Porsche T6B 356 Carrera 2GT - Maxted-Page

The ex-Eddy Meert / Wim de Jonghe - 1963 Tour de France
1963 Porsche T6B 356 Carrera 2GT
Chassis#125 107
• Exceptionally rare and genuine 356 T6B Carrera 2000cc GT
• Typ 587/2 specification four-cam 2.0 litre Carrera engine
• Aluminium panels
• Annular disc brakes
• Perspex windows / Aluminium frames
• 80 litre - GT fuel tank
• Roll hoop
• GT seats
• Period competition history
• F.I.A. - Historic Technical Passport / UK registration
1963 Porsche T6B 356 Carrera 2 GT - Chassis# 125 107
An exceptionally rare and genuine
early 1960’s racing 2000cc - Porsche
T6B 356 Carrera 2 GT. At a time when Abarth could only
slowly produce aluminium bodies
for some 20 GTL's, which sold fast,
Porsche also produced a very small
number of 356 Carrera GT’s. During
this period, these race versions were
mostly 356 T5B bodied - 1600cc
Carrera-engined GT’s, however, just
prior to the introduction of the 904,
Porsche produced the ultimate
competition version of the 356 - the
2.0 litre four-cam Porsche T6B 356
Carrera 2 GT.
Built on the 356 T6B steel bodyshell,
the GT version was fitted with
aluminium doors, bonnet and engine
lid. The front and rear bumper
overiders were also removed.
Plexiglass windows were fitted with
aluminium alloy door frames and
frameless rear qtr windows. A
lightweight GT interior featured a
wood-rimmed
steering
wheel;
lightweight GT front seats with the
rear seats eliminated and a steel rollhoop
installed.
Under
the
aluminium-framed bonnet an
1963 Porsche T6B 356 Carrera 2 GT - Chassis# 125 107
enlarged GT tank with 80-litre
capacity was fitted with a central
filler neck protruding through the
front cover. The brakes were also
upgraded from drums to latest
Porsche annular-discs. The 2-litre
plain-bearing
four-cam
Carrera
engine
was
also
uprated
considerably from the standard
130hp GS specification. Through the
fitment of Webber twin-choke
carburetors,
steeper
camshafts,
higher compression and a 12-volt
ignition system, performance was
raised to between 155 – 180bhp.
Effectively the 2000cc Carrera GT
engine was practically the same as
the 904 type 587/3 motor, which
would soon follow within 6 months.
It is unclear precisely how many
Porsche T6B 356 Carrera 2 GT’s were
produced by Porsche. The factory
does not retain any definitive records
on the numbers they produced of
these cars and accordingly to
different expert sources the number
ranges from as few as 2 to 5
cars. During 1963, the 2000 GT scored
class wins in the Monte Carlo Rally
and in the Midnight Sun Rally as
well as other European GT hill climbs
1963 Porsche T6B 356 Carrera 2 GT - Chassis# 125 107
and
2.0-litre
International
Championship races. At
Le Mans in 1963, Porsche entered
their two works Type 356 B 2000cc
Carrera GT “Dreikantschabers” into
the 2.0-litre GT class, which were also
soon to be replaced in 1964 by the
new model Porsche 904.
Chassis # 125 107 was delivered new
in July 1963 via Brussels Porsche
distributor - D'Iteren to the
competitive Belgium driver - Eddy
Meert. The car was first competed by
Meert in “Les 12 Heures de Huy” in
which it lead. Then in September it
competed in the 1963 Tour de France
with co-driver Win de Jonghe. By
1964 however, records show that
Meert had replaced this 2000 GT for
the latest specification Porsche 904,
which was by then available.
The car then remained in Belgium
and Germany until being acquired in
1996, still in very original conditon
and was sent to the UK by new
owner - John Ruston. Since 1996 this
car has been maintained jointly
between Maxted-Page & Prill Limted
and German four-cam specialist, Karl
Hloch. The engine was rebuilt by
Hloch in late 2009 and has
1963 Porsche T6B 356 Carrera 2 GT - Chassis# 125 107
subsequently covered limited road mileage and has been regularly maintained by us. In 2011, a
bare-metal colour change was carried out from original colour of Ruby Red to a Porsche fine
silver metallic paint finish.
In recent years, this truly stunning sounding and performing, almost unique Carrera GT, has
often been seen on the podium at the Tour Auto, expertly driven in Regularity and has also
regularly appeared on display and at various special Porsche events throughout Europe.
Currently UK titled and registered, with up-to-date FIA - Historic Technical Passport (number
GB7900), this car is amongst the very best and most significant Porsche 356 in the world.
Presented in exceptional mechanical and cosmetic condition throughout, 2000 GT chassis # 125
107 is a very rare and special car indeed.
1963 Porsche T6B 356 Carrera 2 GT - Chassis# 125 107