1964 Porsche 356 Carrera 2

The top of the Porsche produce line in 1964 was the 130-horsepower Carrera 2000 GS (Carrera 2), costing about $7,600 from the factory, nearly twice that of a 1,600-cubic centimeter pushrod-equipped coupe. The highly complex four-cylinder quadruple-camshaft engine had a legacy dating back to the 550 Spyders of the early-to-mid-1950s which dominated the 1.1- and 1.5-liter classes. The unit powering the 356 C Carrera was in two-liter form and equipped with a stronger Hausermann clutch and taller 'American' gearing (BBAB) allowing them to reach 60 mph in about nine seconds and a top speed of 130 mph. To make the competition engine better suited for road use and improve reliability, it was given a new plain-bearing crankshaft in place of the early Hirth roller-bearing design. Distinguishable features of these Type 587 two-liter motors compared to the earlier 1600 four-cams are the 12-volt electrical systems and their rectangular camshaft covers.

The two-liter Type 587 represented the ultimate development of the Ernst Fuhrman-designed four-cam, now featuring a reinforced crankcase, redesigned heads, larger bore, and increased cooling capacity. In standard GS tune, it developed 130 bhp while the GT version produced upwards of 150 bhp.

Porsche produced approximately 300 examples of the Carrera 2 were built during B-series production, with an additional 100 or so built as C-series cars. 77 examples of the B specification were built as Carrera 2 Cabriolets and 30 in C specification fitted with the improved ATE system. The Carrera 2 coachwork was similar to that of standard coupes but with several subtle modifications including the front bumper guards (devoid of exhaust ports) at both ends. A pair of small auxiliary oil radiators, mounted one to a side behind the horn grille openings in the nose, was designed to aid in engine cooling. Furthermore, the horn grilles were removed to improve airflow. The engine received a pair of Solex 40PII-4 downdraft carburetors fed by a single electric fuel pump. The transmission was a fully synchronized Type 741 four-speed gearbox, and a small access panel was installed inside the rear wheel well to accommodate access to the spark plugs.

With the more potent engine, the 356 C Carrera received Porsche's new ATE disc brakes. For driver comfort, Porsche added a softer torsion-bar suspension, and a new transverse leaf was mounted below the transaxle to serve as a 'camber compensator.

The GT was a mostly bare track car while the GS was designed as a daily driver. The GS came with a 50 liter (13 gallon) fuel tank which allowed more luggage capacity while the GT received a 29-gallon tank with a prominent filler cap.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2021