Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).

1956 Porsche 356A 1500GS/Carrera Coupe

  • Chassis Number: 56417
Porsche entered the La Carrera Panamericana in 1952, 1953 and 1954, the first two years in private hands. In 1953 and 1954, the factory entered a pair of cars in each race. In 1954, the Stuttgart firm posted 1-2 class wins and a third and fourth overall, behind 4.5- and 4.9-liter Ferraris. To commemorate this milestone, Porsche introduced the 100 bhp Carrera. The engine made its first appearance in the revised and updated 356, termed the 356A at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September of 1955.

The 1500 GS engine was a detuned version of the competition four-cam motor originally created for Porsche's 550 Spyder. After proper testing, the engine was installed in the 550 Spyder for racing duty.

Along with the engine, the 356 received other modifications for 1956, including chassis modifications resulting from track experience acquired with the 550 Spyder. The 356 also was given a more supple suspension with larger shock absorbers and improved stop blocks. The most powerful of the 356s, the Carrera came with 20 additional horsepower and had a top speed of nearly 200 km/h. Externally, 'Carrera' in gold lettering was placed on the rear engine cover.
The car was fully-restored in Italy from 2005 to 2006 and fitted with a period-correct 547/1 four-cam Carrera engine that was fully rebuilt by Armin Baumann. The car is finished in Aquamarine Blue Metallic with brilliant red full leather interior and rides on reproduction Rudge wheels.

This Porsche 356A/1500GS Carrera was first delivered in 1956 to United States distributor Max Hoffman in New York, before returning nearly fifty years later to Europe in 2004.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale at RM Auctions in Monaco where it was estimated to sell for €220.000-€280.000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of €235.200, inclusive of buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2012

2015 RM Sotheby's London Auction

Sale Price :
USD $465,696 (£ 302,400.00)

2012 RM Auctions at Monaco

Pre-Auction Estimates :
€220,000-€280,000 
Sale Price :
USD $303,856 (€ 235,200.00)

1956 Porsche 356A Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Porsche 356A

(Data based on Model Year 1956 sales)
1956 PORSCHE 356 A SUPER SPEEDSTER
Chassis#: 82114
Sold for USD$346,000
  2024 Gooding & Co: Selections From The Mullin Collection Auction
 
1956 Porsche 356 'Pre-A' 1600 Speedster
Chassis#: 81154
Sold for USD$395,500
  2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
 
1956 Porsche 356A 1500 GS Carrera Speedster
Chassis#: 82190
Sold for USD$935,000
  2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey
1956 Porsche 356A image  1956 Porsche 356A image  
1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Super Speedster by Reutter
Chassis#: 82431
Sold for USD$313,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1956 Porsche 356A image  1956 Porsche 356A image  
1956 Porsche 356A Speedster
Chassis#: 82813
Sold for USD$335,500
  2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey
 
1956 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Super Speedster
Chassis#: 80903
Sold for USD$362,500
  2023 Bonhams : Scottsdale Auction
 
1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Super Speedster by Reutter
Chassis#: 82106
Sold for USD$335,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona
 
1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster by Reutter
Chassis#: 82741
Sold for USD$357,500
  2022 RM Sothebys : Gene Ponder Collection
 
1956 PORSCHE 356 A SPEEDSTER
Chassis#: 81120
Sold for USD$522,000
  2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1956 Porsche 356A image  
1956 PORSCHE 356 A 'EUROPEAN' CABRIOLET
Chassis#: 61064
Sold for USD$434,000
  2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1956 Porsche 356A image  1956 Porsche 356A image  
1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Super Speedster by Reutter
Chassis#: 82106
Sold for USD$307,500
  2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
 
1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Cabriolet 'Project'
Chassis#: 61428
Sold for USD$155,662
  2022 RM Sothebys : Monaco Grimaldi Forum
 
1956 PORSCHE 356 A SPEEDSTER
Chassis#: 82181
Sold for USD$379,000
  2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction
1956 Porsche 356A image  
1956 PORSCHE 356 A SUPER COUPE
Chassis#: 57011
Sold for USD$67,200
  2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction
1956 Porsche 356A image  1956 Porsche 356A image  
1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Cabriolet by Reutter
Chassis#: 61461
Sold for USD$236,500
  2021 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall
 
1956 Porsche 356 A Carrera 1500 GS Coupe by Reutter
Chassis#: 57998
Sold for USD$472,500
  2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1956 Porsche 356A image  1956 Porsche 356A image  
1956 PORSCHE 356A 1600S T1 SPEEDSTER
Chassis#: 82835
Sold for USD$367,816
  2020 Bonhams : The Bonmont Sale
 
1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster by Reutter
Chassis#: 82071
Sold for USD$291,500
  2020 RM Sothebys : Shift/Monterey
 
1956 PORSCHE 356A OUTLAW COUPE
Chassis#: 56306
Sold for USD$142,800
  2020 Bonhams : Quail Motorcar Auction
 
1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Coupé by Reutter
Chassis#: 56964
Sold for USD$103,861
  2020 RM : The European Sale featuring the Petitjean Collection
 

Porsche 356As That Failed To Sell At Auction

1956 Porsche 356A's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1956 Porsche 356 A Carrera 1500 GS Speedster by Reutter821892024 RM Sothebys : Cliveden House $750,000$950,000
1956 Porsche 356 A cabriolet 1600613502023 Artcurial : Le Mans Classic $190,000$230,000
1956 Porsche 356 A Coupe Outlaw565152022 Broad Arrow Auctions : West Palm Beach $125,000$150,000
1956 Porsche 356 A 1600S T1 Speedster820782021 Silverstone Auctions : The Classic Sale at Silverstone   
1956 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster Coachwork by Reutter826392019 Bonhams : Amelia Island $350,000$450,000
1956 Porsche 356A Carrera GS/GT Coupé567782019 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais $420,000$560,000
1956 Porsche 356 A Speedster821172019 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Arizona $450,000$550,000
1956 Porsche 356A 1500 Carrera GS Coupe561182018 Bonhams : Scottsdale $750,000$900,000
1956 Porsche 356 A 1500 GS Carrera Custom560832016 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach $550,000$750,000
1956 PORSCHE 356A SPEEDSTER826422016 Bonhams Goodwood Members' Meeting $340,000$400,000
1956 Porsche 356A Speedster820112015 Rick Cole Monterey $275,000$295,000
1956 Porsche 356 Speedster820112014 Rick Cole Auctions : Monterey$303,600$225,000$295,000
1956 Porsche 356A Speedster828562013 Coys Techno Classica $150,000$170,000
1956 Porsche 356A Super Speedster 1600S Engine, Nut and Bolt Restoration 2013 Mecum Houston, Tx$220,000  
1956 Porsche 356 Speedster Re-Creation 2011 Barrett JacksonLas Vegas   
1956 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster827302011 Bonhams Les Grandes Marques à Monaco $135,000$155,000
1956 Porsche 356A Speedster825602010 FAIRFIELD COUNTY CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE, EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTORS' MOTORCARS AND AUTOMOBILIA $160,000$180,000
1956 Porsche 356A Speedster 2010 Auctions America : Auburn Collector Car Auction$112,000  
1956 Porsche 356A Speedster 2010 Branson Auctions Spring 2010$24,000  
1956 Porsche 356A 2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island$115,000$140,000$160,000

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

Similar sales to the $255,911 range.
1968-69 Ford Escort 1.6 FVA Group 5 Racing Saloon
Chassis#:BB48GM11978
Sold for $256,732
2024 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival
1938 Packard Twelve 1607 Convertible Coupe
Chassis#:11392032
Sold for $257,600
2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Auburn Auction
1977 Ferrari 308 GTB 'Vetroresina' by Scaglietti
Chassis#:20695
Sold for $257,600
2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1956 Porsche 356A vehicle thumbnail image  1956 Porsche 356A vehicle thumbnail image  
2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe Exclusive Series
Chassis#:WP0AD2A93JS156508
Sold for $257,600
2024 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1912 RENAULT TYPE CB LANDAULET
Chassis#:32862
Sold for $257,600
2024 Gooding & Co: Selections From The Mullin Collection Auction
1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II
Chassis#:WDB2010361F734120
Sold for $255,000
2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
1956 Porsche 356A vehicle thumbnail image  1956 Porsche 356A vehicle thumbnail image  
1965 Shelby Cobra 427 CSX 4000 Series
Chassis#:CSX4206
Sold for $257,600
2024 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction
1958 PORSCHE 356 A COUPE Coachwork by Reutter
Chassis#:102648
Sold for $257,600
2024 Gooding : Amelia Island
1930 Bugatti Type 40 Grand Sport
Chassis#:681/40655
Sold for $257,124
2024 Artcurial : Retromobile
2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Chassis#:WP0AF2A91KS164439
Sold for $257,600
2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona
1952 Bentley Mark VI Cabriolet by Graber
Chassis#:B190MD
Sold for $257,600
2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona
2016 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS
Chassis#:WP0BB2A94GS136898
Sold for $257,600
2023 RM Sothebys : The White Collection
1994 Porsche 911 RS America
Chassis#:WP0AB296XRS419122
Sold for $257,600
2023 RM Sothebys : The White Collection
1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8-Litre Roadster
Chassis#:875195
Sold for $256,663
2023 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz
1951 CADILLAC SERIES 75 CUSTOM LIMOUSINE
Chassis#:517568105
Sold for $257,600
2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1956 Porsche 356A vehicle thumbnail image  1956 Porsche 356A vehicle thumbnail image  
2006 Ferrari F430 Spider
Chassis#:ZFFEW59A460145212
Sold for $257,600
2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1939 Talbot-Lago T150 C Conduite Intérieure d'Usine
Chassis#:90060
Sold for $257,600
2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center
1956 Porsche 356A vehicle thumbnail image  1956 Porsche 356A vehicle thumbnail image  
1980 Aston Martin V8 Volante
Chassis#:V8C0L15209
Sold for $254,800
2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 'Pagoda'
Chassis#:113.044.12.021109
Sold for $257,600
2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1987 Ferrari Testarossa
Chassis#:ZFFSG17A7H0069127
Sold for $257,600
2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center

1956 Porsche 356A

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
Image gallery
Other Porsche 356A model years

1956 Porsche 356A Vehicle Profiles

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.