1957 Porsche 356 Carrera 1500 GS Coupe

The Porsche 1500 GS Carrera was introduced at the 1955 Frankfurt Auto Show. It used Ernst Fuhrmann's Type 547/1 engine and was the first four cam unit to be installed in a road-going car. The engine featured bevel-driven camshafts, a roller-bearing crankshaft, Solex carburetors, dry sump lubrication, and twin distributors. The air-cooled flat-four offering 100 horsepower at 6200 RPM, an impressive figure for a 1500cc engine in 1955.

This particular 1500 GS Coupe was completed on July 4th of 1957. It left the factory finished in Silver Metallic with black leatherette upholstery. It was specified for U.S. delivery and given bumper over-riders and sealed-beam headlamps. The car was sent to Hoffman Motors in New York.

The early history of this car is not fully known. It may have been owned by Lt. Col Lassiter Thompson, as a name appears in the original carburetor manual. Written beside this name is 'Gerald F. Gedde, 2022 W. Chase, Chicago 45, 23 July 60 – 7 Jan 61.'

The first known owner was Manfred Loewen, a German mechanic. He acquired it in the early 1960s while working for Bill Spreen VW-Porsche in Atlanta. The Carrera had been traded in after its engine failed during a trip from Chicago to Florida. Loewen set about to rebuild the engine, even acquiring a new crankshaft and pistons for it. After the work was completed, he sold the car to Willard Strain of Dalton, Georgia.

By this point in history, the car had its original Carrera engine in pieces and was powered by a 912 engine.

In 1970, the car was purchased by Reginald Mullinux, but didn't drive it until returning from service in the Army. In 1973, it failed its state safety inspection due to ailing brake failure. After this, it was parked in the carport. A few attempts were made to revive the car, its 912 engine was removed and the project left abandoned. The car remained in static storage until coming to auction in 2018.

Currently, this 1500 GS is in unrestored condition. The tub, doors, hood, and deck lid are all stamped with the last digits of the chassis number, and the original chassis stamping and data tags are clear and undisturbed. The original engine is still disassembled. Many major components, including the wheels, gas tank and transaxle appear to be original. The interior appears original. The odometer shows 52,837 miles.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2018