Plexiglas side windows -- first use

[Brett Johnson]

Does anyone know when the Plexiglas side window set-up shown in illustration 66a in the 356A parts catalog was first used on GT coupes? It makes sense that it might have been when aluminum body panels were introduced after January 1958 -- but things like this frequently do not make sense.

I am interested in contemporary color photos of them on cars for my upcoming column. There are a couple of photos of a pushrod T 2 coupe fitted with what appear to be glass vent windows in the Denis Jenkinson book, A Passion for Porsches. I'd be interested in those, as well.

[Jeff Adams]

Hi Brett

We have a 57 Carrera GT coupe in the shop now, will check on glass vs plexiglas tomorrow. This is a steel hinged panel car and has window regulators instead of the leather pull strap that most (maybe all??) later, aluminum hinged panel cars have.

Looking at the Heinrichs Sprenger Carrera book, the first aluminum hinged panel GT coupe was 102306, and the production finish date was February 7, 1958. This particular car would be a classic example of the chassis number sequence not following the chronological production. In VIN sequence, the two Carrera coupes before and after this car were both made in late November 1957.

Another notable item on 102306 is the installation of the very first plain bearing crankshaft four cam engine, type 692/1 serial number 92001. The side notes say "First Aluminum doors and lids production 356A. And, a Werks car with a gas heater.

[Brett Johnson]

It likely took extra time to fit the first aluminum panels delaying completion date from when the chassis/body was set aside during the assembly process. Let me know about the car in your shop!

[Joris Koning]

Brett,

My ‘57 GT has Plexi side, quarter and rear windows. What is different from later, Alu panel cars, is that none of the windows have the Plexi stamp. As Jeff stated it also has the regular window regulator and the quarter windows have the chrome frames unlike the later Alu panel cars.

[Brett Johnson]

From what Joris is saying (I think) is that all GT coupes had Plexiglas side and rear windows and the ones on aluminum paneled cars (post-January 1958) we no longer marked "Plexiglas." My original question was probably not phrased well. I want to know when front vent windows were first used on GT cars. Was it when aluminum panels were first used?

[Mike Smith]

Brett,
I do not have a definitive answer for you BUT:

105 558 (GS/GT) was an Alli. panel car and was fitted with opening front 1/4 lights
Ausgel. am - 8/12/58 (European date notation)

It was destined to be a Works race vehicle

[Stephen Stuart]

Mike

Could you share the race history of 105 558?

Thanks

Stephen

Brett,
I do not have a definitive answer for you BUT:

105 558 (GS/GT) was an Alli. panel car and was fitted with opening front 1/4 lights
Ausgel. am - 8/12/58 (European date notation)

It was destined to be a Works race vehicle

[Harlan Halsey]

My car 107763, one of the last A Carreras built, is obviously too new to help with your question. (It has the 9 aluminum panels and the vent window, no Plexiglas stamp on the Plexi door windows. The other Plexi windows are not original.) However, the discussion has raised several questions: Is there such a thing as a steel panel GT? And if so, what differentiates it from a GS? When were the first GTs built? When were aluminum panels first substituted? Were all 9 aluminum panels always substituted? When were steel/aluminum wheels first used? Fuel filler through the hood. In other words, a history of Carrera production would be interesting.

[Martin Benade]

Besides the doors and hoods, what are the other five aluminum panels?

[Brett Johnson]

In August 1991 Olaf Lang at Porsche AG compiled a definitive list of Carrera Speedsters which was provided to me so that it could be published in the Registry magazine to eliminate the speculation of what was and what wasn't real. This in part was to stop the flood of inquiries he was receiving based on information from non-factory sources. He also provided a list of all Carrera powered cars by build year -- that did not include chassis numbers and that list is published in Volume 16 #5 on page 22. It shows that the first GT coupe was built in calendar year 1956 with the first Speedster (82997) in 1957.

I couldn't find the Carrera Speedster list in the magazine, though I thought it was printed. It is in Cole Scrogham's 356 Carrera book on page 87. This list calls out all Carrera Speedsters by chassis number with and without the GT body option. As previously stated, the first cars with aluminum panels were built in February 1958.

[Joris Koning]

Is there such a thing as a steel panel GT? And if so, what differentiates it from a GS?

Harlan, there was, and the cars are quite well documented. The 3/57 factory circular or "service bulletin" describes in general detail the difference between the "GS" and "GT" cars and the weight saving measures adding up to the 835 vs. 900kg dry weight. The measures are:

- Interior weight saving
- No undercoating except for seams
- No heater
- Door-, side-, and rear-window of plexi-glass
- Speedster seats
- No backrest on rear seats
- Lighter bumper and brackets

The later aluminum panels cars got some additional weight saving measures on top of the aluminum doors and lids.

With regard to Brett's question on the front vent windows. I believe these were introduced with the alu panel GT's. I have seen a '58 GT and special order pushrod car for an important customer with a first iteration of the vent windows. These are very different from the later style as the hinge point sits inside the window frame