Porsche 356 No. 1 Roadster
Porsche's first name-bearing sports car was a hand-built aluminium roadster with its tiny flat-four mounted just behind the seats.
Porsche 356 Nr. 1 Roadster 1948.jpg · leduardo · CC BY 2.0
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More than a set of wheels.
Ferry Porsche and the Gmünd team created chassis 356.001 in post-war Austria, initially calling the project VW Sport. It received its general operating permit on 8 June 1948, the date Porsche treats as the brand's birth. The No. 1 stayed unique: the 356/2 cars developed alongside it used a box-section frame, moved the engine behind the rear axle and became the first small production series.
Look a little closer.
Only about a month after becoming road legal, the No. 1 won its class at the Innsbruck city race.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Volkswagen pieces arranged into a new sports car
The engine, front axle, steering, wheels and brakes came from the Volkswagen Beetle, but Porsche changed their job and surroundings. A steel lattice-tube frame carried a hand-shaped aluminium body, and the engine moved ahead of the rear axle to concentrate weight near the middle for cornering grip.
Source: Porsche Newsroom · The Number 1 lives on ↗One prototype, then a different production answer
The 356 No. 1 was not simply the first production 356. The 356/2 that followed used a steel box frame, a rear-mounted 40-PS engine and room for tiny rear seats and luggage. The prototype therefore matters both as the first Porsche and as an experiment whose lessons were rearranged for production.
Source: Porsche Newsroom · Made in Austria ↗Where these facts come from
- Porsche Museum · 356 No. 1 Roadster
- Porsche Classic · Model 356
- Porsche Newsroom · Made in Austria
- Porsche Newsroom · The Number 1 lives on
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.