Based on Ferry Porsche’s ideas, the first car bearing the Porsche name was constructed in the Austrian town of Gmünd. On June 8, 1948, the 356 “No. 1” Roadster received its general operating permit. This is generally considered to be the birth date of the Porsche brand. The aluminium body and steel lattice tube frame were created by Porsche. The mechanics were borrowed from Volkswagen and modified. A performance-enhanced four-cylinder flat engine from VW was located in front of the rear axle. The “No. 1” remained a truly one-off unit, as the series-production version was fitted with a rear-mounted engine and, from 1950 onwards, a steel body.
Specifications
| Model Year | 1948 |
| Engine | 4-Cyl. Boxer |
| Displacement | 1131 cc |
| Power Output | 26 kW (35 HP) |
| Top Speed | 135 km/h |
