1955 Porsche 356 Carrera 1500 GS Speedster
- Engine
- 1.5L dry-sump four-cam Type 547/1, ~110 bhp at 6,200 rpm
- Colour
- White
Chassis 81079 is a 1955 Porsche 356 Carrera 1500 GS Speedster, one of approximately 148 produced, fitted with the complex four-cam Type 547 engine producing 110 bhp. Delivered new to Max Hoffman's New York dealership in January 1956, the car passed to Baron Daniel von Hermann of California, who campaigned it vigorously in SCCA competition through 1960, achieving class victories at Palm Springs and Laguna Seca. After decades of California ownership and storage, the Speedster was comprehensively restored between 2019 and 2021 and subsequently participated in the 2020 Mille Miglia.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate €850,000 – €950,000
- 1956 →Factory deliveryMax Hoffmanpartial documentation
New York importer who received the car after factory despatch; reportedly used it briefly for personal transport and promotional display before moving it on.
- → 1960Private saleBaron Daniel von Hermannpartial documentation
German aristocrat residing in California, believed to be a VW dealer, who raced the car extensively under the anglicised name Daniel W. Herman in SCCA competition.
- 1960 → 1970California-based owners during the 1960s and 1970snone documentation
A succession of unidentified California owners held the car through the 1960s and into the early 1970s.
- 1970 →Acquisition unknownLouis Lavatopartial documentation
California owner with whom period correspondence with the factory survives on file; the car was eventually laid up and placed in storage during his tenure.
- 1991 →Private saleWayne Bakerpartial documentation
Noted Porsche historian and racing driver who rediscovered the car and is believed to have sourced the period-correct replacement Type 547/1 engine currently installed.
- → 2012Acquisition unknownSecond US owner after Bakerpartial documentation
Final American owner before the car was acquired by the current consignor.
- 2012 →Private saleCurrent vendorfull documentation
European buyer who brought the car back to the continent and commissioned a comprehensive two-stage restoration between 2019 and 2021 costing over €55,000.
- Date unknownPrivate saleSweeney British Carspartial documentation
California dealership that acted as intermediary, acquiring the car from Hoffman and supplying it to the next owner.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFirst US owner after Bakerpartial documentation
Carried out sympathetic restoration work, with invoices retained in the history file.
Competition
- 1957-05-01Sports Car Club of AmericaNovice CotatiDriver: Daniel W. Herman2nd
Herman's first recorded podium with this car.
- 1957-09-01Sports Car Club of AmericaArcata Main SCCA eventDriver: Skip Hudson1st
Acclaimed driver Skip Hudson piloted the car to victory here.
- 1957-11-01Sports Car Club of AmericaSCCA National Palm SpringsDriver: Skip Hudson1st
First of two victories in November 1957 with Hudson at the wheel.
- 1957-11-01Sports Car Club of AmericaSCCA National Laguna SecaDriver: Skip Hudson1st
Second consecutive national-level win that month for the car under Hudson.
- 2020-10-01Mille Miglia
Car participated in the historic retrospective edition of the event following its recent restoration.
- —Sports Car Club of AmericaBuchanan Field SCCA eventDriver: Daniel W. Herman
One of several strong early showings by Herman prior to his first recorded podium finish.
- —Sports Car Club of AmericaSalt Lake SCCA eventDriver: Daniel W. Herman
Notable performance alongside appearances at Buchanan Field.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2019RestorationBoxer Motor & Klassiche Automobile
Comprehensive restoration begun by the current consignor, with initial work undertaken at Boxer Motor & Klassiche Automobile in Dotternhausen.
Part of a multi-workshop restoration programme costing in excess of €55,000 in total.
- 2021RestorationAutowerkstatt Ludescher
Restoration concluded with further work carried out at Autowerkstatt Ludescher in Mackenbeuren, bringing the car to its current presented condition.
Combined expenditure across both workshops exceeded €55,000; detailed invoices held on file.
- —Engine rebuild
A period-correct replacement Type 547/1 four-cam engine was sourced and fitted to the car, believed to have been arranged by Wayne Baker during his ownership in the 1990s to early 2000s.
The replacement unit is described as period-correct for the model.
- —Restoration
Sympathetic restoration work carried out by the first US owner after Wayne Baker; scope not fully detailed but supporting invoices are on file.
Invoices available within the car's history file.
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