In Porsche’s continuing quest to become a world-class sports car manufacturer during the 1950s, they developed their first bespoke engine. While Porsches up until that point employed a Volkswagen derived single cam pushrod engine which was extensively developed and surprisingly potent, the engine’s intrinsic design presented limits to volumetric efficiency and thus the legendary Ernst Fuhrmann-designed Type 547 motor was born. Using four overhead cams, roller bearings for the crank, twin-plug ignition, and bevel drive for the valvetrain, the motor was a masterpiece of technology and permitted exceptional specific output, nearly 100hp per liter in some cases, all with 1950s technology. These now legendary racing engines powered nearly every significant Porsche race car of the era: the 550 Spyder, 718 RSK, RS60 and RS61, the 787 Formula 2 car, Abarth GTL, and the 904.

For the truly competition-oriented (and well-heeled) road car customer, Porsche also offered these 4-cam engines in 356 road cars, using the name Carrera for the first time, which was an acknowledgement of Porsche’s exceptional success at the Carrera Panamericana race in Mexico, especially in 1954 where a 550 Spyder dominated the 1500cc class. The complexity and race-bred nature of these engines meant they were not for everyone; about 2000 Fuhrmann 4-cam engines were built in all, with very few making it into road cars. The legendary mystique that surrounds this engine has made genuine 356 Carreras some of the most desirable Porsche road cars of all time. The last of these was the Carrera 2 GS, introduced in 1962 with a new larger 2 liter 4-cam motor after the model’s absence for some years. This engine permitted a peak output of 130hp, the same as the 911 would produce when it was introduced later on. Also part of the specification for the first time in a 356 were disc brakes.

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