1963 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Coupe

What would start out as a car built only for experience would end up becoming one of the cars that would make Porsche a world-wide brand. Initial drawings would be completed in 1947. By the 1960s, the Porsche 356 would be listed among the top sports cars of the 1960s.

The goal was simple enough. During the Second World War, Ferry Porsche had the opportunity to drive a Volkswagen convertible that had a supercharged engine. He was impressed with the car's abilities but thought there was room for improvement.

After the war, and after a period of imprisonment, Ferry would set about creating a better version of that supercharged VW. Porsche believed that if he made the car lighter and could get the engine to produce about the same horsepower he would have a strong, competitive car on his hands.

The toughest test would be actually building the car as Porsche didn't have the capital to truly create the new design from scratch. He would have to have a car that could use a good deal of materials and hardware from a VW. This would take a good period of time and some design adjustments to make it work, but, by 1948, a low-slung prototype would be completed and ready for testing.

Besides achieving the goal of being light but powerful enough, the car's design would also be very aerodynamic, and thus, looking well ahead of its time. Unfortunately, the price of the new car was pretty hefty. But Porsche would have one important thing going for it.

It was plain to see by those that understood racing the new Porsche had some very strong characteristics. Because it was light but powerful enough, the 356 could compete in the lower classes easily enough, but had the abilities of those that belonged in the upper classes. Therefore, the 356 would be a successful racer and the first of Porsche's 'giant killers'.

Like the 911 that would come later, it seemed impossible to get too much of the 356. Therefore, even by the 1960s, Porsche would be still introducing new examples of the 356. In September of 1961, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Porsche would unveil its latest evolution of the 356. It was a Carrera, but it would wear a T-6 Reutter body style, and, it would be powered by a 2.0-liter version of Fuhrmann's four-cam flat-four engine. The 2000 GS, or Carrera 2, would be a rather exclusive line of the 356 with just about 436 examples built. The fastest 356 road car would be even stronger as it would be the first Porsche to make use of disc brakes.

Chassis 123210 would be one of those 436 Carrera 2 356s ever to be built. It would be completed in 1963 and would be sold to its first owner, a Stuttgart-Degerloch Industrialist. This particular car would come with such extras as an electric sunroof and a 70-liter fuel tank. Touches, like the wooden steering wheel and Arab's Grey paint would make 123210 a striking and rather unique example.

The Porsche would enjoy a long period of time in its native Germany. However, the car would find its way to California where it would change hands a number of times. Then, in the late-1990s, the Carrera 2 would be purchased by a collector from Switzerland. The Porsche would end up heading back across the Atlantic, now wearing a black livery. Upon arriving in Europe, the car would undergo some work by specialists.

Nearly all of the mechanicals of the car would undergo reworking to make sure they were in top order. The engine would be entirely rebuilt and would even be updated by some more modern accessories.

Nonetheless, the car remains highly original including the original books, manuals, tools and its matching engine. When all said and done, 123210 would have to be considered one of the best examples of the 356 Carrera 2 and remains a powerful example of Porsche's fastest 356.

Sources:
'1956 Porsche 356A News, Pictures, Specifications and Information', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z8179/Porsche-356A.aspx). Conceptcarz.com: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z8179/Porsche-356A.aspx. Retrieved 18 February 2014.

'1957 Porsche 356 Carrera 1500GS News, Pictures, Specifications and Information', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z12461/Porsche-356-Carrera-1500-GS/Carrera.aspx). Conceptcarz.com: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z12461/Porsche-356-Carrera-1500-GS/Carrera.aspx. Retrieved 18 February 2014.

'Lot No. 39: 1963 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Coupe', (http://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1963-porsche-356-carrera-2-coupe/#prettyPhoto). Gooding & Company. http://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1963-porsche-356-carrera-2-coupe/#prettyPhoto. Retrieved 18 February 2014.

'Porsche 356 History', (http://auto.howstuffworks.com/porsche-356-history2.htm). HowStuffWorks. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/porsche-356-history2.htm. Retrieved 18 February 2014.