Porsche 356 production numbers – How many 356s were built?

The Porsche 356 was built from 1948 to 1965. As the first vehicle sold under the Porsche brand’s own name, it was an instant hit. By the time the 911 was launched, Porsche 356 production figures had increased from an initial 52 units to over 10,000 vehicles per year.

Porsche 356 production numbers creeped up year by year

It is sometimes difficult to reconstruct the exact production numbers of different Porsche models. The Porsche 356 production numbers are no different. However, it is now possible to determine the amount of produced Porsche 356 models by year and model series to a certain degree.

All Porsche 356 offered on Elferspot

View all

A total of over 78,000 Porsche 356s were built between 1948 and 1965. Within a few years Ferdinand Porsche’s small engineering office had become a serious sports car manufacturer. As early as 1951, more than 1,000 Porsche 356s rolled off the production line. By 1964, Porsche 356 production had risen to 10,575 units.

Porsche 356 production numbers – How many Porsche 356s were built across the different model series?

Four generations, or model series, of the Porsche 356 were produced between 1948 and 1965. The original models, i.e. those Porsche 356s built between model year 1948 and 1955, are referred to as 356 pre-A. Its subsequent generations are called Porsche 356 A, 356 B and 356 C. The Porsche 356 A was built from model year 1956 to 1959, the 356 B from model year 1960 to 1963 and the Porsche 356 C, as the crowning glory, in model years 1964 and 1965. Although some vehicles were still produced in 1966.

The rapid growth in Porsche 356 production numbers during its lifecycle meant that the numbers of the model series differed significantly in some cases. For example, the Porsche 356 pre-A’s total production number is at 9,100 vehicles built from the model years 1950 to 1955. In comparison there were already 20,541 Porsche 356 A models built in the model years 1956 to 1959.

The Porsche 356 B can boast the highest production figures within the 356 model series. In total, 31,811 Porsche 356 B were built from 1960 to 1963. The last generation, the Porsche 356 C, was built “only” 16,811 times in the model years 1964 to 1966.

Porsche 356 quantities – What is the rarest Porsche 356 model?

The rarest models are of course of particular interest to collectors. The lower the volume, the greater the car’s value. But which Porsche 356 is the rarest? This honour goes to the one-off Porsche 356 Roadster No. 1, built in Gmünd, Austria. It has a mid-engine and saw the light of day on 8 June 1948. A date which is considered the birth of the Porsche brand. Between 1948 and 1950, 52 Porsche 356/2s were also built in Gmünd. The Porsche 356s produced in Gmünd had an aluminium body in contrast to the later steel bodies.

The Porsche 356 pre-A America Roadster from the 1952 and 1953 model years is also one of the rarest Porsche 356s. Porsche made between 16 and 21 examples, depending on the source. Of the 356 A models, the Porsche 356 A 1500 GS Carrera GT is the rarest with 35 cars built in total between 1957 and 1958. The 200 km/h Porsche 356 B 1600 GS Carrera GT is one of the rarest Porsche 356 B models, with only 40 vehicles produced. However, the 356 B 1600 GS Carrera GTL Abarth disputes the title of rarest Porsche 356 B with only 21 cars made. Among the later C models, the Porsche 356 C 2000 GS Carrera 2 is the rarest, with 126 built.

Some of the rarest Porsche 356 models are for sale!

View all

Porsche 356 production numbers – Coupe/Cabrio/Speedster comparison

There are not only major differences between the production numbers of the individual Porsche 356 model series. The numbers also vary significantly between the body styles. In some cases, however, it is not possible to determine down to the last model how many models were sold as coupes or convertibles/roadsters/speedsters.

At 6,252 units, Porsche 356 pre-A Coupe production numbers were more than twice as high as for the Cabriolet with 1,593 units, 16 to 21 America Roadsters and 1,234 Speedsters. The ratio of Porsche 356 A production figures is more balanced. There were 13,016 Coupes compared to a total of 7,525 open-top versions. Of these, 3,285 were convertibles, 2,910 were Speedsters and 1,330 were Convertible Ds.

At 20,597, the number of Porsche 356 B Coupe units sold was around twice as high as the open-top versions with 9,096 units. The Porsche 356 B Hardtop Coupe, with its 1,747 vehicles, plays a special role here. The situation is even clearer for the Porsche 356 C. At 3,175 units, the number of Porsche 356 Cs in open-top form is significantly lower than the production figures for the 356 C Coupe at 13,510 units. This figure does not include the 126 GS Carrera 2.

© title image: Porsche AG