1956 Porsche 356 Carrera GS 1500 Speedster

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Coming soon to is the ‘holy grail’ of factory right hand drive classic Porsches – a 1956 Porsche 356 Carrera GS 1500 Speedster.

This car is one of only three factory right hand drive Porsche 356 Carrera Speedsters ever built.

According to the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity and the Kardex on file, this factory right hand drive car was completed on the 23rd July 1956. Its original colour scheme was ‘aquamarine blue metallic’ (paint code 5607) with a beige leatherette interior.

The car was sold by Hamiltons and its first owner was Mr D O’Neil. It is understood that Mr D O’Neil was indeed well known businessman Mr Denis O’Neil.

The car was raced in period and it finished third in class (1,101 – 1,500cc) in the 1956 Australian Tourist trophy race held at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne on the 25th November 1956. It was entered by Monaro Motors and driven by HC Old.

By 1958 the car was owned by Arnold Williams from Brisbane and it was entered under his name in the 1958 Lowood Trophy Meeting held on the 31st August 1958. Running number eight, Williams drove the car to a third place finish.

There are some fabulous period photos on file of the car at various race meets.

The car passed through two further owners before being acquired by Brisbane based Porsche enthusiast Greg Lund. By now the car had lost its original Carrera engine and Lund bought what he thought to be a ‘standard’ Porsche 356A Speedster, without an engine, in c1972. Lund initially installed a Volkswagen engine and he used and enjoyed his car before deciding to restore it towards the end of his ownership. There is a copy of a letter on file from Porsche, replying to Lund’s letter dated 19-9-1989, confirming this car was delivered new July 1956 and its original engine was a Carrera 4 Cam type 547/1. Lund’s curiosity was piqued when he noted that ‘356AGS’ was stamped on what turned out to be the original gearbox.

Lund sold the car to Porsche 356 enthusiast Greg O’Keeffe in the early 1990’s. It was subsequently owned by Warwick Miller before being sold to David Bowden in late 1998 or early 1999. Dan Bowden entered the car in the 1999 Targa Tasmania where it finished first in class.

The Bowdens sold the car to the current owner in 2018. Following a lot of detective work the original engine for the car was located. It had been sitting in the back of a Volkswagen shop in Melbourne for many years and then found its way to Porsche 356 specialist Nick Clemence in California, USA. The current owner purchased the engine from Clemence and subsequently had it rebuilt. It is understood that the original engine was parted with the car by Gilbert Kerr, who was the owner of the car prior to Greg Lund.

Today the car runs and drives well, however, the paint is showing its age. Given the car’s rarity and significance, it deserves to be taken back to its original and stunning colour of aquamarine blue. The engine currently fitted in the car is a 1,600cc Type 616/1 T2 from a 1958 Porsche 356, which is mated to the original gearbox.

The original rebuilt engine is currently mounted on an engine stand and is sitting next to the car.

Interestingly, all three of the factory right hand drive Porsche 356 Carrera Speedsters were sold new in Australia. Of these three cars one has found its way to the UK, leaving this car and one other in Australia.

As the expression goes “. . . if you know, you know”.

Accompanying the car is the original rebuilt engine, a rare factory hard top, an excellent history file which includes a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity and Kardex, jack and tool kit.

More information to follow soon.

Price: Enquire


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