Porsche Number One

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Wikipedia: The Porsche 356/1 was the first real Porsche car created by Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche. This prototype car was a two-seater open roadster with a mid-mounted, air-cooled flat-4 engine of 1,131 cc displacement that produced 40 horsepower (30 kW). While the body was an original design, most of the mechanicals (including engine and suspension) were derived from the Volkswagen Beetle which Ferry's father, Ferdinand Porsche, had designed.



The aluminum roadster body of the 356/1 was designed by Porsche employee Erwin Komenda in April 1948 at Gmünd and completed only a month later. Smooth and low, the 356/1 set the pattern for later 356s with one fundamental difference; the engine of the production cars was moved behind the rear axle (to reduce costs and make room for two additional seats). The car was registered by the state of Carinthia (Kärnten) with the license plate K45-286 and made its maiden voyage on June 8, 1948.



I found this 1/24 scale diecast (Maisto) in a toy store several years ago, paid $3 IIRC. They had two and I bought both. I gave the other one to a resin caster in hopes I could convince them to cast it – no luck so far. Did a little detailing to the model but not much more.

[slim]

Great story and model, thanks for posting!

[dustymojave]

I've had one of those Maisto die casts for many years too. It's actually pretty good and in 1/24 scale. It's interesting that the original car is kept in museum and occasionally brought out to show as in the photos, with later model Porsche wheels. Maisto modeled it with those later wheels. But I like 'em better than the wheel covers the car originally had anyway. It probably had standard Bug non-perforated wheels on it under those wheel covers originally.

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Read last night the Porsche slotted steel wheels have (10) holes while the VW version has (8).

[dustymojave]

Those VW Bug wheels are 4-lug, not 5-lug. I think the 5-lug wheels have 10 slots. But I'd have to go outside to check some of mine. I have some Porsche wheels too. One difference is that the VW wheels, both 4-lug and 5-lug, have oval slots, while the Porsche wheels have slots in more of a 'D' shape.

[Joel_W]

JC,
Thanks for sharing. I'm finding myself more and more drawn into the Porsche family both race and street. To bad I'll never be able to afford the read deal, but modeling is still way better then nothing at all.

Joel

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I'm with you Joel, I must satisfy my Porsche addiction with scale version as well. On the plus side I can own (almost) as many of them as I wish.