Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

For those who obsess about exactly how their 356 left the factory!
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lee callaghan
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Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#1 Post by lee callaghan »

See photo.

Ive seen a 356 towing a race car on a trailer ( and I recall Dennis Jenkinson may have done this in the late '50's and early '60's but my question is did people back in the day use 356 A's as a car to pull a caravan?

Heres a photo.

Presumably they did and used the ALLSTATE one wheel trailer attachment as the tow attachment which fixed direct to the bumber bars- hence solving the issue of not welding or attaching it to the floor or to the underside due to the exhaust position.

But just a question to chase out some period photos if it really did happen...Lee
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Greg Bryan
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#2 Post by Greg Bryan »

There were two cars at the Emory campout, a B cab and a C with the factory trailer hitch. The hitch is a very stout piece. A 356 towing a car trailer and another 356, though - I'd have to see it to believe it ...

Edit - I just looked more closely at your post and you say you did see a 356 pulling another 356 on a trailer! Yikes!
I have seen pictures of a 356 pulling a small sleeping 'caravan'.
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Martin Benade
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#3 Post by Martin Benade »

I am pretty sure the Allstate trailer clamped directly to the bumper itself. I am sure it was done sometimes, but the thin sheet-metal, painted bumper would not have liked it. I used to put a bicycle carrier on my B that way, it sure didn't do my bumper any favors, and I had to bend the hooks so they could fit.
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Michael Foster
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#4 Post by Michael Foster »

The car shown in the picture above is an emory special built by Rod Emory. It used a 4 cylinder 911 motor based on a 911 engine cut and wielded back together in 4 cylinder form. As I recall it was a 2.4 motor, plenty of power for towing. It also had a factory tow hitch installed. It hooked to chassis for stability. It was Rod's honeymoon vehicle.

Don't remember offhand if tow hitch also hooked to bumper but if it did it was not the main way of securing the hitch. Oh and Rod and his bride toured around the country for some time towing the pictured trailer.

I also think Rod recently arranged with someone to make sure the Hitches will be reproduced and available to those who want them.

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Mark Pribanic
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#5 Post by Mark Pribanic »

Martin Benade wrote:I am pretty sure the Allstate trailer clamped directly to the bumper itself. I am sure it was done sometimes, but the thin sheet-metal, painted bumper would not have liked it. I used to put a bicycle carrier on my B that way, it sure didn't do my bumper any favors, and I had to bend the hooks so they could fit.
I have a single wheel allstate trailer that I have towed behind my 356.
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Bruce Edge
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#6 Post by Bruce Edge »

When I came to Columbia SC around 1967 in my 1956 A coupe
There was only a couple of other 356 around. I would occasionally see
a 1965 356 SC pulling a boat much larger than the car. I looked
at it while stoped, it had angle iron run all the way back to trans
Hoop area.
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Greg Bryan
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#7 Post by Greg Bryan »

More images of 356s towing trailers.
da3abb4237867b39e16f819fcacf0248.jpg
1962_Porsche_356B_1600S_Cabrio_For_Sale_Front_resize.jpg
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Jim Breazeale
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#8 Post by Jim Breazeale »

I have a picture somewhere in my archives of the, some what unique (better known as bat sh^t crazy), "RT" towing a Karmann Ghia with a 356B Cabriolet

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Paul Hatfield
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#9 Post by Paul Hatfield »

RT as in Richard Troy? Haven't heard his name since the old Talk List days and his "discussions" with Harry P.
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Jim Nelson
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#10 Post by Jim Nelson »

Factory trailer hitch:
IMG_3467.jpg

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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#11 Post by John Wurner »

I towed this trailer with my Roadster for some time.
Mostly to pick up parts, or move a Motorcycle.
I sold the trailer back to the person that imported her from Germany, but still have the hitch.
If some one needs a hitch, its perfect because it requires no new holes drilled and reaches to the transmission hoop for stability.
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#12 Post by Jim Breazeale »

Paul Hatfield wrote:RT as in Richard Troy? Haven't heard his name since the old Talk List days and his "discussions" with Harry P.
:)
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Pascal Giai
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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#13 Post by Pascal Giai »

My old Pre-A chassis #52272

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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#14 Post by Norm Miller »

The comments regarding towing a caravan reminded me of a friends escapade.
He and his family were towing a 356 with a VW bus from the west slope to the Denver area.
Driving up Loveland Pass the bus engine gave out.
Being creative he removed the stuff from the Porsche and fired it up and proceeded to push the bus to Denver. Porsche attached with a tow bar.
This required his wife to steer and brake with signals from the kids in the back window telling him to go faster or slow, stop etc.

Creative emergency road fix.

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Re: Do we think this ever happened or is it 356 folklore....

#15 Post by Greg Bryan »

I'm shocked - a VW van engine blew up?
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