Eight years after the debut of its landmark 356, Porsche made significant updates to the model and designated it the 356 A. Among the most notable was the introduction of a larger type 616/1 air-cooled flat four-cylinder, offered in the 356 A 1600. With a displacement of 1,582 cubic centimeters and a higher compression ratio than the outgoing engine, it produced 60 horsepower. A more powerful version called the type 616/2, offered in the 356 A 1600 Super, had an even higher compression ratio along with a different camshaft and Solex carburetor for an output of 75 horsepower.

Notably, Porsche also started offering the 356 with a detuned version of its exotic quad-cam competition flat-four, previously only available in the formidable 550 Spyder, which earned the nickname “The Giant Killer” after beating bigger, more powerful cars in competition. Those with deep pockets and racing aspirations could order a four-cam 356 A Carrera in GS touring or lightweight GT competition trim.

All 356 A models included revisions to the drive-line mounting points and suspension, with the latter taking advantage of the latest advances in tire technology. Another round of changes came in 1957. Dubbed the 356 A “T2,” for “Type 2,” the most significant of these updates were to the 1600 engines, which included swapping Solex for Zenith carburetors and replacing the roller-bearing crankshaft used in some variants with ones featuring standard bearings.

Visually, the 356 A changed very little from its predecessor, adding a curved windshield and dash among other tweaks, while continuing to be offered in Coupe, Cabriolet, and Speedster body styles, all produced by Reutter as before. The latter, with its cut-down windshield and spartan interior remained a favorite for racing, with the costly 356 A 1600 GT Carrera Speedster, powered by the highly advanced four-cam engine and with its lightweight bodywork, was considered the ultimate model in the 356 lineup and a popular choice for competition.

Interestingly, Porsche went off-script for some of the final run of 356 Carrera Speedsters in 1959, producing a small batch of them with the simpler 616/2 engine from the 1600 Super, but still with the desirable, competition-spec GT trim, which included a larger fuel tank and front brakes, a stripped-down interior, and aluminum doors, front hood, and engine lid.

An example of this rare Speedster variant is offered here. It completed manufacture on 8 January 1959, according to a copy of its Kardex on file, and is understood to be one of as few as seven produced and one of four such cars ordered by Oakland, California, Porsche dealer Carl Block. Block is said to have ordered the unique specification thinking it would appeal more readily to Sports Car Club of America racers due to its lightweight GT spec paired with the simpler type 616/2 pushrod flat-four, versus the costly and complex four-cam engine usually favored for competition.

Understood to have been restored in 1989, the Speedster joined L.A. Times publisher Otis Chandler’s notable collection on display within his Chandler Vintage Museum of Transportation and Wildlife in Oxnard, California, for a number of years. Following the museum’s liquidation in 2006, it is said to have passed to noted East Coast Porsche collector Frank Gallogly in New Jersey, and later to Tony Peck of Long Island, New York. The Porsche 356 Registry also lists other previous owners in California, Florida, and Virginia.

Notably, a copy of the car’s Kardex on file confirms that the 616/2 pushrod engine is numbers-matching. As one of very few lightweight GT examples produced with the type 616/2 engine, this 1959 Porsche 356 A 1600 Super GT Speedster is an extremely rare find, sure to be of great interest to the astute collector.