Of all the variants of the Porsche 356, few are as rare or interesting as the Carrera models. Right from the start, the name Carrera referred to special racing models that offered high performance and a host of mechanical differences from the standard series of factory cars.
The ambitious engine of the Porsche Carrera was first introduced in 1954, only six years after Porsche production began. Called Type 547, the engine had a displacement of 1498 cc and used a dry sump lubrication system typical of racing cars. The engine was a typical Porsche four-cylinder flat four, but its most remarkable and famous features were the four gear-driven overhead camshafts (two per cylinder bank), which increased the power to 110 horsepower and the torque to 12.6mkg, much more than a standard Porsche.
The first Carrera engines were placed exclusively in Porsche 550 Spyder race cars, but with the advent of the 356A range in 1956, Porsche made the Carrera powertrain an option for buyers of 356 coupes, convertibles and road Speedsters.
While the very first car was indeed one of the last Pre-As of 1955, in fact an experimental car, the first production 356 Carrera was designated as a 1956 356A GT, and included the Carrera engine, improved oversized brakes borrowed from the Spyder, a free exhaust from the competition, an enlarged 28-litre fuel tank, and inverted torsion bars that lowered the car slightly. The Carrera model was specially designed for racing, without the standard heater, door panels and soundproofing materials. The windows were made of plastic rather than glass, and all this weight reduction made the Carrera the lightest 356 available, at 865 kg for the coupe and convertible, and a weight of 840 kg for the Speedster.
The 1956 Porsche Carrera GT runs from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 200 km/h. The cars sell for a high price of $5,665 for the coupe, $5,915 for the convertible and $5,215 for the Speedster. That's precisely $2,000 more than the standard versions of the 356. This price increase was of course substantial, but so was the increase in performance, and the buyer got a very advanced and exotic engine on the rear axle.
In 1957, Porsche added the Carrera De Luxe to the range, restoring the heating and glass side windows, as well as the exhaust system adapted to the road. The De Luxe had slightly lower performance, with 100 horsepower and 12.1 mkg of torque.
For 1958, the 356A receives the new T2 body style. With this evolution, the Carrera GT is equipped with aluminium front and rear doors and bonnets. The rear bonnet is easily recognisable thanks to its louvres, and the front bonnet has a central hole for rapid fuel filling. The Carrera continued to receive special high-performance parts, including an improved transmission and steering.
In 1959, Porsche increased the Carrera's engine to 1587 cc and renamed the range to 1600 GS-GT. The new engine produced 115 horsepower and 13.8 mkg of torque in the GT version and 105 horsepower and 12.3 mkg in the De Luxe model.
At the end of 1959, the 356B with T5 bodywork was presented as a 1960 model, and Porsche stopped offering Carrera models. However, buyers could still go directly to the Reutter bodybuilder and buy lightweight bodies and 1587 cc four-cylinder engines. The latter were known as the 1600GS.
The next Carrera arrived in 1962 with the advent of the T6 body style shared with the end of the 356B and the 356C models. The new car received the name Carrera 2 and was equipped with a 1966 cc engine called the type 587. This engine delivers a power of 130 hp and a torque of 16.5 mkg. This new Carrera 2 will enable the ageing 356 to withstand increasingly tough competition: before being officially presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the autumn, the new Type 587 engines had been in use throughout the 1961 season, powering the existing T5 version of the 356 B. One almost won the Targa Florio while an identical car finished second.
The 587/2 competition engine is equipped with two Weber carburetors and develops 140 horsepower in the sport version or 155 horsepower with sport exhaust.
It was initially offered with the same large drum brakes on all four wheels as the Carrera always offered, but for the 1963 model year and the advent of the 356C, the entire range was upgraded with disc brakes on all four wheels, although the Carrera uses a different set of brakes than the rest of the range. The Carrera 2 remained in the De Luxe and GT versions until the end of the 356 range in 1965.
Initial production of the Carrera 2 concentrated on the GS road model to ensure that the stripped-down, more powerful GT competition car was well homologated for competition. On July 27, 1962, just over three months after the production launch, the manufacture of the 100 units required for homologation was completed. In the following year the number of cars produced increased to a total of 436 Carrera 2s; 310 on the 356 B T6 chassis and 126 on the following 356 C platform.

This Carrera coupe, delivered new in Paris on October 23rd 1962, as confirmed by its factory delivery note, represented Porsche's showcase and expertise in competition at the time. This car has been modified from the beginning with GT specificities: aluminium doors and bonnets, plexi windows, large 80L tank, Sebring exhaust (deliver as spare part), self-locking and short gears, additional Eberspacher heating and Speed Pilot. This car was owned by the Barth brothers who made the Neige et Glace. It will then enter the collection of Mr. Dijols before being bought by Mr. Dechaumel in 1979. It is in 2014 that our 356 Carrera integrates a very beautiful French collection. Its engine P97214 type 587/1 has just been completely rebuilt and has only 1000km of running-in. This work has been entrusted to the AMS workshop in the Paris region, whose competence in Porsche and more particularly in 356 is no longer to be demonstrated. It is the ideal car for the next Tour Auto or Mans Classic.