It's surprising that United States, used to big cars and big engines, could be a country where an important Porsche market was being built. Taking into account the german product, it's was like comparing a grandfather clock with a precise wristwatch. But the efficency and exotism level of the compact sports car carried more outweighed it and America was practically from the beginning the most important country for Porsche (with a 50% of total sales in 1955).

That's why Hoffman's suggestions were listened attentively. Going into details, the new yorker also influenced in the Continentals motorizations: only 1500 cc engines arrived to his concessionaire (Normal or 'S' version). Both 1,1 and 1,3L power units were thought to be subjectively underrated, maybe by clients that didn't bear in mind the lightweight nature of the car.

Therefore, our cabriolet has this engine (a Normal version, type 546/2). It's the acclaimed flat-four that also drove the Beetle, a car that glimpses itself in the three-fifty six constantly. The chassis layout, a steel platform frame, and the suspensions are very similar to the ones used in the VW. Trailing arms with torsion bar are found in both front and rear wheels.

In constant evolution, all the improvements of which the 356 would benefit during its life went in the direction of eliminating the VW components gradually, replacing them with better ones made at home. Our car in particular already features bigger drums, a synchronized gearbox and a new 4,5 litre alloy sump. They are some of things that made these cars less Volkswagen and more Porsche each year.