Porsche's first mid-engine car... the 356

Yes... you read that right. Porsche’s first mid-engine car was the 356... and here it is:

Specifically, this is Porsche 356 #1... built in Gmünd, Austria in 1948.

It’s also the first car with the Porsche brand name.

And the 1131cc H4 was good for about 35HP.

This is literally a one-off build.

All the others that came after had the engine behind the rear axle.

Have a look at the rear of these 356 “pre-A” examples and see how it compares. Here is a 1954 model:

And a 1952 model:

And 356 #2 that was built in 1948: