Developed by Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann, the storied Type 547, 587, and 692 four-cam engines were designed to power Porsche to motorsport victory—and in this, they succeeded spectacularly, achieving stunning feats at Le Mans and beyond when installed in such racing machines as the 550 Spyder and 904. But these engines did not remain confined to the track: Porsche clients who knew precisely what they were looking for could specify a four-cam engine for their 356 road cars. A substantial price premium, and the famously demanding service requirements for the complex motor, meant that very few did.

In total, it is believed that only 126 C-series 356s were equipped from the factory with the Carrera engine. Of these, as few as 101 were Coupes. As the most highly refined iteration of the 356, powered by the legendary four-cam engine, these 356 C Carrera 2s were, and are, few and far between. The opportunity to acquire one, in any condition, comes along only rarely.

As recorded on a Kardex copy on file, this Porsche 356 C Carrera 2 2000 GS Coupe, chassis 126766, was delivered new to its first owner, Mme. Yvette Grisard of Paris, on 29 October 1963 through the dealership Sonauto. This was particularly fitting, as Sonauto—the first Porsche importer in France—was founded by driver Auguste Veuillet, who notched Porsche’s critical first class wins at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car was finished in Light Ivory (Hellelfenbein 6404 B) over Black leatherette, and the 130-horsepower Type 587/1 engine numbered 97333 was originally fitted.

The Kardex copy notes two visits to Sonauto for service work in 1963 and 1964, with 900 and 7,707 kilometers indicated. Some time afterward, it was exported to the United States, and in 1971, it was purchased by Rudi Klein and entered his junkyard. It is unknown whether engine number 97333 was separated from the car prior to Rudi’s acquisition or at some point afterward, but it does not accompany the car today.

Like the other Porsches offered from the Junkyard Collection, this 1963 Porsche 356 C Carrera 2 2000 GS Coupe requires a full restoration, yet its indisputable rarity—coupled with the fact that it has not been seen by the broader Porsche community for over half a century—make it a tempting prospect for the ambitious air-cooled aficionado.