This 356 Proves It’s More Fun to Drive a Slow Car Fast

I know what this website is called, and I admit my bias in favor of Porsche’s classic flat-four models. I love the 356. After Studebakers, these were the first classics to really capture my imagination. Seeing someone as jaded by high-horsepower monsters as Matt Farah getting his kicks in a 356 warms my heart. The owners of this blue 356A sent Matt out for a spin, and he came away with nothing but kind words for the overturned clawfoot bathtub. Though the owner said the steering box was in need of some attention, this very early A looks like a nicely cared for driver. The vibrant color might be a little much for some, but to my eyes this A is absolutely charming.

Compared to a 911 there is no escaping just how primitive a 356 really is, especially an A. 4-wheel aluminum drum brakes, pushrods, and Beetle-style torsion bars front and rear doesn’t sound like much, but the way everything in a 356 works in harmony is what makes them special. This car, with a claimed 85 horsepower, probably felt quite punchy even with the added weight of two grown men.

To young people, low horsepower cars can be a hard sell. I know this, I am a(fairly) young person. The Jeremy Clarkson “more must be better” mentality is hard to escape. A car with 500 horsepower immediately has something to grab your attention over one with 400, and one with 300 is hardly worth discussing. This sort of mentality can leave the sub-100 horsepower sports car looking somewhat lost in the automotive landscape. For having fun without losing your license however, the 356 is a truly special machine.