www.QV500.com - Porsche 356 A Part 2: 356 A T-2
 
In September 1957, a revised 356 A, the T-2, was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Bringing further improvements, there was a ZF worm and peg steering box to replace the outgoing VW-derived components, this offering more precision thanks in part to an increase in the steering ratio. When it introduced the T-2, Porsche discontinued the 1.3-litre engines, choosing instead to offer just a 1.6-litre variant. Mechanical changes to these powerplants came in the form of offset piston wrist pins used to counteract the problems sometimes experienced with cold engines.
   
There were also two new Zenith 32 NDIX twin choke carburettors. Normal 1.6 engines were enhanced with the aluminium camshaft gear used on the Super (replacing the older fibre-toothed unit) and also received cast-iron cylinders for lower manufacturing costs, a quieter engine and minimal weight gain. The 1600 Super now ran plain bearing crankshafts but despite these not insignificant changes, Porsche retained identical type numbers to outgoing 1.6 engines, the Super Typ 616/2 and the Normal Typ 616/1. A Haussermann diaphragm spring clutch replaced the Fichtel & Sachs coil-sprung unit of the T-1. Once again, only minor external changes were made, T-2's having been Identifiable by their exhaust outlet pipes exiting through the bumper overriders. The exhaust tips were routed throug the bumper guards, this distinctive feature providing better ground clearance although at the expense of quickly discoloured chromium. Door handles became more rounded on all three body styles.
 
Options included a factory hardtop for the Cabriolet, this having been manufactured by Brendel whilst all 1600 Super's got Porsche scripting on their hubcaps. The cabin was equipped with more enveloping seats and a larger diameter steering wheel (as used on the Carrera), the thinking behind this having been better leverage and consequently less effort to use. Minor switchgear changes saw the speedometer moved from the left to the right side of the binnacle and the combined fuel/oil temperature guage repositioned over to the left.
   
In August 1958 Porsche discontinued the slow selling Speedster and replaced it with the Convertible D (as seen in both illustrations). This car had bodywork that bore more than a passing resemblance to the Speedster, the new shells being fabricated by Drauz and featuring full height windscreens and wind-up windows to replace the Speedster's rather primitive side-screens. The distinctive belly strip unique to the Speedster was carried over to the Convertible D but a more substantial hood was fitted adding a good deal more practicality, the better insulated cabin gaining more comfortable seats (taken from the Coupe) and a generally less spartan feel. 356 A production ended in September 1959 when the 356 B was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show. By the end, 12,161 T-2 bodied 356 A's had been completed in Coupe (7225), Cabriolet (2475), Speedster (1131) and Convertible D (1330) configurations. This in turn took total production figures for the A to a startling 20,525.