: "May I introduce you: Porsche 'Carrera'!" Erika bowed her head majestically and replied just as solemnly: "Thank you very much, I'm delighted to make the acquaintance of such a famous car." She then glanced inquiringly at the low, vermilion coupe. And promptly came the question I had been quietly waiting for: "Tell me, the car looks exactly like a normal Porsche ... ?"

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