Tuner Tuesday: 1963 Porsche 356B Carrera 2

Properly speaking I’m not sure if we’d normally count this Ruby Red 1963 Porsche 356B Carrera 2 as a “tuner,” but given that these were the hot Porsche of their day it fits the bill as well as most anything else. While a 356 may not get your blood going the way a RUF built 930 might, they will always hold a place in my heart and with the 4-cam Carrera engine these are more of a racer than many of Porsche’s later builds. They are small, light, and relatively simple machines fitted with the best mechanical additions Porsche could muster. Add to that their rarity and you end up with one of the most valuable Porsches on the market and easily the most valuable examples of the 356. The example we see here appears in exquisite condition, but sounds as if the original 1.6 liter 4-cam flat-four is no longer with the car. In its place, we find a 2.0 liter flat-four from a Carrera 2 GT producing a reported 160 hp. For a car as basic as the 356 that is the sort of motivation that will get you moving in no time at all!

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1963 Porsche 356B Carrera 2 on Sloan Cars

Year: 1962
Model: 356B Carrera 2
Engine: 2.0 liter flat-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: Not listed
Price: Inquire

1963 356 Carrera 2 Ruby Red/Black “4-cam” with RARE GT motor
Ruby Red / 6202
Black leatherette with corduroy Inserts
Serial # 124967
RARE factory electric sunroof
Antenna
As mentioned on Kardex and the C.O.A. this car came original equipped with “Skai-Dur” luggage
Chrome wheels
Chrome luggage rack
Bare metal respray to factory color
Replacement period correct GT engine type 587/2
This Carrera 2 GT engine is 1 of 31 engine produced s/n 980001
Correct transmission number 661177 type 741/20A
GT motor producing 160 hp
Special hand fabricated headers
Excellent paint and gaps
Factory jack
Correct oil lines
Excellent chrome trim
Runs and drives like new
No modifications
Restored to the highest standards
Twin Solex P 40II-4 carburetors
Carrera 2 specific rear valance
Carrera 2 specific twin remotely mounted oil coolers
Absolutely turn key
Certificate of Authenticity
Kardex report
Please contact us for pricing

The real leaders of value for the 356 Carreras are found with the Cabriolets and Speedsters, which you might struggle to find for less than $1 million. The Carreras possess the sort of historical significance and vintage quality that drive the value of so many machines and this one should be no different. Strictly speaking these cars are of concern only to collectors and as such the engine change will be something of which we have to take specific note. Frankly, I’m not really sure where that places the value of this particular car, though I am sure it will lower it to a degree. It should still be extremely valuable – a completely original example of a Coupe we’d expect to command north of $500K without problem – and I’m sure it’s just a matter of finding a buyer with an interest in these cars, but who may not care as much about complete originality. Either way, we so rarely come across a 356 Carrera that they always are worth our consideration.

-Rob