The Porsche 356 Carrera 2

The Porsche 356 is a lightweight and nimble sports car, powered by a rear-mounted air-cooled engine. Production started in 1948, and would continue through to 1965, with engineering innovations and developments leading to one of the most iconic and important sports cars ever built.

The production of 356s is split into four designations, the 356, 356 A, 356B and 356 C. The most popular is the 356 B which was in production from 1960 to 1963 and in mid-1962 featured a new body design, the T6, with larger front and rear windows, larger front hood which was more square in shape, twin engine compartment cooling grilles, an external fuel filler in the right front wing and enhanced luggage capacity. To improve cabin ventilation, intake louvres were added to the front scuttle, and for the first time, an electronically operated sliding sunroof was available as an option. In the cabin, these latest T6 cars featured a new dashboard with standard clock, improved seat adjustment, door armrest, rear view mirror with day/night adjustability and variable speed windscreen wipers.

Along with these improvements to the body, the Carrera name returned to Porsche’s line-up, now equipped with a race-derived 1,996 cc, 130 bhp, air-cooled, four-overhead camshaft, four-cylinder engine, named the 587/1. Improvements to the cylinder heads, and new aluminium alloy cylinders with Ferral coating resulted in increased power. Initially, Porsche had planned to build only 100 examples for homologation purposes, but despite a hefty price of $7,600, 278 examples were built over the production run.

This Porsche 356 B Carrera 2 Coupé by Reutter

The Porsche 356 B Carrera 2 Coupé offered here, chassis 123978, completed assembly at Porsche on the 28^th March 1963, and left the Porsche factory for delivery on 5^th April. The car was finished in Green with a light brown leatherette, corduroy interior and beige carpets. From new, this car was fitted with an electric antenna, two speakers, chrome finished wheels and shoulder straps.

Chassis 123978 was sold to its first owner, Weisse & Eschrich in Bayern, Germany in April 1963, with copies of the original Porsche factory Kardex confirming its first service was carried out by Krauss Porsche. This Kardex also notes warranty works being carried out in November 1963, with the mileage noted as 19,690 kms, clearly the first owners, a mechanical wire works factory still in business today, were enjoying their new Porsche.

Also accompanying this Porsche are copies of its German Fahrzeugbrief confirming that in 1988 the car was owned by Hans Wilfred Kuester in Germany, wearing license ‘SU-C 386’. Later, the car was bought by another German, Bernd Mattusch and assigned license ‘K-HK 356’, before a full restoration was carried out in the early 1990’s, with the bodywork being undertaken by Ambrosi in Germany. Since this restoration, the car has resided in Norway, Belgium and most recently with a prominent Italian collector.

Today, this Porsche 356 is presented in fantastic condition with the engine running very smoothly and strongly. The bodywork is beautifully finished in Ivory with a black interior showing little signs of use and the odometer displaying less than 950 kms.

Since its restoration, this car has been lovingly used and maintained, and today presents as one of the best condition 356 B Carrera 2s we have ever seen. Currently European taxes paid and registered in Germany, this Porsche is ready to be enjoyed once more on the open road.

Price Upon Application