Original engine and interior, high quality restoration, known history, in Italy since almost 40 years
Original engine and interior, high quality restoration, known history, in Italy since almost 40 years
It represents the most refined evolution of the four-cylinder boxer engine produced by Porsche and designed by Ernst Fuhrmann, the famous type 587/1. The 356 Carrera 2 GS 2000 was what we would today call a "sleeper": to the casual eye, it looked like a normal 356, but the difference lay in the details. Details that came at a price, very dear: the Carrera 2 positioned itself at the top of the range, costing more than double that of a "base" 356, on the level of a Maserati 3500GT or a Jaguar E-type.
Most Carrera 2s were produced in the GS version, although a GT version was also available, with around twenty more horsepower, aluminum doors and hood, Plexiglas windows, and even more simplified trim.
For the MY '63, 278 were produced based on the 356B T6; in total, including the later C-based Carreras, production stopped at 436 units, including coupés and cabriolets. About twenty were sold in Italy. Although the B-based Carrera 2s were more numerous than the later ones, they were the most sought-after due to their refined "annular/ring" brakes, which we'll discuss later.
The details distinguish a 356 as a Carrera 2: externally, the front grilles give way to two air intakes for the front oil radiators, while the rear hood—under the grilles—is open to improve ventilation. The distinctive element is the "muffler skirt," the grille under the bumper that serves to conceal the twin cylinder heads and a generous exhaust with a central dual-exit exhaust, surrounded by countless cooling vents.
Equally distinctive inside are the wooden steering wheel and leather interior offered as standard, along with the dual spark plug switch. Finally, the rev counter reads 8,000 and the odometer reads 250.
They aren't noticeable, but the disc brakes are a major innovation, being fitted as standard for the first time on a 356. They feature the "annular/ring" system directly derived from the Stuttgart single-seaters, later replaced by the more common ATE calipers in the final Carrera 2 models based on the 356 C.
And then there's the masterpiece, the engine, which can be glimpsed with the hood closed, but once open it reveals all its magnificence: a prominent air intake, dual double-barrel carburetors, dual ignition, four camshafts, and no heat exchangers, for a power output of 130 horsepower. To compensate for the lack of heating, an Eberspacher gasoline heater was installed, which was extremely dangerous to use and was often left disconnected!
The engine's sound is unique, very distinctive, capable of screaming at revs technically impossible for a normal 356. It also boasts a flexibility and responsiveness that rival a 911 of the same displacement.
The model we offer was produced on November 7, 1962, invoiced on November 22 of the same year in the United States, a MY '63 in Ruby Red with black leather interior and the rearview mirror as only option.
After 26 years in America, this beautiful Carrera 2 arrived in Italy in early 1988, likely in good condition, without a lifetime of competition, but rather as a high-performance Grand Tourer. Why do we say this? Because of the interior and the engine: after 64 years, the upholstery is still original equipment, as is the engine block, a rare and unique feature on Carrera 2s, which very often received replacement engines, thus losing the original engine.
In the late 1980s, the car underwent a high-level conservative restoration, preserving, as mentioned, the interior and refreshing the bodywork and mechanics. Following these works, the 356 Carrera 2 participated in numerous Concours d'Elegance, including the Porsche Parade in Cortina in 1992. It and a similar graphite gray Carrera 2 featured on the cover and in an extensive article in Ruoteclassiche in the early 1990s.
After two owners, one in Padua until 1993 and one in Rome until 2016, the car came into the hands of its current owner. In recent years, the car has undergone a thorough mechanical overhaul by a renowned 356 specialist, preserving the original interior, now complemented by a second pair of black leather front seats, easily replaceable to prevent excessive wear on the originals.
All the specific details of the Carrera 2 are present and original, starting with the heater, the entire original dual ignition system, the cooling circuit, the exhaust, and the braking system.
The original Carrera 2 owner's manual is included, along with the CSAI Autostoriche and CRS ASI registration documents, Porsche certificate of origin, and chronological extract.
It can be inspected by appointment in Bologna. Further details on www.gulfblue.it
Faites inspecter ce véhicule par des experts !
Chargement…
Chargement…
Chargement…
Chargement…
Chargement…
Chargement…
Chargement…
Chargement…
