Mood and style
Practical
The Porsche 356 is the car that started Porsche. Compare Speedsters, cabriolets and coupés that you can hire as a classic wedding car. Read more
Mood and style
Practical
Mood and style
Practical
Mood and style
Practical
New Heenvliet · all of the Netherlands 2 seats Self-drive
Mood and style
Practical
Mood and style
Practical
Mood and style
Practical
New Scherpenzeel · all of the Netherlands 4 seats Self-drive
Mood and style
Practical
Mood and style
Practical
Scherpenzeel · all of the Netherlands 4 seats Self-drive
Mood and style
Practical
The 356 was the first car to be built in series under the Porsche name, from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s. It has an air-cooled boxer engine at the back and a smooth, rounded body that is still recognisable in today's 911. In the early years, much of the technology was shared with the Volkswagen Beetle, which was also designed by Ferdinand Porsche.
The 356 was available as a coupé, a cabriolet and the famous Speedster. The Speedster was made in the 1950s mainly for the American market: a bare open two-seater with a low, curved windscreen and a simple hood. As a wedding car, the open versions are the most popular, but the coupé has its fans too.
An original Speedster is rare. There are also plenty of well-made replicas on the road, often built on Beetle underpinnings and registered with the year of that donor car. On a wedding day it makes little difference to the look of the car, but ask the rental company about it if it matters to you.
The 356 is small and low. It was designed as a two-seater, and most examples have at most a narrow rear bench that is suitable for a bag or a bouquet. For the bridal couple, that means sitting together in the front, close to each other.
A slim dress fits well. With a full skirt or a long train it gets tight: the door is short and the seat sits close to the floor. Sit down on the seat with your legs outside the car, then swivel in and tuck the fabric in after you. A train works best over your lap or behind the seat. With the roof down there is no roof edge in the way, which helps with a hairstyle.
The Speedster has a low windscreen, so the wind has free rein. Pin a veil down firmly or take it off during the drive. The hood is simple and not meant for a downpour; if in doubt, look at the coupé. A classic Porsche steers lightly and directly, but it has no air conditioning or power steering.
The rounded shape looks best in a quiet spot with soft light: a tree-lined avenue, a dyke along the water or the driveway of an estate. Ask the photographer to shoot the car from a rear three-quarter angle, where you can see the typical rounded tail and the engine lid with its air vents. Keep the decoration small: a single flower arrangement on the nose is enough.
A practical tip: agree with the rental company where the car will be waiting and whether it has already warmed up. An air-cooled engine runs at its best when it is warm, and a calm start avoids a last-minute rush just before the ceremony.
If you would like to compare the 356 with its successor, take a look at the Porsche 911 as a wedding car. All models of the brand can be found on the page with Porsche wedding cars, and you can find open classics from other brands under convertibles as wedding cars.