Porsche 356 A (1955 to 1959)

Following its predecessor -the Pre-A 356- the Porsche 356 A was introduced in late 1955 as the evolution of Porsche's first production model. With numerous small but significant changes, this new generation was introduced with the internal factory designation "Type 1" (also known as the "T1") and initially offered three body styles: Coupe, Cabriolet, and Speedster (later replaced by the Convertible D). For the Coupe and Cabriolet, exterior changes included a curved windshield that replaced the “bent” windshield of the Pre-A model, as well as a major change to the interior dashboard, which now had a padded top and a more modern look. Engine displacement options included both 1300 and 1600 cc motors, both of which were also offered as more powerful "S" variants (more power and torque). Additionally, a high-performance variant denoted as the 356 A Carrera was offered, which featured the race-derived 1500 cc four-cam engine developed for the Porsche 550 Spyder. In early 1957 a second revision of the 356 A was introduced, known as Type 2 (or T2), which featured minor cosmetic changes, including a new dashboard and teardrop taillights. In late 1959, the 356 A generation was replaced by the Porsche 356 B.