1958 PORSCHE 356A DAMEN
The car was bought from a frient who have had it for ages. This car was original in all ways except the set of Weber carburetors and the 5.5 wide rims. This car was also an emotional buy as my friend owned it when I bought the first 356A. We used this car on the Tour De Namib where we had some misfortunes that resulted in severe engine damage.
The Driving impressions of the 356A
Here are some of my impressions with regards to driveability You must keep in mind that the older cars should not be compared to the technology available today .
Performance :
This ?58 was not a very fast car. The acceleration was smooth and the revs shot up to 6000 very easy. This was due to the WEBER carburetor conversion. This car was faster than a 60 HP but slower than the SUPER. What made this car special was the sound. The WEBERS were making some pretty good noises at 100 MPH.
Handling :
The 356 was good in this category. This car had widened rims a full 6?. This changed the cars looks entirely and the rims filled the wheel arch gaps better. This car could handle and the reason was the wider wheels.
Braking ability :
The braking ability of this car was good and it could handle any high way traffic with no problem.
Overall:
These cars are still very solid and on long trips they were quite enjoyable. I never got tired driving these cars, even on the long tours to NAMIBIA. Approx. 800 mile !!!!!!.
The Technical specification of the 356A
Engine capacity- (cc) : 1600
Horsepower - (HP) : 70 S.A.E.
Torque - lb/ft : 85
Maximum REVs - (RPM) : 6000
Maximum Speed MPH : 100
Weight in Kg's : 905
Forward Gears : 4
Brakes : Drums allround
