1956 Porsche 356 A Carrera 1500 GS Coupe
- Engine
- 1.5L flat-four, quad-cam, twin-plug, dry-sump, roller-bearing, ~100 bhp (replacement Type 692 unit with mild performance upgrades)
- Colour
- Silver
A 1956 Porsche 356 A Carrera 1500 GS Coupe, chassis despatched from the factory in late November 1956 in Sahara Beige with a red leather interior and chromed perforated disc wheels, originally retailed through Nordrhein in Düsseldorf. Fitted with the complex Fuhrmann four-cam engine, the car was later imported to the United States, underwent a two-year rotisserie restoration completed in 2000 with a replacement Type 692 engine built by noted four-cam specialist Gerry McCarthy, and subsequently participated in several prestigious American touring events including the Colorado Grand and Targa Newfoundland.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$472,500
- 1956-11-23 →Factory deliveryWilhelm i.d.Elstfull documentation
First owner, based in Krefeld; took delivery via Nordrhein dealer in Düsseldorf with a six-month warranty. Routine servicing was carried out at several workshops through 1958.
- → 1985Unidentified US-based owner or ownersnone documentation
Car was exported to the United States at some unspecified point after German ownership; intervening custodians unnamed.
- 1985 → 1999Acquisition unknownJean Jacques Marepartial documentation
New Jersey-based owner who began a restoration project and contacted the factory for records, but ultimately sold the car before the work was finished.
- 1999 → 2000Private saleGerd Schwarzkopfpartial documentation
Toronto-based owner who commissioned comprehensive coachwork, mechanical, and engine rebuilding work, completing the restoration by 2000.
- → 2012Acquisition unknownEarly Porsche collector in the Northwest USpartial documentation
Anonymous enthusiast located in the northwestern United States who held the car until 2012.
- 2013 →Private saleChris Marsicopartial documentation
Noted collector who acquired the car early in 2013 as part of a prominent personal collection.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Purchased from the Marsico collection the year prior to the auction; car presented in silver with a red interior and competition-type wheels.
Competition
- —Targa Newfoundlandcompleted
Successfully finished shortly after the two-year restoration was concluded in 2000.
- —New England 1000completed
Participated following completion of the restoration around 2000.
- —Virginia Mountain Millecompleted
Participated following completion of the restoration around 2000.
- —Carolina Trophycompleted multiple times
The car participated in several editions of this event in the period after restoration.
- —Colorado Grandcompleted
Participated following completion of the restoration around 2000.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1958ServiceNordrhein / Schultz Essen / Fleischhauer
Routine maintenance and servicing carried out at Nordrhein, Schultz Essen, and Fleischhauer dealerships from delivery through 1958.
- 1985Restoration
A restoration was initiated by the New Jersey owner but was never brought to completion; the car was subsequently sold in an unfinished state.
Owner also corresponded with Porsche factory during this period.
- 1999BodyworkGibson Auto
Full rotisserie body-off strip and repaint procedure performed by Gibson Auto.
Carried out in Ontario following acquisition by the Toronto-based owner.
- 1999MechanicalAutoTech Diagnostic
New interior fitted and four-wheel brakes renewed with alloy-finned 60 mm drums; all chassis mechanical and running-gear components addressed.
Work performed by Porsche specialist Dennis Rak.
- 1999Engine rebuildGerry McCarthy
A replacement Type 692 four-cam Carrera engine was supplied and assembled with mild performance enhancements, including 904-specification Carrillo rods, pistons, and cylinders, balanced crankshaft, rebuilt twin Solex PII-40 carburetors, and a period-style exhaust. Engine number was restamped to correspond with the car; original gearbox retained as matching numbers.
McCarthy was a Connecticut-based specialist in four-cam Porsche engines. Two-year restoration overall was completed in 2000.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.