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Porsche 356 (A): Options & Equipment

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We haven’t sourced any option prices for this generation yet. The options and codes below are documented from period materials, but pricing for these cars lives in build sheets and dealer paperwork we’re still tracking down. Got some? Use any “+ add data” button below.

The Porsche 356 (A) was offered for the 1956–1959 model years. This page documents 61 equipment codes across 11 trims for the United States market, grouped into 8 categories. Select a trim at left to see its specific options and standard equipment. “No charge” marks no-cost equipment and “—” marks an option whose period price has not yet been sourced. Showing 1959 prices: “Not offered” marks equipment that wasn’t on that year’s order sheet, which is different from a price we haven’t sourced.

Background

The 356 A replaced the original 356 in October 1955 and was sold in the US for the 1956 to 1959 model years. A curved one-piece windscreen replaced the bent screen, wheel diameter fell from 16 to 15 inches, and the dashboard was revised. It was the first 356 for which Porsche used model years.

The pushrod flat-four grew to 1.6 litres, in standard 1600 and higher-output 1600 Super form. The Carrera used the 1.5-litre Type 547 engine, with two overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, developed for the 550 Spyder racing car. All versions used a four-speed manual gearbox.

The body styles were the coupé, the cabriolet, which could be fitted with a removable hardtop from 1958, and the Speedster. The Speedster was replaced for 1959 by the Convertible D, named for the coachbuilder Drauz, which had a taller windscreen and roll-up side windows. Reutter continued to build the coupé and cabriolet bodies.

Body Styles

Coupe
Cabriolet / Speedster

Model Range

TrimBodyModel yearsCurb weightBase price (USD)
356 A 1600 CoupeCoupe1956–1959885 kg$3,665
356 A 1600 Super CoupeCoupe1956–1959885 kg$4,115
356 A 1600 CabrioletCabriolet1956–1959905 kg$3,915
356 A 1600 Super CabrioletCabriolet1956–1959905 kg$4,365
356 A 1600 SpeedsterSpeedster1956–1958—$3,200
356 A 1600 Super SpeedsterSpeedster1956–1958——
356 A 1600 Convertible DRoadster1959—$3,581
356 A 1600 Super Convertible DRoadster1959—$4,031
356 A Carrera 1500 GS CoupeCoupe1956–1959—$5,700
356 A Carrera 1500 GS CabrioletCabriolet1956–1959—$5,900
356 A Carrera 1500 GS SpeedsterSpeedster1956–1958—$5,200

Performance & Sound

CodeOptionAvailabilityPrice, 1959 (USD)Ref
—80-litre (21 US gal) fuel tank6 trims—

Chassis & Brakes

CodeOptionAvailabilityPrice, 1959 (USD)Ref
—Koni shock absorbers, set of four6 trims—

Exterior Design

CodeOptionAvailabilityPrice, 1959 (USD)Ref
—Outside rear-view mirror, left8 trimsNot offered
—Steel sliding sunroof, manually operated (Golde)356 A 1600 Coupe, 356 A 1600 Super Coupe—
—Steel sliding sunroof, electrically operated (Golde)356 A 1600 Coupe, 356 A 1600 Super Coupe—
—Luggage rack, silver finish8 trimsNot offered
—Luggage rack, body colour8 trimsNot offered
—Luggage rack, chrome-plated6 trims—
—Chrome side trim strips6 trimsNot offered
—Supplementary plexiglass side windows for draught-free ventilation8 trimsNot offered
—Wind wings (coupe)356 A 1600 Coupe, 356 A 1600 Super Coupe—
—Reinforced US-type bumpers6 trims—
—Chrome-plated bumpers6 trims—
—Zip-on tonneau cover356 A 1600 Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Super Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Speedster, 356 A 1600 Super SpeedsterNot offered
—Plastic cover for the folded top356 A 1600 Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Super Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Convertible D, 356 A 1600 Super Convertible D—
—Additional soft top (cabriolet)356 A 1600 Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Super Cabriolet—
—Removable steel hardtop (cabriolet)356 A 1600 Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Super Cabriolet, 356 A Carrera 1500 GS CabrioletNot offered
—Electric windshield washer6 trims—
—Leather bonnet straps, pair6 trims—

Lighting

CodeOptionAvailabilityPrice, 1959 (USD)Ref
—Fog lamps, pair (bumper- or body-mounted)8 trimsNot offered
—Removable headlight grilles8 trimsNot offered
—Chrome headlight hoods6 trimsNot offered

Seats

CodeOptionAvailabilityPrice, 1959 (USD)Ref
—Headrests (leather, leatherette or corduroy)8 trimsNot offered
—Front bench seat with divided, reclining backrests356 A 1600 Coupe, 356 A 1600 Super Coupe, 356 A 1600 Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Super Cabriolet—
—Reclining mechanism for the standard seats356 A 1600 Coupe, 356 A 1600 Super Coupe, 356 A 1600 Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Super CabrioletNot offered
—Reclining seats, pair (Convertible D)356 A 1600 Convertible D, 356 A 1600 Super Convertible D—
—Bucket seat (Convertible D)356 A 1600 Convertible D, 356 A 1600 Super Convertible D—
—Coupe-type seats for the Speedster356 A 1600 Speedster, 356 A 1600 Super SpeedsterNot offered
—Foam-filled driver's seat cushion (Speedster)356 A 1600 Speedster, 356 A 1600 Super SpeedsterNot offered
—Safety belt, one seat8 trimsNot offered

Comfort & Assistance

CodeOptionAvailabilityPrice, 1959 (USD)Ref
—Clock in glove-compartment lid6 trimsNot offered
—Electric clock in centre of dashboard6 trims—
—Eberspaecher B2 gasoline auxiliary heater6 trims—
—Extended steering column6 trims—
—Anti-theft switch under dashboard6 trims—
—Inside anti-glare mirror6 trims—
—Cigarette lighter (Convertible D)356 A 1600 Convertible D, 356 A 1600 Super Convertible D—
—Ashtray under dashboard (Convertible D)356 A 1600 Convertible D, 356 A 1600 Super Convertible D—

Infotainment & Audio

CodeOptionAvailabilityPrice, 1959 (USD)Ref
—Radio with two speakers6 trimsNot offered
—Blaupunkt Bremen AM/long-wave radio6 trims—
—Blaupunkt Stuttgart AM/long-wave/short-wave radio6 trims—
—Blaupunkt Frankfurt AM/FM/long-wave push-button radio6 trims—
—Blaupunkt Koeln AM/FM/long-wave automatic-tuning radio6 trims—
—Becker Europa AM push-button radio6 trims—
—Becker Europa AM/FM push-button radio6 trims—
—Becker Mexico AM/FM automatic-tuning radio6 trims—
—Retractable antenna, hand-cranked8 trimsNot offered
—Electric antenna8 trimsNot offered

Interior Personalisation

CodeOptionAvailabilityPrice, 1959 (USD)Ref
—VDM wood-rim steering wheel6 trims—
—Small-diameter steering wheel (15.75 in)6 trims—
—Coco floor mats8 trimsNot offered
—Sun visor with vanity mirror6 trims—
—Full leather upholstery (coupe)356 A 1600 Coupe, 356 A 1600 Super Coupe—
—Full leather upholstery (cabriolet)356 A 1600 Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Super Cabriolet—
—Armrests (leather or leatherette)6 trims—
—Fitted leather luggage set (two or three pieces)356 A 1600 Coupe, 356 A 1600 Super Coupe, 356 A 1600 Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Super Cabriolet—
—Leather case behind the rear seat356 A 1600 Coupe, 356 A 1600 Super Coupe, 356 A 1600 Cabriolet, 356 A 1600 Super Cabriolet—
—Luggage for the front compartment (canvas bag or leather case)8 trimsNot offered
—Luggage straps for the luggage space6 trims—
—Rubber-cushion luggage support (Convertible D)356 A 1600 Convertible D, 356 A 1600 Super Convertible D—
—Plastic suitcase over the tunnel (Convertible D)356 A 1600 Convertible D, 356 A 1600 Super Convertible D—

Missing something?

Got a build sheet or window sticker listing an option we don’t have? Add it. Everything gets checked before it goes in.

Sources

Compiled from period Porsche brochures, Porsche press releases and technical specifications, Porsche’s approved-wheel bulletins, US-market paint and specification listings, EPA fuel-economy data and, for model years no Porsche document covers, published reference works. Figures are provisional historical data provided without warranty.

For software and AI agents: this page as Markdown, this generation as JSON, and llms.txt for the whole dataset.