1957 | Porsche 356 A Carrera 1500 GS

• Attractive colour scheme in dark red with interior in black leather and sports bucket seats
• Extensively restored and technically overhauled by a Porsche 356 specialist around 10 years ago
• Type-appropriate king-shaft engine (type 692/0), extensively overhauled
• Most recently in a German collection
• A very rare 356 in the top version of the time - only 447 examples produced
• VAT can be shown (for net export sale or corporate purchase)

This Porsche 356 1500 GS Carrera coupé from 1957 is extremely attractive in its classic dark red colour scheme with black leather interior. The sports bucket seats and red racing safety belts emphasise the sporty character of this top version of the 356 at the time. The sports car spent a large part of its life in the USA, and a registration title from there from 2008 is available. The car later returned to Europe and underwent a comprehensive restoration and technical overhaul by a Porsche 356 specialist around ten years ago. The engine is a type-appropriate unit (692/0), which was extensively overhauled in the course of the restoration. Since then, the early Carrera Coupé has been part of a German collection. This 356 1500 GS Carrera impresses with its very good state of preservation and high-quality restoration, the appealing colour combination and the sporty interior with black leather and sports bucket seats. A 356 A Carrera is probably the purist way to enjoy an early Porsche and feel the spirit of this brand. The VAT can be shown on this vehicle, which makes it attractive for export outside the EU and for purchase by a company. The asking price is EUR 335,000 NET (EUR 398,650 GROSS incl. VAT).

The Porsche 356 was launched in 1948 as the first series model of the sports car brand from Zuffenhausen and is also referred to as the "original Porsche". The first series ("Pre-A") was produced until 1955. In October of that year, the 356 A was presented as a modified successor. The successful Porsche 356 series was continued until 1965 in the development stages B, C and SC. The engine was always an air-cooled four-cylinder boxer with various power levels. The available body styles were Coupé, Cabriolet, Speedster and at times Convertible D. It was not until 1963 that the 356 was replaced by the Porsche 901/911. In 1955, the sports version of the 356 A, the 1500 GS (Gran Sport) or Carrera, was launched. Its engine was based on the high-performance engine newly developed in 1953 for the legendary 550 Spyder racing car. The engine by Porsche engineer Ernst Fuhrmann uses four overhead camshafts for the four-cylinder boxer engine (type 547), which is only 1.5 litres in size, and is driven via king shafts for high speed stability and exact adherence to the valve timing. This thoroughbred racing engine with dual ignition, light alloy cylinders and dry sump lubrication had an output of 110 hp and is also known as the "king shaft" engine. The success of racing driver Hans Herrmann in the Carrera Panamericana endurance race in Mexico led to the name "Carrera". This Carrera engine was used in a ‘civilian’ version of the Porsche 356 A 1500 GS from 1955 and produced 100 hp. The 356 Carrera models also had lightweight bonnets to reduce weight. In the 1959 model year, there was the modified 1600 Carrera GS with a displacement of 1.6 litres and 105 or 115 hp. With the introduction of the modified 356 B at the end of 1959, the most powerful version was the 1600 Carrera GT with 115 hp. At the end of 1961, the racing Carrera version underwent another noticeable upgrade and was now called ‘Carrera 2’. The engine (Type 587/1) now had a displacement of 2.0 litres, revised cylinder heads and new light alloy cylinder liners with Ferral coating as well as plain main and connecting rod bearings on the forged crankshaft. The power output was then 130 hp at 6,200 rpm. In addition, separate oil coolers were installed in the front end. From April 1962, the Carrera 2 was the first Porsche to be fitted with disc brakes of its own design, with the brake calliper engaging in the disc ring from the inside (so-called ‘ring brake’). Only 310 examples of the Carrera 2 were produced in just under two years.