A rare Porsche Fuhrmann four-cam engine, one of the most technically ambitious powerplants of the brand’s early racing era, is being offered for sale following a complete rebuild by a noted specialist. The engine is an original Type 587/1 unit, rebuilt between 2020 and 2021 by Jeff Adams of Speedsport Tuning in Danbury, Connecticut, and is now available directly through the shop on behalf of its owner.
The Fuhrmann four-cam engine traces its origins to the early 1950s, when Porsche set out to create a compact but highly advanced engine capable of competing against much larger rivals. Designed by Ernst Fuhrmann, the original Type 547 engine introduced engineering features far ahead of its time, including double overhead camshafts on each cylinder bank, twin spark plugs per cylinder, and a complex system of vertical shafts and bevel gears to drive the cams. Early competition versions produced more than 100 horsepower from just 1.5 liters of displacement, nearly doubling the output of Porsche’s production pushrod engines.
First installed in the Porsche 550 Spyder in 1953, the four-cam engine quickly proved itself in international competition. It earned a class win at the Nürburgring Eifelrennen and later powered Porsche to a landmark victory at the 1954 Carrera Panamericana, a result that inspired the long-running “Carrera” name. As development continued through the late 1950s and 1960s, displacement grew to 1.6 liters and power exceeded 135 horsepower in racing form, driving success in models such as the 718 RSK and 904 GTS, including multiple victories at the Targa Florio.
The example now offered is a later Type 587/1 variant with 2.0 liters of displacement, originally fitted to a 1962 Porsche 356B Carrera 2. The rebuild included a valve job, Calico-coated main and connecting rod bearings, and overhauls of the oil pump and twin Solex 40 PII-4 carburetors. After completion, the engine was test run but has not been installed in a vehicle since.
When new, this specification was capable of approximately 130 horsepower. Original four-cam engines are notoriously complex, requiring extensive labor to assemble and maintain, a factor that has contributed to their rarity and value. Surviving examples regularly command six-figure prices on their own.
Offered with a bill of sale, the rebuilt engine represents a standalone opportunity to acquire a key piece of Porsche’s early racing history without the need to purchase an entire car.
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