Porsche 356 No 1
Ferry Porsche recalled the beginnings of the
Porsche 356 when celebrated his 75th birthday. "I can readily admit that the initiative came through Cisitalia. At the time, they were manufacturing a small sports car with a Fiat engine, so I said to myself: why shouldn't we do the same with Volkswagen parts? That is already what we did pre-World War II with the Berlin-Rome car."
The magnitude of the risk of such a venture was tremendous given the market's priority of economical and practical cars following a period of global warfare. But this did not stop Ferry Porsche from following his innate passion of creating a sports car.
In spring 1947, Ferry Porsche's "VW-Sports" (later known as the 356) received its first construction number and an aluminium roadster body was completed in February 1948. With a flat-four power unit and 1,290 lb (585 kg) in weight, it could reach a top speed of 84 mph (135 km/h). On 8 June 1948, the 356-001 was homologated as the first mid-engined Porsche sports car.
The production of Type 356/2 began in Gmünd in the latter half of 1948. Unlike the mid-engine prototype, the horizontally-opposed power unit was fitted to the back to create luggage space behind the first row. Rupprecht von Senger's investment and the contract with Volkswagenwerk to supply parts and use their distribution network declare Ferry Porsche's acumen as a businessperson and entrepreneur. An agreement was made on 17 September 1948 for Volkswagen to pay a licensing fee to Porsche for every Beetle sold, due to its development by Porsche pre-war. Furthermore, a management office established in Salzburg enabled the steady expansion of Porsche KG into a sports car magnate.
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