Rare and delectable, this fine, low mileage Porsche 356 Carrera 2 (2000 GS) coupe has been painstakingly restored to its original specification, with fresh paint and mechanicals. This car, one of just 445 examples produced, departed the factory on 18 June 1962 finished in one of Porsche’s most elegant colors, 741 Slate Gray, with Light Brown leather upholstery and tan cord seat inserts. This was an unusual color combination and may have been a special order, as the standard upholstery for Slate Gray coupes was either red or green. Oatmeal square-weave carpets complimented this color scheme. Although no options are listed on the Kardex, this appealing coupe was fitted with an Eberspächer BN4 gas heater, a Les Leston wood-rimmed steering wheel, and a Blaupunkt multi-band radio package. Its destination was Paris, and Porsche distributor Sonauto. As required for French delivery, the headlamps and fog lamps were fitted with amber lenses.

The 2000 GS, or Grand Sport, was introduced at 1961 Frankfurt Auto Show, and proved a worthy successor to the earlier and highly-successful 1600 GS and its competition sibling 1600 GT. The 2000 GS was equipped with the latest version of the Fuhrman-designed double-overhead cam air-cooled “boxer” four in place of the smaller OHV engine powering lesser models. The “Four-cam” design, as it is affectionately known, employed a complex system of jackshafts and spur gears to operate its valve train. While challenging to assemble and tune, these engines allowed sustained high-rpm operation and proved very reliable in plain-bearing form. The earlier Four-cams were designated Type 547, and larger pistons and cylinders were used to increase displacement as necessary. To achieve two liters of displacement, however, a longer stroke was required, as the maximum cylinder bore had already been realized. Thus a new, slightly wider engine, designated Type 587/1, was created. For the 2000GS, this engine developed a healthy 130 bhp at 6200 rpm with a pair of Solex 40 mm carburetors. Additional oil radiators were installed in the nose to assist cooling, and a louvered rear skirt covered the oversized muffler and twin exhaust.

The 2000 GS was capable of sub-10-second 0-60 mph acceleration and a maximum in excess of 120 mph. Its lighter-weight competition variant, the 2000GT, was even quicker and faster. To cope with their greater performance, both the GS and GT were fitted with disc brakes.

According to its Kardex, 120479 was sold a few weeks after arriving at Sonauto to Mr. Etienne Bompard of L’Hermitage a Montmerency, a wealthy suburb of Paris. The car remained with its second owner until 1983 when it was sold the Carrera to Porsche collector Lucien F. Bernard of Paris, then the president of the Porsche 356 Club of France. At the time of his acquisition, the Carrera’s engine was apart and the brakes were frozen. The coupe was sent out for work at 356 specialist Christoph Tanner in Biesenhofen, Switzerland. Soon afterward, this car was sold to a road construction firm in Reutlingen, German, whose owner had the engine overhauled by Carrera expert Armen Baumann in Winterthur, Switzerland. Simultaneously, the body and interior were being refurbished by Autohaus “Max and Moritz” in Reutlingen. In 2001, the coupe was sold to the consignor, with the odometer having registered a mere 13,864 kilometers.

In 2017, with an odometer reading of 25,388 km, the car was appraised by Peter Deuschle at Ingineurbüro Deuschle GmbH in Wildberg, Germany, on behalf of Boxer-motor & Klassische GmBH of Dotternhausen. At that point in time, the car had been repainted bright red.

In 2020, this Carrera was fully restored and returned to its original color scheme, enjoying a complete respray in its original color of Slate Gray with a new Light Brown interior. Reutter supplied a confirming color and materials chart (Farbmusterkarte) which is included. Current mileage indicates 26078 km, which is believed correct. It is important to note that the car no longer retains its original engine, but it fitted with a similar engine of the correct-type.

Fully documented from new, this outstanding Carrera 2 is supplied with seat belts, a Lietz luggage rack, chrome wheels, a German-language owner’s manual, technical publications, a correct spare wheel and tire, a partial tool kit, and a Grundig cassette player. This Carrera 2 will provide its next owner with both exclusivity and high performance…a winning combination.