There have been many classic vehicles to come out of this iconic German stable but the Porsche 356 was the first and for many it remains as the best. This was the company's initial production automobile and the very first model rolled off the line way back in 1948.

That production continued right up to 1965 and during those 17 years, the 356 made a place for itself in many drivers' hearts. It had the classic looks and lines that you associate with Porsche but this was Genesis as far as the company was concerned and that is a record that can never be matched.

Porsche's history does pre-date the 356 but no car went into full production prior to this model. Prior to the Second World War, the company produced two vehicles for the Berlin to Rome road race which was cancelled as conflict loomed. In 1948 however, with Germany's industry starting to recover, the prototype Porsche 356 became a reality.

Created by Ferdinand Porsche himself, the 356 had some similarities to the VW Beetle which was just beginning to increase in popularity across the globe. The fledgling Porsche came with a four cylinder, air cooled engine which was installed at the rear of the vehicle and it was supplied with a rear wheel drive pan and body construction.

To look at that very first 356 today, you would instantly recognise it as a Porsche but in those austere times of post war Germany, its design was truly ground breaking. The classic, elegant lines would subsequently become a blueprint for similar designs across the world.

Over the years, many variants on the original Porsche 356 were released and by the time production ceased in 1965, five different engine sizes were available. A very wide range was provided too from the entry level 1.1L right up to a powerful 2 litre version.

Variants were also named as A,B and C and the differences were largely down to the body type. However, it was the 356 B that proved to be the most popular of all the versions and between the years of 1959 and 1963, over 30,000 models of the B variant were produced. This figure makes up for nearly half of Porsche 356 production which totalled 76,313 by 1965 and it dwarfs the figure of 7,627 – the number of vehicles produced under the original 356 badge.

Over the years, the vehicle enjoyed a great deal of success in the world of motorsport too. The 356 recorded some notable achievements at the le Mans 24 hour race, the 1000 km Buenos Aires, the Carrera Panamericana and many others.

However, it was as a domestic classic that it made its mark and there is an extremely healthy market for used 356's today. It appears on many lists of favourite classics from respected websites and periodicals and that popularity is set to endure.

Many Porsche models may have followed, but the 356 will always be the first and that is a fact that can never be taken away from this memorable car.