Porsche's First Le Mans Winner Beats the Survival Odds

1. "Some Old Race Car"

Ferdinand Porsche built only 50 aluminum bodied 356s before moving back to Germany in 1950. Soon after, he would make the switch to steel. But after the folks behind the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans convinced him to enter the race in 1951, Porsche decided to use two of those lightweight, unused bodies to build a pair of SL racers. One of those cars would go on to score the brand's first-ever win at Le Mans. And yet, Porsche sold the car soon after, deeming it nothing more than "some old race car." 

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2. Prepping for History

Both the #46 and #47 SL racers used a 45-horsepower VW-style engine for power, but it was those ultra swoopy looks that made a lasting impression on and off the race track. Side skirts and a flat underbelly area made the already aerodynamic car even more slippery, and it weighed in at a svelte 1,350 pounds. For Le Mans, Porsche installed a larger fuel tank, extra fuel pump, bigger drum brakes, windshield wiper mount, and better flowing Solex carbs.

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3. Becoming a Real One-Of-One

The #46 car, of course, would go on to score a class win and lay waste to all the 1500cc competition at Le Mans. Meanwhile, the #47 car, unfortunately, was totaled during testing and scrapped. Despite this historic feat and the fact that this car was now quite literally one-of-a-kind, Porsche sold the 356 to an American importer with a detuned engine. Little did they know at the time just how historically significant it would become.

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4. Not the Real Thing

The new owner didn't seem to grasp the historical significance of the 356 SL Gmund Coupe at the time, either. In fact, he proceeded to chop the roof off and turn the car into a Speedster. Meanwhile, when Porsche was putting together their museum in Stuttgart, they realized the error they made so many years ago. And they were forced to make a replica of the original for display.

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5. Beating the Odds

Thankfully, common sense finally prevailed. The good folks at Emory Motorsports got their hands on the historic coupe and restored it back to the original spec. They examined every old picture and piece of documentation they could get their hands on, replicating every little detail possible. Thanks to their tireless efforts, the car lives on today in its original glory.

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