Experiencing the Porsche 356 Gmünd first-hand is like stepping right into a time capsule. The slim house between the steering wheel and the seat, attribute of late Forties design, presents a problem even for the slenderest of drivers, harking back to a bygone period.
This specific mannequin, an early instance of Porsche’s engineering finesse, hails from a time when the now-iconic sports activities vehicles had been manufactured not in Germany however in Austria. As a lifelong Porsche admirer, driving a genesis story was the stuff of fairytales, albeit a uncommon and costly one. With its worth estimated at a staggering $3.5 million from vendor, DK Engineering, proudly owning this piece of automotive historical past stays a fantasy, until fortune favours me in otherworldly methods.
The astronomical worth of this Porsche is because of its shortage, with its chassis quantity 356/2-0032 indicating its place within the first manufacturing run following the prototype. Not like its mid-engined prototype, the Gmünd manufacturing fashions featured a rear engine and retained the hand-beaten aluminium physique panels, akin to the VW Beetle, and the enduring 911.
Accomplished on June 12, 1950, this specific Porsche has a storied historical past, having been owned by early racing fanatic Gert Kaiser and varied notable collectors throughout the US and UK. Its current years have been spent in dry storage within the UK, however because it goes up on the market, it calls for and deserves the highlight as soon as once more.
Distinguishing options of this Gmünd automobile embody indicator levers on the entrance wheel arch and a cut up windscreen, components that had been current in fashions till 1953. Getting into the automobile is an train in agility, involving a novel pull-out door deal with and a cautious manoeuvre beneath the steering wheel.
Beginning the automobile is simple, requiring solely a flip of the important thing and a press of a hidden button beneath the sprint, all after the gas faucet has been opened. Nevertheless, driving it’s a completely totally different matter. The ground-mounted pedals and lack of synchromesh in 1st and 2nd on the gearbox require a stage of ability and persistence that trendy automatics have made us unaccustomed to. Navigating the gears is a deliberate course of, demanding exact timing and delicate dealing with, particularly given the automobile’s modest 40bhp output.
Driving the Porsche 356 Gmünd is a lesson in humility and nostalgia. On the hills of Lambourne, the automobile struggles to exceed 50km/h, however its air-cooled flat-four engine and transmission whine present a fascinating soundtrack to the leisurely tempo. The steering, whereas heavy, provides a real connection to the street, and opposite to expectations, the journey is surprisingly agency, transmitting each nuance of the street’s floor.
Encountering this historic Porsche was an unforgettable expertise. Its lack of velocity, by as we speak’s requirements, solely provides to its attraction. The following lucky proprietor of this 356 Gmünd ought to cherish and utilise this exceptional piece of Porsche’s legacy. It’s a car that not solely represents the origins of a legendary model but additionally a priceless snapshot of automotive historical past.
