Porsche 356 0–60 Times
The Porsche 356 0–60 times and quarter-mile times below are from 8 recorded performance tests sourced from reputable automotive resources such as Car and Driver, Road & Track and Sports Cars Illustrated and more.
The fastest tested Porsche 356 is the 1962 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 GS Coupe, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 9.20 seconds, reaching the ¼ mile in 16.90 seconds at 83.0 mph, according to Road & Track.
The slowest tested Porsche 356 is the 1961 Porsche 356 1600 Coupe, which took 14.40 seconds to reach 60 mph, running the ¼ mile in 19.40 seconds at 70.0 mph, according to Road & Track.
Out of all the Porsche 356 tests in our database, the average 0–60 mph time is 12.64 seconds. The average quarter-mile time is 18.64 seconds at 74.50 mph.
Fastest 0–60
9.20sec
1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe · stock
Average 0–60
12.64sec
Across 8 runs
Avg ¼ Mile
18.64sec
@ 74.5 mph trap
Slowest 0–60
14.40sec
1961 1600 Coupe
Across 8 verified runs, the Porsche 356 ranges from 9.20 to 14.40 seconds 0–60, with a 12.64-second average.
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Porsche 356 Performance Overview
Porsche’s 356, covered here across 8 verified tests spanning 1958 to 1964, traces a compact rear-engined performance arc through the 356 A, 356 B, and 356 C eras. In the late 1950s, naturally aspirated gasoline flat-four output ranged from 60 hp in early 616/1 form to 105 hp in the Type 547/1-powered Carrera models. That spread showed clearly in testing: the 1958 1600 Coupe reached 60 mph in 13.9 seconds, while the 1959 1600 GS Carrera Deluxe Coupe cut that to 10.8 seconds.
Through the 356 B years, engine development expanded the range to 130 hp with the 587/1 Carrera 2 specification, and the model’s quickest period arrived. A 1961 1600 Coupe recorded the slow end of the data set at 14.4 seconds to 60 mph, but the 1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe delivered the all-time best figures at 9.2 seconds to 60 mph and 16.9 seconds in the quarter-mile at 83 mph.
By the 356 C, represented here by the 1964 C Coupe and its 75-hp 616/15 engine, performance settled back to a 13.5-second 0-60 run. In this data set, the 356 remains an all-gasoline, naturally aspirated model line defined by steady trim-to-trim variation rather than a single uniform pace.
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Porsche 356 0–60 Times by Generation: 356 A to 356 C
3 generations| Generation | Years | Avg 0–60 | Fastest 0–60 | Tests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 356 C | 1964–1965 | 13.50s | 13.50s — 1964 C Coupe | 1 | The 356 C generation (1964–1965) averaged 13.50 seconds to 60 mph across 1 tests, led by the 1964 C Coupe at 13.50 seconds. Output was 75 hp across 1.6L F-4 configurations. |
| 356 B | 1960–1963 | 12.23s | 9.20s — 1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe | 4 | The 356 B generation (1960–1963) averaged 12.23 seconds to 60 mph across 4 tests, led by the 1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe at 9.20 seconds. Output ranged from 60 to 130 hp across 1.6L F-4, 2.0L F-4 configurations. |
| 356 A | 1955–1959 | 12.90s | 10.80s — 1959 1600 GS Carrera Deluxe Coupe | 3 | The 356 A generation (1955–1959) averaged 12.90 seconds to 60 mph across 3 tests, led by the 1959 1600 GS Carrera Deluxe Coupe at 10.80 seconds. Output ranged from 60 to 105 hp across 1.6L F-4 configurations. |
356 C
1964–1965
Avg 0–60
13.50s
Fastest
13.50s
Tests
1
1964 C Coupe
The 356 C generation (1964–1965) averaged 13.50 seconds to 60 mph across 1 tests, led by the 1964 C Coupe at 13.50 seconds. Output was 75 hp across 1.6L F-4 configurations.
356 B
1960–1963
Avg 0–60
12.23s
Fastest
9.20s
Tests
4
1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe
The 356 B generation (1960–1963) averaged 12.23 seconds to 60 mph across 4 tests, led by the 1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe at 9.20 seconds. Output ranged from 60 to 130 hp across 1.6L F-4, 2.0L F-4 configurations.
356 A
1955–1959
Avg 0–60
12.90s
Fastest
10.80s
Tests
3
1959 1600 GS Carrera Deluxe Coupe
The 356 A generation (1955–1959) averaged 12.90 seconds to 60 mph across 3 tests, led by the 1959 1600 GS Carrera Deluxe Coupe at 10.80 seconds. Output ranged from 60 to 105 hp across 1.6L F-4 configurations.
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Porsche 356 0–60 Times by Year and Trim
8 tests · 7 years
▾
1964 Porsche 356
1 verified run
Avg 0–60
13.50
sec
Avg ¼ Mile
18.90
sec
Recorded Tests
1
#05
1964 Porsche 356 C Coupe
13.50sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph
0.0s · 0mph
18.90s
¼ mi @ 72.0 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 13.50 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 18.90 sec
- Trap Speed
- 72.0 mph
- Engine
- 1.6L F-4
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 4M
- Horsepower
- 75 hp
- Torque
- 87 lb-ft
- Curb Weight
- 2,090 lbs
- Power-to-Weight
- 27.9 lbs/hp
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Coupe
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Road & Track
- Overall Rank
- #5 of 8
How we verify Porsche 356 performance data
We include only independently published road-test results from automotive publications. Manufacturer-claimed 0–60 times are excluded unless clearly labeled. When multiple publications test the same Porsche 356 trim, each run is listed separately — weather, tires, surface, rollout, and instrumentation all affect results.
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Porsche 356 0–60 and quarter-mile distribution
0–60 vs ¼ mile · lower-left is fasterEach dot is a recorded test run
0–60 →
¼ mile →
Fastest
Recorded run
Slowest
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Porsche 356 performance FAQs
10 questions
The 1964 Porsche 356 C Coupe reaches 60 mph in 13.5 seconds. Its recorded quarter-mile time is 18.9 seconds at 72 mph. That current-year result comes from a 75-hp, naturally aspirated 616/15-powered coupe with rear-wheel drive and a curb weight of 2,090 pounds.
The quickest Porsche 356 on record is the 1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe, which posts a 0-60 time of 9.2 seconds. It also owns the model’s best quarter-mile result at 16.9 seconds with an 83-mph trap speed, making it the fastest verified 356 overall.
The fastest stock Porsche 356 on record is also the 1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe at 9.2 seconds from 0-60 mph. There are 8 production tests logged for the 356, and no modified examples change that result, so the quickest overall and quickest stock car are the same.
The Porsche 356 B, sold from 1960 to 1963, averages 12.23 seconds from 0-60 mph across 4 tests. The fastest 356 B is the 1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe at 9.2 seconds. Across the generation, output ranges from 60 to 130 hp, all with naturally aspirated gasoline powertrains.
The Porsche 356 A, built from 1955 to 1959, averages 12.9 seconds from 0-60 mph across 3 tests. Its quickest recorded version is the 1959 1600 GS Carrera Deluxe Coupe at 10.8 seconds. Power spans 60 to 105 hp, and all recorded 356 A tests are naturally aspirated gasoline cars.
The Porsche 356 C, sold from 1964 to 1965, is recorded at 13.5 seconds from 0-60 mph. The fastest verified 356 C is the 1964 C Coupe, which also sets the generation average because there is 1 recorded test. That car makes 75 hp and uses a naturally aspirated gasoline engine.
The Carrera 2 GS Coupe is much quicker. The 1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe reaches 60 mph in 9.2 seconds, while the 1964 356 C Coupe does it in 13.5 seconds. That gives the Carrera 2 GS Coupe a 4.3-second advantage to 60 mph in verified testing.
The 1600 SC Coupe is faster. Its recorded 0-60 time is 12.8 seconds, while the 1600 Coupe averages 14.15 seconds across 2 tests and has a best run of 13.9 seconds. On the numbers, the SC beats the average 1600 Coupe by 1.35 seconds and the best 1600 Coupe by 1.1 seconds.
Across all 8 Porsche 356 tests, the average quarter-mile time is 18.64 seconds at 74.5 mph. The quickest quarter-mile run belongs to the 1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe at 16.9 seconds and 83 mph. For the 1964 356 C Coupe specifically, the quarter-mile is 18.9 seconds at 72 mph.
The Porsche 356 averages 12.64 seconds from 0-60 mph across 8 recorded tests. That range stretches from the quickest 9.2-second run by the 1962 Carrera 2 GS Coupe to the slowest 14.4-second result from the 1961 1600 Coupe, showing a wide spread between Carrera and standard 1600 models.
Sources
Car and Driver
Road & Track
Sports Cars Illustrated
0–60 and quarter-mile times vary with driver, weather, tire temperature, and wear. We collect every verified run we can find — so you see the range of what a Porsche 356 can do, not a single marketing claim.
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