1952 Porsche 356 1500 Coupé Specs & Performance

The Porsche 356 1500 Coupé belongs to the formative years of Porsche’s sports-car story, when compact dimensions and thoughtful engineering shaped the company’s identity. Its smoothly rounded body, sloping roofline, and understated detailing gave it an elegant profile without unnecessary ornamentation. The enclosed cabin made it a purposeful alternative to the open 356 models, while its modest proportions suited the winding roads for which early European sports cars were designed. Its appeal lies in this simplicity, reflecting Porsche’s original vision of a lightweight, carefully engineered driver’s car.

For 1952, the coupé featured a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre flat-four producing 59 hp and 77 lb-ft of torque. A four-speed manual transmission delivered power to the rear wheels, preserving the model’s distinctive rear-engine configuration. With a listed top speed of 104 mph, it offered respectable performance for its era without relying on a large or complex powertrain. These characteristics helped establish the early 356 as a distinctive sports car built around balanced proportions and direct mechanical character.