Horsepower of Carrera Speedster

Just wondering how much horsepower the Carrera Speedsters had?

According to my source, the final version of the Carrera Speedster was a short stroke 1500 with four cams, a race type engine, which produced 110 bhp. The same source stated that the Carrera spec treatment never made it to the 1600 engine.
John H.

From: www.dennigcars.com
The original 356 Carrera was quoted at 110 HP, although a 100 HP version is also referenced.
=================================================================
Porsche 356 B 1600 GS Carrera GT Coupe
ENGINE:
Bore (mm) 87,5
Stroke (mm) 66
Volume 1588 ********************************
Compression ratio 9,8:1
Maximum power (kW) 85
Maximum power (HP) 115
At speed of rotation (rpm)6500
Maximum torque (Nm) 125
At speed of rotation (rpm) 5500
=================================================================
Porsche 356 C 2000 GS Carrera 2
Coupe und Cabriolet

ENGINE:
Bore (mm)92
Stroke (mm) 74
Volume 1966 ********************************
Compression ratio 9,5:1
Maximum power (kW) 96
Maximum power (HP) 130
At speed of rotation (rpm) 6200
Maximum torque (Nm)162
At speed of rotation (rpm) 4600

(Note: Europeans use a comma instead of a radix point. Possibly a tax issue?)

Thanks for the information, very helpful. Sometimes I wonder how amazing it is with the knowledge that the people on this board have. Thanks guys..... John

One of my good customers just bougt a Carrera GT with the 547 4 cam and the works...one of 11 ever made.

It'll be here next week for a carb sync and timing sync, I'll let you know what I think if I get the balls to drive it...(he paid over 200K for it)

So it is fairly easy to build a Speedster or Roadster replica using a type 1 engine that has more USEABLE power and torque than a 4-cam Carrera. And a 901 5-speed can handle the power and will normally have better gear ratios.

So I could reasonably easily recreate a speedster carrera with a 2100 cc engine?

If you mean recreate or exceed the Carreras performance, yes. My 2,110 is making 165 to 170 BHP at 6,250 RPM and has a torque curve that is much more "driveable" than a Carrera (which was a more "peaky" engine).

1955-1958 Carrera Speedsters had 100 HP (DIN) in GS trim and 110 in GT trim. 1959 GT Carrera Speedsters had 115 HP. The most powerfull four-cam engines had 185 HP (1964 587/3). The Carrera engines need to be revved hard and are a pain in city traffic. Many modern engines are far easier tot use with similar horsepower. One thing that a modern engine cannot replicate is the sound and feel. You have to experience it yourself but this will give you some idea;
www.kammotors.com/sounds.html
Turn those speakers up!

Johan

Porsche 356 Carrera Speedster Inventory
home.tiscali.be/carrera-speedster

I understand to tune up a Carrera engine with its double overhead valve system, an engineering marvel, takes an experienced Porsche mechanic a full day and a half to accomplish. Ka-ching. That said there is no engine, IMO, that looks finer than the double overhead Carrera with its wonderful shroud. The exhaust system rocks also.

Johan, you are right about the sound - the 4 cammers have a very distinctive sound. I only have two rather mild practice laps in a 59 RS courtesy of a friend, and a short jaunt in an Abarth Carrera I was thinking of buying in 1965 (I think it was going for $5,500 at that time). The 59 RS didn't have the same sound as the 550 and 550A Spyders; the earlier cars seemed to have a more gutteral exhaust tone (to me, anyway).

Did the Carrera's have any kind of different suspension? Or was it just the fact that they had more horsepower?

Wow, that site with the 4cam sound was bitchin'
Thanks!
MM

I went and down loaded the 4 min version of a twin cam on the road sounds the valve train is quite different. AND the rest Just gave me a cold chill down the spine, Oh I just cant wait to get mine going This really got ne fired up Thank,s George it helped remind me why I love aircooled engines and driving a open car I remember the rush very well, OH !!!MAN