Descrição
For sale in our forthcoming auction 'Retromobile the Official Sale', on 2 February 2024 :
Italian title
Chassis No 121542
Engine No P97231
- Only two owners for the past 40 years
- Extremely rare example delivered new in Italy
- Powerful and exclusive model
This car has several outstanding features that are sure to attract the attention of enthusiasts. Firstly, this particular car was one of 103 examples in the B version out of the 204 coupe 356 2000 GS examples produced, according to figures from the Porsche archives. Also, it's had only two owners in the last 40 years.
Its history is known thanks to its "Kardex", as well as the document issued by the Automobile Club d'Italia which specified the chain of ownership. This car was therefore sold new in Genoa to Dr. Leo Biaggi de Blasys as a gift to his 20-years old daughter Marina. As an Italo-Swiss industrialist and philanthropist, Dr. Biaggi was also a numismatist and his antique coin collection was known as one of the most important in the world.
Originally Ivory white with red interior, a rather classy specification and a perfect fit for a young wealthy woman, this Porsche had its first registration on the 8th October 1962. It then changed hands six times while remaining in the same region of Italy, between Liguria and Lombardy.
It was then purchased in 1979 by Michael Lederman, an American specialist in 356 Carrera living in Parma. Renowned for his passion throughout the world for this model, he created the first Italian Porsche owners club in the late 1970s and was the founding member of the Italian 356 Registry in 1982. While in Lederman's possession, this car was repainted in black, possibly because white on red interior wasn't anymore fashionable at the time and the interior was redone in the same colour, with leather seats and upholstery consistent with the original model. Furthermore, the original engine was replaced by one from the same type (bearing number 97251) and fully restored with original components.
This car was then acquired in 1988 by its current owner, who stored it in a dry place and far away from prying eyes. In 2015, a complete mechanical service was carried out and since then, the car has only travelled 1, 000 km. It recently benefited from a discreet cosmetic restoration, during which it was repainted in black and the interior was stripped down to lay new carpets and moisturise its leathers. It's worth mentioning that the interior is equipped with the original Eberspacher auxiliary heating system and the car retains its original Dunlop 165/ 65/ 15 spare tire, from the year of registration, a nice touch and, itself, a rare element to be found in a 60 year old car. Finally, all mechanical elements have been checked in order for this car to be used with complete peace of mind.
The 356 Carrera was significantly more powerful than the base version, thanks in particular to its four DOHC and dual ignition engine. Its name was born from the victory of a 550 Spyder in 1953 at the Carrera Panamericana and since then, it had been attributed to the sportiest Porsche cars. Arised as the "1500 GS", the 356 Carrera added endurance to performance, which enabled it to win the incredible "Liege-Rome-Liege" marathon in 1954. It then consistently evolved until the Carrera 2 with a 2-litre engine which emerged in 1961, then the ultimate 2000 GS version C.
In this particular car, the speedometer graduated up to 250 km/ h is a good reminder that we are in the presence of a special model, the most powerful in the 356 range just before its replacement by the 911. In beautiful condition and with its upholstery barely patinated, this is one of the rarest, most iconic and most sought-after 356 models. Opportunities to buy one of those are very rare, especially for a car like this one in such unblemished condition and with a solid history.
