1961 Porsche 356 B Super 90 GT

Developed as a lower-cost alternative to the four-cam Carrera GS/GT, the 356 B Super 90 GT incorporated many of the same weight-saving measures and chassis modifications while utilizing Porsche’s proven 1600 pushrod engine. Aluminum body panels, Plexiglas side and rear windows, lightweight alloy wheels, and Speedster seats reduced weight by approximately 200 lbs. compared to a standard coupe. Further savings came through the removal of insulation and select trim, while competition-oriented suspension, braking, and fuel-system upgrades enhanced performance and durability.

Developed for privateer entrants, the 356 B GT established a formidable reputation in circuit racing, endurance events, and rallies. Lightweight and durable, these special 356s achieved success at demanding events where Porsche’s emphasis on reliability and handling often allowed them to outperform larger, more powerful rivals.

Road testing a new Super 90 GT in 1961, Road & Track described the model as “a Super 90 made extra super for competition purposes,” noting that its substantial weight reduction and specialized gearing demonstrated “the type of performance needed to be competitive in the C-production class.”

Never an official factory designation, some Super 90 GTs were produced on Carrera GS/GT body shells – complete with fittings for the complex four-cam engine – while others were produced from production Super 90s, specially prepared with factory GT features, as is the case with the car presented here.

Chassis 115761 was delivered via Rittersbacher of Kaiserslautern to Belgian privateer driver Jacques Jamotte on April 19, 1961. Its Porsche Kardex records delivery in Schiefergrau (Slate Grey) over black vinyl upholstery with corduroy inserts, together with an extensive factory options that included aluminum doors and engine lid, Plexiglas side windows, an 80-liter fuel tank, 741/4 transaxle, 60 mm GT brakes, lightweight alloy wheels fitted with Dunlop tires, and seats prepared for headrests.

The car was campaigned extensively by Jamotte in international rally competition, recording a class podium in the 1961 International Tulip Rally and achieving its greatest success with a 4th Overall and 1st in Class finish in the 1962 Rallye de las Dos Cataluñas. Period Kardex entries indicate the original engine was replaced with a factory KD replacement unit in July 1962, likely following its retirement from the Coupe des Alpes.

Later acquired by Dr. Ulrich Herbert Rudolph Schumacher of Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, the Super 90 GT was extensively restored by German Porsche specialist Harald Hackenberg. Following brief intervening ownership in the UK, it entered its current long-term Porsche-focused collection in 2008, where it has remained ever since.

Today, the Porsche presents to a high standard in its original color scheme, including lightweight Speedster-style seats trimmed in the correct vinyl and corduroy materials. Consistent with its period competition character, the car is currently equipped with a Spyder mirror, Cibie Oscar driving lamps, and reproduction all-alloy GT-style wheels. Reflecting its extensive competition history, the car no longer retains the engine recorded on its Kardex and is presently fitted with a Type 616/33-1 engine.

This exceptionally rare Super 90 GT is among the most exclusive variants of the Porsche 356 ever produced. One of a limited number built, it combines documented factory GT specification, significant period rally history, and meticulous long-term collector stewardship, standing among the most purposeful and charismatic Porsche competition cars of its era.