1958 Porsche 356 Carrera GT
Chassis Number 102968
Miles (since restoration completed): 40

REQUIST A printable PDF document with Photos

Porsche created the 4-cam Carrera engine for the 550 spyder racing car in 1955 but it soon found its way into the production 356. Two versions were produced, the luxury street GS and the full racing GT. This example is one of the very rare GT versions and was restored by one of the world’s foremost authorities on the Carrera, Bob Garretson as his personal car. This car is one of only ten GTs built in 1958.

The car was sold new in 1958 to a German Woman living in the northern part of the country, it was ordered as a rally car including the extremely rare heated windshield. She competed with the car in local rallies and occasionally drove it on the street. In the mid 1960’s the car was sold to a gentleman from England who was living in Rhodesia, South Africa. He had the car shipped there and competed with it in local events. As the political climate began to change the owner decided to ship the car back to England in 1970. It was put into storage with an old friend of Garretson. In the late 1980’s Garretson was looking for a 356 project and remembered the Carrera stored with his friend. Over the 17 years the car was in storage the engine (probably not the original) had been sold but the car was in quite good condition and still had its original heated windshield, number matching aluminum doors, hood, rear deck and oil tank. All the rare period correct bits were there.

Garretson purchased the car in 1987 and began a 20-year restoration project carried out in England and the United States. Over that time he collected a huge stock pile of New Old Stock (NOS) parts for the car, and even a 547 Carrera engine case that was only eight numbers away from the one that was originally in the car. The original engine number was 90950 and the replacement engine is 90958. Due to the rigors of competition use, the condition of the original floor was replaced with a brand new factory steel floor. The body was refinished in its original German racing silver.

Every component of the car was totally restored both cosmetically and mechanically to period correct perfection. This even included re-plating all the nuts, bolts, clips, washers, etc. so the underside of the car looks just as it did when it left the factory in 1958. Garretson personally rebuilt the engine and the transmission and did all the final assembly of the car. The rebuilt 547 roller bearing engine has been outfitted with new 1750cc pistons and nickelsil cylinders. Jim Wellington rebuilt the 80mm roller crank. New Elgin cams developed specifically for this car by Harlan Halsey are utilized. The original transmission (no.19082) was completely rebuilt by Garretson and features BAEA gear ratios and a new ring and pinion. Brakes are the 60mm front GT units with ventlated backing plates and the rare 80 liter “Le Mans” fuel tank has been fitted. The most remarkable item on the car is a NOS heated windshield! The attention to detail is second to none resulting in a spectacular GT that is not “over restored” but just as it should be.

About the 356 GT
356 GTs were multi purpose racing cars, used in circuit racing, open road racing and rallies. A full racing specification 4-cam Carrera engine was installed along with its associated dry sup oil tank and racing open exhaust. The body was lightened over the stock 365 by the use of aluminum hood, doors, and rear deck lid. The rear and side glass was replaced with lightweight Plexiglas. Bumper trim was removed and replaced with a simple aluminum strip. In the interior the heavy coupe seats were replaced with Speedster style GT seats, the rear seat was eliminated, and simple door panels without pockets were installed. The carpet was unique to the GT. It used standard material in the rear of the car with tough material up front to withstand the hard use of competition. The heavy roll up window cranks were removed and a simple leather pull strap utilized. A larger 21-gallon (Le Mans) gas tank replaced the stock 14-gallon unit essential for long distance races. Other mechanical improvements included the installation of the 550’s 60mm wide front brake drums, limited slip differential and short gears. The resulting package was hard to beat in the under two-liter class in international racing and weighing 150 lbs less than the standard coupe.

Of all of the 356A GTs the 1958 and 1959 models were the best and virtually identical. Including all the GT elements mentioned above, these models also have the lager steering box, stronger front spindles and improved transmission and differantial incorporated in all 356s in 1958. Only ten GTs are known to be built in 1958.

 

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