Porsche 356B Super 90 Coupe

Porsche 356B Super 90 Coupe

The Porsche 356B, produced from 1960 to 1963, represented the most refined iteration of Ferdinand Porsche's original sports car concept. The Super 90 variant — named for its 90 horsepower output — sat at the top of the pushrod-engined 356 range, offering a compelling blend of spirited performance and the improved comfort and quality that characterized the B-series cars.

The 356B introduced significant visual and practical improvements over the earlier A-series. Raised bumpers with overriders, a higher front hood line, larger taillights, and a revised dashboard created a more substantial, modern appearance while improving pedestrian safety compliance. The T5 body (early B) and T6 body (late B) each brought incremental refinements, with the T6 adding a larger rear window, external fuel filler, and twin engine lid grilles.

The Super 90's 1.6-liter flat-four engine used higher compression (9.0:1), larger intake and exhaust valves, dual carburetors, and a hotter camshaft to extract 90 horsepower — a 50% increase over the base 356B's 60 horsepower. This was the most powerful pushrod engine offered in the 356, sitting between the standard models and the exotic quad-cam Carrera. For most buyers, the Super 90 represented the sweet spot — genuinely quick performance without the maintenance demands and expense of the Carrera engine.

Driving the Super 90 was a characteristically intimate Porsche experience. The compact cabin placed the driver in direct contact with the machinery, with every input immediately translated into motion. The four-speed gearbox required deliberate, unhurried shifts, rewarding precision and punishing haste. The rear-engine layout provided excellent traction from a standstill, and the car's featherweight construction meant that 90 horsepower was more than adequate for spirited driving on the winding roads for which the 356 was designed.

The Super 90's chassis benefited from Porsche's continuous development program. Koni shock absorbers were available as an option, and the drum brakes — while not as effective as the discs that would come on the later 356C — were well-matched to the car's performance envelope. The steering, an unassisted worm-and-roller system, required effort at parking speeds but provided delicate, precise feedback at speed.

Total 356B production across all variants exceeded 30,000 units, making it the most commercially successful 356 series. The Super 90, while not the most numerous variant, is highly sought after today for its combination of usable performance, relative mechanical simplicity (compared to the Carrera), and the timeless beauty of the 356 shape.