[kach22i]

1951 Porsche
Type: 356SL Gmünd Coupe
https://revsinstitute.org/the-collection/1949-356sl-gmund-coupe/

While the exact number is debatable, less than fifty Gmünd coupes were built in 1949. At some
point a handful with serial numbers above fifty − assembled in 1950 after the factory returned to Germany −
were converted to SL (Sport Leicht) racing specification and renumbered as 3000 series cars. In addition to
a new serial number series, SL configuration involved such visible differences as louvered steel quarter
“windows”, full wheel spats, streamlined aluminum belly fairings, pedestal-mounted shifter and, for Le
Mans, a third roof-mounted wiper arm, remote oil filter and driving-lights. Gmünd coupes carried the
Porsche name into competition for three years at Le Mans as well as in several rallies, notably Liège-Rome-
Liège where one finished first in class and third overall. Said John Wyer when he saw the new Porsches at
Le Mans: “interesting … but the engine is in the wrong end.”