1948 Porsche Gmund Coupe This aluminium bodied 356 was crafted in a sawmill in Austria after the war. Frontal area was decreased to make this car slice through the air easier and to reduces drag. Ferry Porsche had received invitation from Le Mans organizers, namely Charles Faroux, to compete in the 1951 24 hour event. This was the first invitation to a German team to the French classic since wars end. Faroux was one of the individuals who assisted in Ferdinand's release from containment in France 1947. In the twice around the clock event in '51, the #46 Porsche (this is not the Le Mans car, but is an authentic competition Porsche) was driven by Edmond Mouche and Auguste Veulliet (Porsche's French importer) and was the only Porsche entered as the second car was damaged in practice. The standard 1,086cc, 40bhp engine and bodywork allowed the car to reach a top speed of 88mph. By giving each wheel covers to reduce airflow disturbance and boosting the engine to 46bhp the race version was capable of 100mph. Records show the little Porsche bested the track for a lap average of 87.3mph. What was an amazing feat then, not so with today's Porsche Le Mans cars, was that this first-timer beat every car in its class as well as the class above the Porsche! Final results placed the Porsche 20th overall, first in the 1,100cc class with a race average speed of 73.6mph. Racing accolades didn't stop at the 1951 Le Mans endurance classic, no, the same team repeated the feat in 1952. Kind of makes one wonder why Porsches don't make up the entire field at Le Mans these days. Maybe that is why there is the Porsche Supercup series. Also in 1951 a coupe similar to this one broke records at the Monthlery circuit for 1,100cc and 1,500cc engine sizes. Porsche drove off with a world record average speed over 72 hours: 94.7mph. Le Mans 1953 saw the roofline lowered to the height seen here. Also new for this race was the replacement of the split windscreen to a single curved screen. Victory was not to be had this time. The car was then converted to a FIA-spec European Touring Championship rally car where Helmut Polensky and Walter Schluter won the title with the now 1,500cc coupe.