The Porsche Master 408 came onto the market in 1958 to replace the Porsche Master P144. Designed as a large tractor for the heaviest work, only a few large farms could afford the correspondingly expensive tractor. By around 1961, around 200 type 408 tractors with engine numbers 281 to 484 had been manufactured.

The air-cooled four-cylinder engine has a displacement of 3288 ccm and an output of 50 hp at 2000 rpm. The ZF transmission was equipped with seven forward gears and one reverse gear. An overdrive gearbox was available as an option.

The Porsche Master 408 is equipped with at least seven forward gears and one reverse gear. It was optional to purchase the Porsche tractor with an overdrive gearbox.

It was equipped with front PTO, oil hydraulic clutch and double clutch. The rear PTO shaft could be switched and operated independently, which was particularly advantageous for pulling PTO-driven implements.