The Porsche 356s of Amelia Island

This year’s Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance featured two “classes” of Porsches: Rare 356 Open Cars and Rare 356 Coupes. To be considered a “Rare 356” of either variety the Porsches needed to be of limited production number, of historic significance to the marque or uniquely bodied in some way, shape or form. With that in mind, this year’s field had a collection like none other. All together in one location were found a couple of Gmünd coupes, an America Roadster, a Carrera GT Speedster, a Beutler-Porsche, a Continental Cabriolet, a bent window coupe and cabriolet, a Carrera GT coupe, a Carrera 2 GS 2000 and on and on and on.

For the fourth year in-a-row the assignment of documenting the Porsche class on Amelia Island was handled by our very own T.J. Kessler. T.J. is a Senior at Lakeside High School in Atlanta. His love of photography and his knowledge of Porsche comes naturally. He is the son of Lynn and Tom Kessler, owners of a 1974 911 Carrera, and the grandson of Betty Jo and Leonard Turner who for more than 40 years were the moving forces behind Porsche Panorama Magazine. Most recently, T.J.’s work was recognized in Photographer’s Forum magazine’s “Best of College and High School Photography 2015”. When you’re done viewing the album, simply click the “x” in the top left corner to come back to the post.

Class Winners

Best in Class – Porsche – Rare 356 Closed

1951 Porsche 356
Pete and Michele Archibald – Hilton Head Island, SC

Best in Class – Porsche – Rare 356 Open

1953 Porsche 356 Bent Window Cabriolet
Ingram Collection – Durham, NC