One to Buy: 1956 Porsche 356 A Carrera Speedster with GT engine
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Five years after he had joimed Porsche (back when the company was based in the Austrian town of Gmund and the 356/1 prototype was still on the drawing board), engineer Ernst Fuhrmann was given the task of creating an engine capable of producing 100bhp per litre.
Porsche wanted a motor based on their existing four cylinder boxer unit in time for the 1953 season which gave Fuhramnn and his team just a few months to work their magic.
Because Porsche's pushrod engines did not have the required potential in terms of engine speed or thermal efficiency, Fuhrmann developed an advanced dual overhead camshaft head. The resultant Carrera four cam motor made its debut in a 550 Spyder during August 1953 and went on to establish an enviable competition record.
In July 1955 Porsche began to offer series production iterations of the Type 547/1 Carrera motors in two states of tune: 100bhp GS or 110bhp GT. The GS version could be specified with either Coupe or Speedster bodywork while the GT could initially only be ordered as a Speedster (until 1957). Today, these cars rank among the most desirable iterations of the now legendary 356 line.
Currently on offer at the Real Art on Wheels showroom in Burgeveen, Amsterdam, is the first customer 356 A Speedster built with a Carrera engine.
Originally delivered to the United States via Porsche’s US distributor, Max Hoffman in New York, chassis 82012 left the factory in the handsome colour scheme of White with a Light Red leatherette interior. It is currently presented in the traditional colour scheme of Silver over Black and, despite having a non-matching numbers engine, remains an important example of arguably the most iconic production Porsche from the 356 era.
