RHD 356's

[John Clarke]

Hi all
In the global market, LHD rules. But does anyone know any figures on factory RHD production of the 356 in its various forms ?
With the U.K. South Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Japan, etc, one would assume that it's fairly large.
Cheers
Jay

[Brad Ripley]

A tough question. I know of no list of all the RHD cars. For the UK, I can refer to the book From Chain Drive to Turbocharger, The AFN Story by Denis Jenkinson (1984) Page 314 section 8 says During the 30 years AFN Ltd and Porsche Cars Great Britain have been trading in Porsche cars some 10,000 or more have passed through their hands .... even though they are all documented on the firm's computerized records ......

From my own knowledge, many of those 356s were probably LHD for American GIs.

Mike Smith is the one to speak further about how many RHD 356s were sold in the UK -- I think he has access to those computerized records.

Plus, I vaguely recall mentions in old Christos about how many cars were sold in various countries -- Charlie White is the Professor of Christos.

Of course the real primary source for the answer is the Kardex file in Stuttgart -- if one were to go card by card and count each RHD car manufactured.

But, John Clarke, Why do you want to know anyway?

[Neil Bardsley]

+1 for speaking to Mike Smith about this. I think he is working on a book.

[John Hearn]

Brad
Knowledge is power..........
Only joking!!
KTF
John

[Robin Walker]

Hi John, I have a RHD 356C so thats one to start with, if you are counting.
Seriously, I thought that there were only about 1100 RHD model 356 cars imported into the UK, mainly by AFN, many of those have long gone and there have been many LHD cars privately imported to make up for the lack of 356 model cars.
I am not sure when Mike Smith's book will be published and the other person who might know is our UK 356 Register Secretary, Fred Hampton. Not sure if he comes on this Forum?
How many imported and still exist, is an interesting question.

[John Clarke]

Because Brad
A number of years ago as many 356 Rechtslenkung Survivors as could be gathered all met up at the Hedingham Porsche Classic. Recently came across the badge that we all were given.
And just got me thinking, how rare are our cars? Nothing sinister!
Thanks for the info Brad.
Kind regards
Jay

[Frazer Carless]

According to the records available from Hamilton's, the Australian importers, they sold 500 RHD 356s of all types. However there were also private imports as well and there is no way to ascertain how many 356s came into Australia that way, but it would not have been many. Re New Zealand I am lead to believe that only a handful of RHD cars were imported. Frazer

[Peter Tapper]

Don't forget, I am informed that they had RHD vehicles in Sweden back in the 60's ! So imagine a 100 or so 356 we're supplied !

[John Clarke]

Hi Peter
I do believe that although Sweden changed to driving on the Right in 1967 I believe, most of the cars of the time (when they were driving on the Left) were actually LHD! RHD was an option offered by Volvo, but most cars were imported from the States. Not sure how they got their 356s.
Cheers Jay

[Ian William Stockwell]

John

Do you remember the story about how the Swedish government got the country used to driving on the right?
The government said that on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only cars were to drive on the right and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only buses and commercial vehicles were aloud to drive on the right and if anybody survived they were to all take to the roads on Sunday!!

[Frazer Carless]

Also Italy was RHD into the '50s

[Mervyn Hyde]

Fraser would be on the money there. Also Mike Smith does have an impressive international data base, and he was also able to trace a car from SA for us recently.

I also have this nice written history of the Australian and NZ-delivered T6B's from Geoff Starkey in 2011. It is a fascinating read and covers the all these cars delivered by Hamiltons (the Australian agents) including their own order numbers, chassis numbers, options available and fitted, and interior and exterior colours. There are also several letters between Porsche and Hamiltons explaining their marketing and sales strategies, including the (then) Australian motor vehicle registration adaptations required and the pre-delivery requirements. The first order was in December 11, 1961 and Coupe chassis 125159 was the highest T6B chassis number delivered to Australasia (Aus and NZ) and arrived July 1963. In total, he reports that there were only 44 delivered to Aust/NZ (and unlike the T5, the only body type available was the coupe and only Reutter). Some tourist deliveries were also listed by Hamiltons. He also calculates (in 2011) the number of survivors and totals from other imports. Mine was 32 of the 44 BT6's delivered and the only one in Champagne Yellow with Tan interior.

BT6
18 Normal or 60
16 Super or S
10 Super 90 or 90

Of the T5's in 1960 sold in Australasia he has identified 82 with a selection of body types including Coupe, Cabriolet, Roadster and all engine types Normal, Super, Super 90 and the Carrera. "In 1961 the Australian credit crunch had started to bite with T5B sales for Australasia dropping to only 18 vehicles".

However this is Geoff's story to tell, and not mine.

[Dick Weiss]

I have access to drive a late '58/early '59 A coupe as the owner doesn't drive it much @ all--since 1992!
It was originally shipped to So. Africa and he owner brought it to USA in 1985.

Dick

[Mervyn Hyde]

The SA story is a complex one, with some records lost in a fire and some cars finishing allegedly at the bottom of the Suez Canal. There is a '58A RHD here in Australia being restored, that was imported and sold originally by Saker Motors in SA. As you would know Dick, there were a few of them sent in CKD format to SA (they had I am told a 5 digit Reutter chassis number, not the normal 6 and all but 2 were cabriolets ) but that stopped in '63 I think. Again Mike Smith would know far more.

[Mervyn Hyde]

I hope some more folk with knowledge on the RHD cars' history drop in here as this is an interesting area that deserves to be better documented.