Does anybody know the mechanical /design changes differentiating these two model years.
Bill George
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Does anybody know the mechanical /design changes differentiating these two model years.
Bill George
Bill George
The biggest change was, of course, the discontinuation of the Speedster in favor of the Convertible D. There are significant difference between those two and the Cab as well. For the most comprehensive list of changes refer to Dr. Brett Johnson's book 'The 356 Porsche, A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity.
Waittttttttt! There were 58 Speedsters. Here's a list of 58 GTs and Carrera Speedsters! Courtesy of Johan Wellens' excellent site.
home.tiscali.be/johan-wellens/58.htm
And here's a regular (well, a pristine restoration) 1600 model, circa 1958:
www.356registry.org/Members/Bernardinelli/
I may be mistaken but I think 59 was the last of the Speedsters, and these were limited run GTs and Carreras.
home.tiscali.be/johan-wellens/58.htm
And here's a regular (well, a pristine restoration) 1600 model, circa 1958:
www.356registry.org/Members/Bernardinelli/
I may be mistaken but I think 59 was the last of the Speedsters, and these were limited run GTs and Carreras.
In the replicar world I've often wondered why some folks refer to theirs as a '57...mine was sold to me as a '58. Mid way thru '57 in Porsche world they started changing out the tail lights, opting for the tear drop style, but other than that whazzz up?
I saw a 1958 R&T roadtest article for that years Speedster, it shows exhaust tailpipes exiting thru the bumper guards. I'm guessing nobody has a replica set up that way, that may be why we mostly call them 57's.
Henry does exhaust that way if requested.
Paul- Besides the taillight change in mid '57, Porsche also changed the location of the inner door handle (early cars located in middle of door while later cars had them higher & to the inside more), the outer door handles changed, the e-brake & inner handles were made smooth (no more groove) Of course the ever popular "low-bow" & "high-bow" controversy, etc....
According to Gordon Maltby (Porsche 356 and RS Spyders, copyright 1991)
Most of the differences between a 1957 and 1958 were mechanical (as outlined earlier in this thread, especially by Mike and Glenn) but there were some body/trim changes:
1957: The introduction of the T-2 body. Teardrop tail lights were introduced in place of the bee-hives, the rear license light was a shine-up in place of a shine-down. Some misc. trim pieces were phased in during the year as stock was depleted (hard to say what and when). Slightly higher top bows and slightly larger rear window. Glaspar (from California) hard top introduced at dealers in America. 644 transmission introduced - the so-called "tunnel case" because the innards were installed through one open end of the housing, which was one-piece, rather than a split case.
1958: Convertible "D" (for Drauz, who produced the body) introduced, becoming the "darling" of Zuffenhausen, who never liked the "cheaper" Speedster. The "D" was only produced for two years, included a higher windshield and roll-up windows and a significantly plusher interior. For the 1958 Speedster, carb linkage was from lever arms operating from a shaft in front of the fan shroud. Shifter was moved back, while heater knob was moved slightly forward. Slightly larger 425mm steering wheel installed (most of these were changed to Nardi's in the states) along with a ZF steering box. Slightly different outside door handle shape (undefined by Maltby but probably similar to the 356 "C" version). Changed to the type 716 transmission (stronger, but tougher shifting) in December, 1958.
In September, 1959, they introduced the "C" model for 1960, ending the Speedster.
Put all these posts together and you'll come pretty close, I guess.
Most of the differences between a 1957 and 1958 were mechanical (as outlined earlier in this thread, especially by Mike and Glenn) but there were some body/trim changes:
1957: The introduction of the T-2 body. Teardrop tail lights were introduced in place of the bee-hives, the rear license light was a shine-up in place of a shine-down. Some misc. trim pieces were phased in during the year as stock was depleted (hard to say what and when). Slightly higher top bows and slightly larger rear window. Glaspar (from California) hard top introduced at dealers in America. 644 transmission introduced - the so-called "tunnel case" because the innards were installed through one open end of the housing, which was one-piece, rather than a split case.
1958: Convertible "D" (for Drauz, who produced the body) introduced, becoming the "darling" of Zuffenhausen, who never liked the "cheaper" Speedster. The "D" was only produced for two years, included a higher windshield and roll-up windows and a significantly plusher interior. For the 1958 Speedster, carb linkage was from lever arms operating from a shaft in front of the fan shroud. Shifter was moved back, while heater knob was moved slightly forward. Slightly larger 425mm steering wheel installed (most of these were changed to Nardi's in the states) along with a ZF steering box. Slightly different outside door handle shape (undefined by Maltby but probably similar to the 356 "C" version). Changed to the type 716 transmission (stronger, but tougher shifting) in December, 1958.
In September, 1959, they introduced the "C" model for 1960, ending the Speedster.
Put all these posts together and you'll come pretty close, I guess.
The 644 transaxle was introduced in 1956; some minor transaxle changes (synchros, mounts, etc.) occurred later - see Dr. Thiriar's book.