Carrera book comments and questions

[Type550]

Can any of you 356 gurus determine the year of the 356s parked in the street..?

[Carrera GT]

Looking closer at the exhaust, it does not appear to be a racing type - more like a GS version for normal driving. It could have been fitted at anytime. Perhaps some others can add their opinions to that. It's all speculative other than the facts in the letters I've read here.

And 05 looks in these photos to be a street driven model with the windshield and side windows.

Are there any other info bits on the license plates that offer insight to dates - like a current year sticker?

As to the 356 models in the photos - could be 1953 to 1955...hard to say. Some pre-A afficianados may see unique front lights or openings to help detect model year.

Michael Doyle

Ps: I'm looking at these pic's on a small phone! Back to my computer in a couple of days.

[Carrera_The_Kid]

Love the pictures and discussion, thanks guys.

It probably does not say anything but it also appears the rear lights where changed at some time. The picture shows a chrome? surround in some shots but not in the others. Does -07 have the chrome surround tail lights?

[Carrera_The_Kid]

re 27949:

If you say 550-05 was repaired in Europe after "the accident"---which accident are you refering to? What documentation is there for 550-05 having come back to Europe at all? Why not on repair list? Why not replace front in Brazil? (The guys there including the group that got 550-05, were very skilled.


Steve Heinrichs

Excuse my ignorant question, which part of -05 was repaired? Was the tail damaged? If so, does this explain the chrome surround tail lights as see in some of the pictures? These appear to be the same lights as seen on the -07 show car

[Type550]

The exhaust system was used to race with like in the Sable-Solesmes Rallye



The side window and screen were used in the Tour de France



The accident was the one at Agadir where it was frontal damage.

I had noticed the chrome around the rear lights previously, but I think it is more the angle or lighting as the chrome is really there in all photos. Also, the other show car was 550-06 not 550-07.

[vhelmle]

First 550-05

• At January 1954 Sao Paulo, the car has the factory plates (AW 24 5223) and the raised fuel cap on the hood.
• Then Stuck sold the car to Fasanello who did not race and instead drove around town with a little pet jaguar.
• A series of letters were written by Kern and Stuck as they tried to resolve the problems with payment.
• The first letter from Kern to Stuck was written in February 1954 and included a list of parts for making repairs.
• The final letter discusses the fact that the car was stored at the Tress garage in Brazil while the import and payment issues were completed.
• Stuck himself, is in Austria.

• 550-05 Questions - Did it stay in Brazil or come back to Europe?
• Andrew has pointed out that the exhaust has significant changes. This change is present in a photo of Jorge Lettry, Bino Heins race team mate and mechanic. We think this photo was taken in late 1955 or early 1956, about the first time we know of that Bino Heins raced 550-05 (December 1955 Interlagos).
• The modified exhaust system is also present in the Forum photos that show it quite clearly.
• Do we know for sure where and when this photo was taken (in Germany or Brazil)?
• The car in these photos at Forum post #28131, seem to show the raised fuel cap that we associate with 550-05.

[vhelmle]

Next 550-07

[vhelmle]

Other considerations related to the discussion:

[Type550]

Car comparison -

550-07



550-05

[JTR70]

Great discussion you guys! Great photo details Andrew. Man, you guys really study these old shots.

Andrew, one question I see the raised hump you highlight there but car #40 looks like it has twin grilles or is that its racing number playing tricks because of the vantage and distance of that old shot?

[Type550]

It is the 40 racing number on each side of the grille



sorry for the lack of detail as it comes from this shot:



Here is a video of the race, but again it isn't clear...

http://youtu.be/frAA4Ks3_Xs

[Type550]

Hi Vietta,

are you able to post this image you refer to?

Next 550-07

We agree that in the earliest photos of 550-07 at the factory we can see several key features. Are there others that are significant?

[Type550]

It is believed that there were only 2 sets of 16" Rudge wheels. One (rolled in) was on 550-05 at the 1953 Paris car show and the other set (rolled out) was on 550-06 at the January 1954 Brussels car show (when 550-05 was in Brazil). After this they were fitted to 550-05.

Does anyone know when this family photo was taken with 550-06?

[JOP]

All these photoes were taken at same time during 1954.....early spring (or autumn) from the look of the clothing of the Porsche kidz.
Have a look on wheels on the Cab in the background
/Per

[Carrera GT]

Misc. observations:

The "Dual exhaust" appears on 05 when carrying both license nos. 5254 (Veuillet) & 5223 (Stuck) - so it must have already been installed when it arrived in Brazil.

Motor conversion parts sent by Porsche KG (Kern) to Tress in Brazil for Fasanello were:

1 crankcase fitted with flywheel
2 metal hoses
3 tappets
1 Distributor - drive gear

All the letters (to me) read as for legitimate business and financial matters. The letters most likely copied within Porsche KG files and monitored for internal accounting and banking - especially when they're having to provide registration documents, air freight receipts, and meeting Brazilian government import requirements.

My opinion - Herr Kern was being certain to complete the sale of 05 properly - not a side deal with Stuck - as he most likely wanted to keep his job.

Seems there should be more photos of 05 in Brazil with Fasanello and/or others?

Also, high marks and compliments to Steve and Vietta on the Outline provided. Truly professional work - quite an offering allowing its critique. And to Andrew as well - excellent photo history, background and insights.

Michael Doyle