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	1957 356A Carrera GS Coupe General Data Make Porsche Model 356A Date of Manufacture 1957 Number Made 77 Number Existing Unknown Engine Engine Type 4 Cam Type 547/1 Number of Cylinders 4 Cubic Capacity 1498cc Horsepower 110bhp Aspiration Twin 40 P11 Solex Gearbox Number of Gears 4 Transmission Type Porsche Transaxle Wheels and Suspension Suspension Type Front Torsion Bar Rear Torsion Bar Brake Type Front 40mm Drum Rear 40mm Drum Wheel Type Rudge Centre Lock Wheel Diameter15" Rim Width Front 4½" Rim Width Rear 4½"		The Porsche 356 Carrera is considered as the ultimate in these early cars. Powered by the complex 4 cam type 547 engine it followed the basic configuration of the standard Porsche engine(horizontally opposed 4 cylinder), but differed in almost every detail, it had four cam shafts (double overhead or DOHC), dual ignition, dual twin choke solex carburetors, dry sump lubrication and roller bearings on both main ends. It produced 110 BHP in comparison to the 75 BHP of the conventional engine. Many were made into race cars but some (like the one here) were kept for road use. This particular car was built to a special order for Mr Laurie O'Neill. Laurie was to Australia what Briggs Cunningham was to America. He owned numerous sports cars throughout the 50's, 60's & 70's that included a XKSS Jaguar, 300SL Mercedes Benz, Ford GT40, 250LM Ferrari, DB4 Zagato Aston Martin, 935 Porsche and the list goes on! At the time he ordered the car he ran the Porsche dealership in Sydney. He ordered the car with the following options: Rudge knock off wheels, sun roof, bench seat, electric antenna, special order white paint, head rests and right hand drive. He even asked for a six inch TV to be fitted, but Porsche were not able to supply one, as the technology at that time was still too new!! After Laurie sold the car, it passed on through a couple of owners until the car was fully restored by Pat Burke in 1983. The cars last owner, Phillip Schudmak, took the car to the USA in 1998 to participate in the American Porsche 50 year anniversary celebrations. While there, it was accepted into the ultra exclusive Pebble Beach Concours D' Elegance. Then later at the biggest 356 meet ever (The West Coast Holiday, where over 400 356's attended) it won the prize for the best 'A' model coupe.

			The car is featured in many definitive 356 books including; Porsche 356 Defined and 356 Porsche Carrera The Four Cam Production Cars. Since acquiring the car in 1998 it has had a thorough detailing both cosmetically and mechanically. It is still driven reasonably often to maintain the mechanical components. (Nothing to do with the fact that it is such a pleasurable car to drive!)