An odd question, Comparison between years Options

[KaptKaos]

Hello All,

I have an "odd" question. I have a friend that is expecting to get her 356SC back from the shop in the next few weeks. She has just had the motor, brakes, clutch, rebuilt/replaced.

I am curious as to how the 914-4s performance compares to the 356s (4 Cam excluded). I have a 73 1.7, which I know is not the fastest of the stock 914s, but how would that compare with the 356 SC. There was a post a few days ago (cross post to rennlist) that had a list of uploaded R&T scans from the 50s & 60s with the 356s. I began reading them, but the comparisons were hard to draw.

I guess what I am asking is: If we go for a little canyon ride, who is eating who's lunch?

All input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe (IMG:style_emoticons/default/assimilate.gif)

[ArtechnikA]

do they all have swing axle suspension in the rear as opposed to IRS?

also, dont the 912 and 356 share the same engine?

356's were produced from '49 to '64 and there were a lot of changes in those 15 years. they all had certain similarities (trailing arm front suspension, swing axle rear) they varied in displacement from 1,1 liters at the beginning to 1,6 at the end.

the 1500 normal in my '53 is basically a hotrodded dual-carburation 36HP VW engine. Porsche did all the usual hotrodder tricks available at the time (eg roller cranks) but always tended to smaller displacements, light weight, big brakes and COMPARITIVELY sophisticated suspension as their 'unfair advantage.' the 356 suspension IS crappy - by today's fully independent standards - but even early 911's did not have the nice Lobro CV joints in their axles... you want to define crappy, go check out the 356's contemporaries, and see what the MG-TC and Morgan were like...

engines available in '53 were 1100cc (rare) 1300cc (few) 1500 plain-bearing (most) and 1500 'super' (roller-bearing) (very few). a 1500N produced about 65 HP and coupled with the light weight and slippery aerodynamics made for a relatively quick car - FOR ITS DAY.

a bottom-of-the-line CRX can blow it away in almost every category, of course.