Est. 100 bhp, 1,498 cc air-cooled, horizontally-opposed “four-cam” four-cylinder Carrera engine, four-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 2,100 mm

• Legendary four-cam Carrera engine

• RHD example delivered new to Stephen O’Flaherty in Dublin

• Fully factory equipped from new with sunroof, Rudge wheels and more

• Matching-numbers engine

• Period racing history, contested Leinster Trophy and Dunboyne Trophy

• Restoration by Porsche specialists European Collectables and numerous marque experts

• Extremely rare and desirable build specification

While working for Porsche in the early 1950s, Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann developed an exotic racing engine around the air-cooled flat-four that had been very successful for both Volkswagen and Porsche to date. This special engine featured shaft-driven twin overhead camshafts in the cylinder head and a roller-bearing crankshaft with dual ignition. The high-revving, powerful, 1,498 cc-engine (Type 547/1) was placed in the first purpose-built racing car that Porsche had ever produced, the 550 Spyder. After 550 Spyders placed third and fourth overall behind Ferraris powered by 4.9-litre and 4.5-litre V-12s in the 1954 Carrera Panamericana, the four-cam engine was officially dubbed “Carrera.”

After the success in Mexico, it was no surprise that the Carrera engine found its way into production 356s. In the coupé, two versions were offered, the luxury “street” GS model and full racing GT. The driving sensation when compared to a pushrod engine was night and day. Around 4,000 rpm when the pushrod unit was quickly losing power, the Carrera engine was just coming alive and had quite of few more revs to go before another gear was necessary.

The example we are pleased to present here was a special order 356A Carrera GS T-2 that was originally finished in Silver Metallic (#5706) paint with, fittingly, an Irish Green leatherette interior. Further specification included a sunroof, safety belts, “Ponto-Stabil” mirror, corduroy linen-bag, Speedometer in miles, desirable chrome central locking wheels (Rudge), removable headlight grilles and right-hand-drive. It was completed on 23 November, 1957 and shipped to Motor Distributors Limited, the distributor of Volkswagen for Ireland and UK. The Carrera was a special order placed by the company’s owner, Mr. Stephen O’Flaherty. Mr. O’Flaherty, a legendary figure and one of the most successful businessmen in Ireland, cemented his relationship with Volkswagen in 1950 when a consignment of Beetles arrived at his dealership in Dublin packed in crates in what was then termed “completely knocked down” condition or what would be termed today “assembly required.” O’Flaherty secured an old tram depot and immediately put a few men on the job. It was in that old tram depot that the first ever Volkswagen was built outside of Germany. Demand for Beetles was strong in Ireland and UK, and O’Flaherty’s production of Beetles grew from 46 cars in 1950 to over 2,000 in 1952.

The Carrera quickly became known in Dublin’s motoring circle due to the fact that Mr. O’Flaherty’s son Nigel was quite a good driver and had a penchant for motor racing. In 1958 he raced this Carrera in organized events such as the Leinster Trophy and later was the winner of the Smithfield Trophy. In 1959, another Irishman, Mr. Bill Lacy, was behind the wheel of this Carrera in the Dunboyne Trophy.

In the early 1970s, the Carrera left Europe and went to Florida to an unknown owner in the Gainesville area and was regularly serviced by an independent shop called “Type 356.” Ownership is credited to Ed Jones from the late 1970s until 1984, when he sold it to an enthusiast in Tampa, Florida. In 1985, the Tampa owner sold it to James Barrington, who has a very keen eye for rare Porsches and had the largest collection of Gmund coupés at one time. In 1988, Mr. Barrington sold it to Jim Wellington, from whom it passed to Gary Kempton, owner of “Made by Hand, Inc.” Mr. Kempton (Tallahassee, Florida) was one of the premier Porsche restorers in the country and was also an esteemed concours judge.

The car was then acquired by one Mr. Jarrett of Australia, who commissioned a restoration of the floors and body from Kempton. Jarrett never took it out of the country but passed it on a few years later to Charles Coker. Coker supplied a photo and description of this car to Cole Scrogham, who included it in on page 21 of his book, Porsche 356 Carrera: The Four Cam Production Cars. Coker sold it to a Mr. Anspach in 1994.

In 1999, Mr. Anspach offered the Carrera to European Collectibles (Costa Mesa, California). Upon reading the history, they immediately called a long-time customer in Dublin who they knew raced all over Ireland in the late 1950s. He remembered racing against this car and was so pleased to learn not only that it was available but that it was complete with its matching-numbers 1500-cc four-cam engine and original Rudge wheels. In very short order he agreed to buy the car and instructed European Collectibles to perform a full nut-and-bolt restoration. The restoration work took nearly three years and involved many of the best Porsche 356 names in the United States. The engine was completely rebuilt by four-cam specialist Gerry McCarthy of Kam Motorsports (Waterbury, Connecticut). A full rebuild of the gearbox was entrusted to Jon Bunin of Werkstatt (Vista, California). Interior specialists, Autos International (Escondido, California), carefully installed a correct green interior. Christensen Plating Works (Vernon, California) prepared the show-quality chrome and plating. North Hollywood Speedometer (N. Hollywood, California) carried out the restoration and calibration work necessary for accurate gauges. Disassembly, body preparation, paintwork, coordination of said vendors, reassembly and sorting were expertly handled by European Collectibles.

In early 2002, the freshly restored Carrera was shipped to Dublin, where it has been driven sparingly and shown at many of the local concours and revival events. It was even recently reunited with its first enthusiast driver and first owner’s son, Mr. Nigel O’Flaherty, who was shocked to see it in as-new condition. Prior to auction, the car has just been serviced by Maxted-Page & Prill.

In the pantheon of competitive, cutting-edge performance cars, Porsches consistently sit at the forefront, regardless of year, model or specification. Theirs is a heritage shaped by over a half-century of racing dominance, typified in this extraordinary 356A T2 Carrera GS which literally “ticks all the boxes.” It is quite simply one of the rarest and most desirable build specifications for a 356: T2, four-cam engine, matching numbers, period racing history, great colours and of course every desirable option, including the valuable Rudge wheels and factory sunroof. Add to that a detailed restoration by marque specialists and the fact that it’s a right-hand drive GS, examples of which rarely if ever come to market! So, while the Carrera GT is perhaps the preferred configuration for wheel to wheel racing, the GS variant, with its fully sealed glass windows, sound deadening and proper seats, is unquestionably better suited for the street use, modern rallies and grand touring events that today’s collector car hobby offers.