1961 Porsche 356 Carrera GT S-90
HIGHLIGHTS
One Of Eight 356B Carrera GTs Built In 1961 With Super 90 Engines
Driven by Hans-Joachim Walter To First In Class In The Rally To The Midnight Sun On His Way To Winning The 1961 European Rally Championship
Owned And Raced By Rally Harry Bengstsson, One Of Sweden’s Top Rally Drivers
Restored To Original Specifications in Germany, With Limited Use Since - Ruby Red With Black Leatherette And Mouse Grey Corduroy Seat Inserts
Includes Extensive Documentation Folder, Correspondence, Books, and Historical Memorabilia
SPECIFICATIONS
VIN - 115381
Engine – 1,582cc, Four Cylinder
Gearbox – 4 Speed Manual
Drivetrain - Rear engine, RWD
Price - SOLD
OVERVIEW
For well over half a century Porsche performance and engineering have dominated both race and road car production building landmark automobiles. Designed and engineered by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, Porsche’s ongoing innovation and engineering developments continue to advance current sports car design, as well as factory and privateer racing efforts.
Although their cost-conscious beginnings seemed to be a challenging limitation against better financed companies, these limitations inspired Porsche to innovate and simplify, a philosophy that began with the very first of their inspired production cars; the 356. Inspired by the request from American Porsche distributor Max Hoffman, the 356 was Porsche’s answer to compete against the Triumphs and MGs, which had made a big impression on American men stationed in Europe during the war.
Porsche responded by building a car with a reliable drivetrain, minimal features, and a sporty configuration. Literally upon inception, the 356 set track records, rallied all over the world, and earned the praise of many in the motorsport community. International sales of the 356 were strong but it was North American sales that built the Porsche brand into the juggernaut it is today, through a wide range of iterations and refinements, lasting for more than a decade before the introduction of yet another Porsche icon, the 911.
During the course of 356 production, several iterations and performance trim were offered. Among the most sought after and highly collectible are the Carrera GT examples. Factory produced with lightening techniques and designed for sporting competition, they exemplified this period of racing history for Porsche.
Validated by a copy of the original Porsche Kartex and official Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, this 1961 Porsche 356 Carrera GT, s/n 115381, was built on March 23, 1961. The car was finished in Ruby Red and trimmed with black interior along with mouse grey corduroy seat inserts. The Super 90 engine makes this example just one of fourteen factory 356B Carrera GTs produced with the S90 engine in place of the four-cam Carrera engine – six in 1960, and eight in 1961.
Already a highly refined car, the 356 Carrera GT featured alloy body panels, replacing the doors, hood, and engine lid with a thin gauge aluminum. Heavy glass was also removed and replaced with lightweight plexiglass, while the heavier standard wheels were changed out in favor of two-piece alloy rims mounted on steel hubs. One of the nicest weight-saving features was the factory installation of aluminum Speedster seats. In addition to these features, insulation, sound proofing, and various exterior trim were deleted from final assembly. Overall weight reduction was approximately 200 pounds.
Performance features included a factory installed roll bar, a large capacity 80 liter GT fuel tank, leather slide slings for door windows, and wider alloy brake drums and special shoes. With these features and improvements, the engine breathing through two Solex carburetors, and less restrictive exhaust, the nearly 100 hp engine was a far more reliable and fuel thrifty partner than the expensive and often fussy four-cam typically found in the Carrera GT models. Also of interest to note, the Super 90 engine weighed less than the 4-cam engine, reducing weight further over the rear axle.
These features and attributes were precisely what “Rally Harry” Bengtsson was looking for in order to further his growing career as a prominent Swedish rally racer. Having started his racing endeavors in a VW Beetle purchased with fortuitous lottery winnings, Harry favored the VW for frugality and durability, particularly in the cold Nordic climates where he raced. Rapidly establishing himself as a bit of a local hero among the racing scene, “Rally Harry” won many races in his VW before stepping up his game and taking delivery of this Porsche on April 18, 1961 – his 33rd birthday.
With a now formidable weapon in his hands, Rally Harry owned the 1961 and 1962 season with podium finishes in seven out of nine events. Though his resources limited his competition exposure to larger European events, Harry became a key driver in partnership with Hans-Joachim Walter who earned enough points to secure the 1961 European Rally Championship, aided by his shared victory with Harry, driving this very car to a 1st place win in the Rally to the Midnight Sun.
Harry retained this rare Porsche for two years before selling it to another privateer racer who ice-raced the car in Northern Sweden. The car changed hands a few times in Sweden before ending up in Germany in 1988. In the ensuing years and through various owners, this Porsche had become somewhat displaced from its early illustrious provenance. Still, having been recognized as a valuable and historically important Carrera GT, it was restored in Germany in 1999. The current owner located the car in 2002, strongly suspecting it was in fact the same car once raced so prominently in Sweden. After purchasing it, the current owner embarked on a detailed journey that would take years to reconnect the lost documentation surrounding the history.
His research efforts included written accounts from Rally Harry on his original ownership and other Porsche experts who also assisted in the process. The correspondence in the file is heartwarming and exciting to read, as letters and names came to light and documented more and more of the history. Along the way, the full race history was unearthed as well and validated from several sources.
Race highlights for 115381 include the following under early ownership with Rally Harry Bengtsson:
1961 Season
Tulip Rally, Holland – 2nd in Class, 7th Overall
Rally to the Midnight Sun, Sweden – 1st in Class, 7th Overall
Hallstabakan Hill Climb – 1st in Class
Zandvoort, Holland – 10th Overall
Falkenberg, Sweden – 3rd in Class
Kariskiga, Sweden – 6th Overall
1962 Season
Rorfors Hill Climb – 1st Overall
Rally to the Midngiht Sun, Sweden – 1st in Class, 2nd Overall
Jyvaskyla Rally, Sweden – 1st in Class, 10th Overall
Today this exceptional Porsche 356B Carrera GT certainly speaks for itself in both condition and provenance. Shown only a handful of time under current ownership, in 2004 it was awarded second place at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion concours. It has been shown at the 2011 Porsche Race Car Classic at the Quail Lodge as well as Rennsport IV that same year. Most recently, it was featured in the Porsche Heritage Tent at the 2015 Rennsport Reunion.
The doors, hood, and trunk open and shut smoothly, with the characteristic Porsche passenger door “thud.” The panels and strike surfaces exhibit excellent fit and proper finish along the jambs and underside surfaces, a feature all the more impressive given the lightweight alloy used for the distinctive Carrera panels. The bumpers and various exterior trim fit beautifully along with period correct accessory lighting and side view mirror.
There are numerous factory Carrera GT body items of note, including the oil line holes in the passenger side fender well as would have been fitted to the 4-cam engine example for an oil cooler. The Carrera GT aluminum engine lid conveys an authoritative competition statement, with the emblems flanked by louvers on each side and internal ducting also designed specifically for the 4-cam Carrera motor.
The lightened wheels complete the competition look, delivering a purposeful, hunkered down performance stance. Overall the visual exterior presentation is among the nicest you will find on a car that can be driven and enjoyed as well as confidently shown.
The interior has been restored accurately with correct components, a beautiful array of instruments, and correct alloy frame Speedster seats, covered in black leatherette and corduroy as specified when delivered new. The contrasting interior is authentically finished as per original, including the factory roll bar. Overall the interior of the car is wonderfully trimmed, generating a cohesive and sporting appearance throughout the cabin. The front storage compartment is exceptionally well presented with correct features including the correctly finished large capacity GT fuel tank, jack, spare tire, and proper fittings.
The engine compartment is well detailed and correctly restored with the proper finishes, correct air cleaners, and proper Porsche hardware, as one might expect from a past concours winning car. Care and attention are further given to a high level of detail including the use of correct decals and wiring inside the engine compartment.
The car comes with a large and detailed file brimming with original documentation and correspondence, including early period racing documentation and photos. Also accompanying the car is a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, a copy of the original Porsche Kartex, a listing featuring many of the prominent races this car participated in, and various articles featuring this rare and desirable Porsche. There is a partial tool kit (incomplete/incorrect) included. There are also several boxes of books, magazines, and related memorabilia from period events, only a highlight of which are photographed here.
For many Porsche enthusiasts, the 356 Carrera GT is perhaps one of the most elusive and desirable performance cars of the period. Though only fourteen were constructed in this configuration, the provenance of #115381, recognition by Porsche authorities and the factory Kartex listing it as a Carrera GT, further distinguish this car as a unique piece of history.
Beautifully prepared for either vintage events or concours showing, this 1961 Porsche Carrera GT offers the next fortunate owner a chance to enjoy the driving pleasures and capable performance of a truly special 356. Formerly in the hands of legendary Swedish rally racer and seminal to the 1961 European Rally Championship title, this historic 356 Carrera is ready to deliver on the legendary performance promises that continue to reign as hallmarks of the Porsche brand.
Please contact Jason Harris at +1-206-355-7727 for more information on this 1961 Porsche 356 Carrera GT.
