The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

Discussion of 4-Cam Type 547 engines (and all the Fuhrmann racing variants) and cars that powered them.
Message
Author
Richard Emerson
356 Fan
Posts: 773
Joined: Wed Jan 29, 2014 1:43 am

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#16 Post by Richard Emerson »

Such a great story. That car should always stay in your country!

User avatar
Mark Pribanic
356 Fan
Posts: 2416
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2008 9:11 pm
Tag: Drive 'Em!
Location: Neptune Beach, Florida USA
Contact:

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#17 Post by Mark Pribanic »

WOW, just WOW! What a thorough and fascinating story!

As someone else said, this should be published in a magazine or book.

Thank you for sharing this with us Pablo!

All the best!

Mark
Mark Pribanic
Registry# 13617
Florida Owners Group Trustee - 2008-2010
Neptune Beach, Florida USA
Instagram: Mark.Pribanic

User avatar
Jim Nelson
356 Fan
Posts: 2138
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:18 pm
Location: SoCal

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#18 Post by Jim Nelson »

Fabulous story, well told. Thank you for sharing.

User avatar
Pablo Esguerra
356 Fan
Posts: 64
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2016 9:13 am
Location: Bogota, Colombia

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#19 Post by Pablo Esguerra »

Thank you all for taking the time to read the story, it truly is a fascinating one! I'm glad so many of you enjoyed it.

User avatar
Pablo Esguerra
356 Fan
Posts: 64
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2016 9:13 am
Location: Bogota, Colombia

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#20 Post by Pablo Esguerra »

Dick Weiss wrote: Sun Feb 07, 2021 12:33 pm Pablo,

Many thanks for the complete story of the 1600 Carrera cp participating in the race(s) in So. America in 1958-1959.
Is there any history of any Speedsters entered in the Caracas Gran Prix for Sports Cars during those years?

My 1500GS (the 1st of 4-steel-bodied) Speedster was entered in 1-of them by the VW/Porsche dealer(?) there and
the former Service manager shipped the car to the USA via Houston, TX, but I found it on a used car lot in San Antonio
during my vacation trip in 1960 w/my 1958 Normal Speedster (purchased from Glockler in Frankfurt, GR), made a deal
for purchase. It had Firestone racing tires on the front, standard brakes; etc. I made a tow bar to flat tow it 1200
miles home w/my 1st Speedster and I still have the Carrera 60-1/2 years--driving it w/a pushrod engine since the
engine has been apart for a crank rebuild. My 84061 Speedster is back in a German collection.

There's much more to the car's present history, but I'm really trying to track down it's activity during its time in So. America. I hope there is some background available of who drove the car and/or where it finished.

All the best,
Dick (83948)
Hey Dick, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I'll certainly look into that. There are some Facebook groups from the old racing days in Venezuela. Maybe I find something. I will let you know if I do.

User avatar
Tim Herman
356 Fan
Posts: 870
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:40 am
Location: North Carolina
Contact:

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#21 Post by Tim Herman »

James Davies wrote: Sat Feb 06, 2021 7:32 pm Great story Pablo. Thanks for sharing. This should be in the magazine.

Btw, the 1952 Gläser cabriolet 12305 still exists, just a couple numbers off the 12303 Gläser cabriolet. Not many others from this short run of duplicate chassis numbers from 1952 and 1957-58.
Indeed, I have Glaser Cabriolet 12305
Attachments
102_4861.JPG
102_4861.JPG (201.06 KiB) Viewed 2350 times
Tim Herman #2197
www.carreramotorsport.com

Mike Horton
356 Fan
Posts: 1260
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:13 pm
Location: Texas Panhandle South Plains

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#22 Post by Mike Horton »

Yes, a Great read!

Thanks for sharing it with your fellow 356 addicts here, and new friends, and please share, along the way, any progress of this unique coupe, we love it.
Mike

User avatar
Jacques Lefriant
356 Fan
Posts: 4598
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:50 pm
Location: Washoe county NV

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#23 Post by Jacques Lefriant »

Hi Jeff
from your analysis i agree with you that in 1958 the 692:2 serial nos preceeded the 692:3 to me it would be logical that 95002 was installed in late 1958. If 12303 was built in early 1958 no serial no 1600 engines would have been available 95000 or just 692:3 might have been the original engine. It would be interesting to see if 95002 has an internal no. usully found oposite to the serial no.
j
Last edited by Jacques Lefriant on Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
 

User avatar
Tom Tate
356 Fan
Posts: 1108
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:27 pm
Tag: Boston MA
Location: Boston MA

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#24 Post by Tom Tate »

Great story and terrific comments by members. This is what the Registry is all about, well done.

User avatar
Michael Doyle
356 Fan
Posts: 510
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:20 pm
Location: Ventura, CA

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#25 Post by Michael Doyle »

Excellent story Pablo with great documentation and history. Thank you for writing and showing it here. I assisted in the Springer/Heinrichs Carrera Book .. so I can relate to the car very well. I have seen numerous photos of this ‘58 Carrera GT coupe over the years and now connect the dots on its races and heritage.

The Chassis number 12303 was in a group list of “Spare Chassis” meant as replacement bodies for crashed cars, or for use as making test model cars, such as this one. The first prototype 56/57 GT coupe was constructed on a Spare Chassis and so was Paul Strahle’s personal Carrera coupe at a similar time. Each had 123xx VIN numbers.

The factory Werkes Racing Dept. would have fit Weber 40 DCM carburetors most likely to the original 692/3 GT engine. My Werks ‘57 Carrera GT coupe had them on its 547/1 GT engine to win the 1957 Reims 12 hour. Most of the Spyder 547 motors ran them as well.

For consideration, please tell the owner restoring the car that I do Carrera GT interiors and can also provide a recreated Reutter original Headliner in correct light grey color and hole pattern. Maybe you want one too for your T6B S90.

The best to you and to those commenting here. All said is a very good read.

Michael Doyle

Ps: My friend and Book author Rolf Sprenger passed away a couple of weeks ago. RIP to Rolf and Steve Heinrichs. Both fantastic men in their special and unique ways.

David Stoehr
356 Fan
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2014 11:30 am

Re: The most important Porsche in South America: The Werks 1958 Carrera 1600 GT/GT No. 12303

#26 Post by David Stoehr »

Pablo
Such great detail - excellent.
I own 1957 Carrera Speedster 83444; It was a werks car owned by Von Heinstein (Werkseigen).
I wonder, from your research, if you had come across any of its race history ? The Kardex reports the following engines:
Original engine 90843 then 93121 then 65565 now 90861.
Thank you
Kind regards
David (83444)

Post Reply