Porsche 356 B 2000 GS GT

The vehicle in detail

Chassis no. 122561, the car in focus, is a rare specimen of this breed and features a plethora of high-performance attributes including a Sport II “Sebring” style exhaust, long-range fuel tank, bi-metallic competition wheels, aluminum doors, hood, and deck lid, alongside interior enhancements like GT bucket seats, a roll bar, and a wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel.

Authenticated by its Porsche Kardex and Certificates of Authenticity, 122561 is finished in its original color combination of Silver Metallic with Blue Leatherette upholstery and matching blue carpeting. This Carrera 2 was equipped with coveted competition features from its inception, including lightweight aluminum doors, Plexiglass windows, and a type 741/20A transaxle boasting BBAB Speedster gear ratios.

Finished on December 5, 1962, this Carrera was initially retailed through D’leteren Frères and sold to Mr. Politzer of Brussels, Belgium. Notably, the car returned to the Porsche factory in 1964, wherein its original engine (numbered 97175) was replaced with a type 587/2 GT-specification engine numbered 98016—a unit originally installed in a prototype 904, chassis 904-003, as documented in Porsche Carrera.

Introduced in 1963, just 33 type 587/2 engines are believed to have been built! This new engine featured Weber 48 IDA carburetors and made an estimated 180 BHP at 6,600 RPM. Various racing models were equipped with the type 587/2, including the 904 and Abarth Carrera GTL.

In conclusion, the amalgamation of special lightweight competition features installed by the factory during construction, along with the addition of the rare factory-installed 587/2 GT engine in 1964, distinguishes this 356 as one of only a select few to have been outfitted in such a manner during its period of production.