Did the 1963B(T6) have advanced features?

[Jim Beam]

Hello: my car is a 1963B Coupe (T6). My adult son is involved in some type of a presentation at work and he is using an analogy comparing the features of the 1963 Porsche to whatever the subject of his presentation is. (Not sure on that) He has asked what I thought were the advanced features present in the 1963B for the time. I must admit I am at a loss. The only thing I can think of is that the car has variable speed windshield wipers! Also the body design was distinctive from the boxes coming out of Detroit, it got good gas mileage but was expensive in 1963 dollars. I need some help here. Thanks.

[Mike Wilson]

I, too, have a '63 B Karmann coupe #213532. Yes, variable speed wipers but I don't know of anything "advanced". Others may weigh in. There were the changes from the '62: bottom sender fuel tank replaced with top sender, fiberboard battery cover replaced with a plastic one, attachment point for a shoulder belt on the rear side panels and on later B's, threaded bosses for the lap belts. The Karmann-bodied cars had drain holes on the longitudinals.

What did I miss?

Mike

[Martin Benade]

Sort of advanced- torsion bar suspension, four wheel independent, huge aluminum brake drums, one carb throat per cylinder, dual exhaust, air cooled

[Phil Planck]

No frame

[Mike Horton]

Cross drilled rod journals on the cranks, for better oiling...

[Martin Benade]

These things are advanced compared to a 1962 Chevrolet, but all probably existed in 1920. That's why I said sort of advanced. One more thing- ignition timing.

[Harlan Halsey]

Hard to know what you mean by "advanced". But here are some features either later adopted or not because they were too expensive: aerodynamic body shape, torsion bar suspension, aluminum brakes with steel liners, rear engine location, Porsche synchronizers on transmission gears, 4-speed transmission, diaphragm clutch, headlight flasher, adjustable seat back angle, head rests, bucket seats, air cooled engine, front tow hook, ….

[Doug McDonnell]

Hello: my car is a 1963B Coupe (T6). My adult son is involved in some type of a presentation at work and he is using an analogy comparing the features of the 1963 Porsche to whatever the subject of his presentation is. (Not sure on that) He has asked what I thought were the advanced features present in the 1963B for the time. I must admit I am at a loss. The only thing I can think of is that the car has variable speed windshield wipers! Also the body design was distinctive from the boxes coming out of Detroit, it got good gas mileage but was expensive in 1963 dollars. I need some help here. Thanks.

I think that your son should start over with a different basis for his comparison. Your car was in 63 just another in a series of upgrades to a 15+ year old design. At a time that a new 901/911 was being developed. Hard to make the case for advanced design features of a 63B.

[Mike Wilson]

Good idea, Doug: basically chronicle the developments and improvements by models.

Mike

[Mike Horton]

+1

[Richard Holler]

uh... the gear shift lock? Agree with Doug, by 1963 the car was not very advanced compared to others at the time. I'd say the greatest strength of the 356 was its lightness and unibody. but it had to be because of its, imho, anemic engines. Germany was in a period of recovery after the war. while innovative they still had to be conservative for the times...

[Al Zim]

Advanced features found on Porsche automobiles. A unified design format. The car was designed to work together, not be an assemblage of parts. Emphasis on driver comfort for long distance traveling. Provision for shoulder harness. Available with radial tires. Engines integrated into the design of the vehicle from 60 to 160 HP. The car was designed not put together from parts. al