1957 Porsche 356A Carrera 1500GS Coupé

• One of only 287 1500cc Type 356 Carreras built between 1955 and 1958
• Rare right-hand drive example
• The only RHD Carrera built with the 'bent' sunroof
• Delivered new to Thailand
• Type 547/0 roller-bearing engine
• Professionally restored in the early 2000s

"In the meantime, Porsche racing, development and production were continuing to work hand-in-hand and the 1500GS engine was in full-scale production, this being the flat-four 1.5-litre unit with four shaft-driven overhead camshafts, identical apart from the compression ratio, to the engine used in Spyders and RS models. Other items transferred to the production cars were steering gear, brakes, carburettors, shock absorbers, front suspension geometry advances and ignition arrangements." – Denis Jenkinson, Motor Sport.

The evocative 'Carrera' name first graced the flanks of a Porsche in November 1955; applied to a 356A powered by a slightly less ferocious version of the racing 550 Spyder's 1.5-litre, twin-overhead-camshaft, roller-bearing engine, it had been adopted to capitalise on Porsche's victories in the Carrera PanAmericana in 1952 and '54. Dry-sump like the racer's, the four-cam Carrera GS engine produced 100bhp, some ten horsepower fewer than in the competition-orientated GT but comfortably more than its pushrod siblings. This was good enough to propel the 356 Carrera to over 120mph (193km/h), making it the fastest 1.5-litre production car of its day and a formidable racetrack competitor.

Significant Carrera developments included a capacity increase to 1.6 litres in 1958 and the adoption of a plain-bearing, forged crankshaft at the same time. The plain-bearing engine had been adopted because it was significantly cheaper to produce than the roller-bearing original, which nevertheless continued to be built in small numbers as it was considered the superior version for competition use.

This rare and highly collectible right-hand drive Porsche 356A Carrera was ordered new via Bangkok Swiss Trading and collected from the Stuttgart factory by its first owner, Mr Vilas Bunnang, prior to being shipped to Thailand. The first (or possibly second) Porsche imported into Thailand, '58355' was the first of three 356s ordered by Mr Bunnang before he took delivery of his three 911s (see email correspondence on file from Mr Bunnang's grandson). An enthusiastic and talented amateur racing driver, Vilas Bunnang was a towering figure in Thai motor sport, holding the posts of Deputy Director of the Thailand Sports Promotion Organisation and Vice-President of the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand. Vilas Bunnang took the Carrera to every part of the Kingdom, often in the company of the famous Thai racing driver, Prince Bira. He also participated successfully in many amateur competitions, and it was during one of these races that he blew up the original Carrera engine.

In 1960 the Porsche was sold to Mr Bunnang's nephew and later made its way to the USA where it was noted as competing in rallies in Minnesota in 1962, driven by one Lloyd Wollery. The car was next owned by Russ Moga who was followed by Jeff Grigsby and then Jim Kellogg (all in Minnesota). In an article in a Club magazine (January/February 2006 edition, copy on file) Jim recalled that he acquired the Porsche from Jeff Gigsby in 1973 and passed it on in 1979 to George Wilkie of Minnesota. In the mid-1980s George Wilkie traded the Carrera to Larry Skogland and in 1986 the car was purchased by another Minnesota resident, Hank Godfredson.

'58355' had long since lost its original four-cam engine, and Hank Godfredson was fortunate enough to locate a genuine Carrera motor ('90764') to replace the substitute pushrod unit. Hank Godfredson raced the restored Porsche with some success at venues including Brainerd, Mid-Ohio, Steamboat Springs and the Grand Bahama Vintage Grand Prix, finishing 1st in class at the latter and 1st in the concours.

In 2000 the Carrera was repurchased by former owner Jim Kellogg and restored back to original specification by 356RESTORE using the Porsche kardex and photographs supplied by the original owner's grandson for reference. Rebuilding the engine was entrusted to Vernon Croates of Carrera Sports in Tallahassee, Florida. The 356's windscreen had changed from a split to a 'bent' design prior to 1955 when the final curved 'screen was adopted; unusually, '58355' has a 'bent' windscreen and rare matching sunroof despite being manufactured in June 1957! Indeed, this is the only Carrera built with the bent sunroof in right-hand drive.

A Porsche letter on file confirms that '58355' was originally finished in silver metallic with red leather interior and left the factory equipped with two headrests, the sliding roof, right-hand drive, sealed-beam headlights and two fog lights, although the latter are not shown in period photographs on file.

In 2006 a well known UK-based Porsche collector purchased the Carrera and shipped the car to the UK where it was registered on the owner's private plate, 'LUA 1'. There is a bill on file from DK Engineering for recommissioning the car in June 2009 following two years in storage, which included overhauling the carburettors; renewing the rear brake master cylinder; and fitting quartz halogen headlamps.

The current owner purchased the Carrera in January 2019 while it was being recommissioned by Jaz Porsche in St Albans for DK Engineering. Our vendor collected the car in March 2019 and drove it back to Jersey where it remained garaged until January 2023.

Additional documentation includes a current UK V5C registration document; some expired MoTs; copy engine guide; and US competition logbooks for Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing Ltd (in Hank Godfredson's name) dating from 1987/88 and possible 2001. This car has appeared in several publications on the model including Porsche 356 and RS Spiders by Gordon Maltby (on the cover); 356 Registry (Volume 15 No. 5); and the Illustrated Porsche Buyer's Guide (2nd Edition, on the cover).
Well known in international Porsche circles, this right-hand drive 356A Carrera 1500GS is one of the rarest Porsche production road cars ever made and a 'must have' for the serious Porsche collector.