Few nameplates in automotive history evoke the level of motorsports heritage and performance pedigree that is suggested by the word “Carrera”. Today, more widely associated with the flagship version of the Porsche 911, the iconic Carrera nomenclature was first bequeathed to an early-356 variant that was equipped with a special engine—a development of the motor used in the highly successful 550 Spyders that won their class at the Carrera Panamericana road race in 1953 and 1954.
The Type 547 engine that powered those racecars was specially devised by Ernst Fuhrman with a host of mechanical upgrades over Porsche’s base-level flat-four motor. This included twin ignition, dual carburettors, and a replacement of the traditional single-cam pushrod valve actuation in favour of a new four-cam set-up. After dominating the small-displacement sports car class at the Panamericana for two years, this engine was installed in a commemorative 356 variant in 1955 and dubbed the Carrera 1500—and thus a legend was born. The Carrera iteration was soon offered in two levels of trim; the street-positioned GS and the competition-specification GT. By 1958, engine displacement had been increased to 1,600 cc.
In September 1961 Porsche unveiled a further development of the model at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Carrera 2, which featured a new Carrera engine (Type 587) that displaced nearly two litres and flowed through a dual exhaust, developing an impressive 130 horsepower. The Carrera 2 was clothed in the latest Reutter coachwork; the T-6 body style most easily distinguished by twin rear grilles. The model was also the first Porsche to be equipped with four-wheel disc brakes, and then it became the fastest 356 road car built to date, capable of reaching around 210 km/h.
Despite being powered by the development of the uprated racing engine, the Carrera 2 GS was firmly positioned as a luxurious touring car, appointed with a comfortable interior and a 110-litre fuel tank. Just 436 examples of the Carrera 2 were ultimately produced, approximately 310 of which were built on the 356 B platform. Considerably fewer examples survive today, endowing the special race-bred grand tourers with a commensurate degree of rarity.
Continuing to benefit from a 2012 restoration by a 356-specialist workshop in Italy, this beautiful ‘Sunroof’ Coupé is a highly desirable example of Stuttgart’s celebrated Carrera 2. According to the combined data of a Porsche Kardex and a manufacturer-issued Certificate of Authenticity, chassis number 122866 was originally equipped with engine number 97186. Mounted with the desirable ‘Sunroof’ Coupé body configuration and finished in Bali Blue paint over an interior trimmed with light brown leatherette, the Carrera 2 was dispatched from the factory in January 1963 for the Swiss dealer Automobili und Motoren AG (AMAG).
Two months later, the Porsche was delivered to the first recorded owner, William Walker of Gstaad, Switzerland, and the Kardex reflects that the Carrera underwent periodic service by AMAG from April 1963 through to April 1969. At some point during this period, the Carrera 2 passed to the second owner, an enthusiast residing in Bern.
By the early 2010s the Porsche was acquired by a collector based in Lugano, suggesting that the car may have lived the entirety of its life within the care of Swiss ownership. This caretaker set about a comprehensive restoration of the Carrera, which was entrusted to the Bologna-based 356 specialist Tiziano Serattini, as demonstrated by an invoice on file. Pages of email correspondence between the owner and Mr. Tizziano reflect the owner’s considerable input into the restoration. In addition to being fitted with a Carrera 2 replacement engine, engine number P97432, the 356 B was expertly refinished in its original colour combination and appointed with a colour-matched set of fitted luggage, enriching the car’s considerable touring potential.
Sold to the consignor in July 2017, the Porsche is documented with the Porsche Kardex and Zertifikat, a restoration invoice and numerous restoration photos, magazine articles, a prior bill of sale, and a prior Swiss registration. Replete with numerous period-correct details, such as the wooden steering wheel and the VDO gauges, this ‘Sunroof’ Coupé is a particularly fetching example of Porsche’s rare Carrera 2 model. The future caretaker can look forward to the capable performance envelope provided by the powerful four-cam engine and four-wheel disc brakes, or the car may be presented with pride at regional concours d’elegance and marque gatherings. Sure to bring a smile to the face of any fervent Porsche enthusiast, this handsome ‘Sunroof’ Coupé represents a pivotal expression of Zuffenhausen’s famed Carrera nameplate, epitomising the manufacturer’s continued dedication to building competition-bred performance cars.
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