1956 Porsche 356A 1500 Carrera GS Coupé

Within the small circle of early Carrera GS Coupés built in the first months following the introduction of this legendary model, this example holds a special place. The car left the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen on April 5, 1956, making it one of the earliest batch of 1500 GS Carreras; the designation GS stands for Grand Sport and distinguishes this sporty top version from the regular 356A.

This Carrera spent the greater part of its existence within the renowned collection of Rene Mauries, before moving from France to Italy in 2001 and briefly becoming the property of Sig. Vincenzo Di Leo. A year later, the car came into the hands of Enrico Consoli of Brescia, who had it subjected to a thorough restoration and provided it with a FIVA identity passport. In 2014, the Carrera changed hands again, this time via an exchange for a 911 Carrera RS 2. 7, after which it ended up in the renowned Ted Gildred Collection. Under this careful care, the car was continuously maintained and inspected, with attention paid to the transaxle and camshaft caps, among other things, to prevent oil leaks.

In the beautiful Silver Metallic color, exactly as the car left the factory over sixty years ago, this Carrera looks remarkably authentic. The interior, upholstered in blue artificial leather, as well as the door panels and dashboard knobs, is considered largely original. Porsche specialist Taylor K. Shannon, who inspected the car in May 2017, described it as an excellent example of a rare model that still retains many original features. His research confirmed that the car is equipped with a four-cylinder Carrera GS engine of the correct type, although this is not the unit with which the car originally left the factory; the gearbox, however, is the original unit fitted upon delivery. Stamping on the front and rear hoods as well as on both doors confirms that these are original, factory-fitted body parts.

This rare and coveted Carrera GS Coupé comes with a substantial historical dossier, including a copy of the original Kardex build sheet, the Certificate of Authenticity issued by Porsche, and the aforementioned FIVA passport, and is currently registered with Italian license plates. As a car from 1956, it falls within the model years permitted for participation in the Mille Miglia storica, making it Mille Miglia compliant.

For enthusiasts of rare and largely original Porsches, this is an excellent opportunity; contact our sales team for more information, a viewing, or to discuss the possibilities for participating in the Mille Miglia.