By Roy Smith
‘First in Class’ is the untold story of one Porsches most original factory-built race cars!
In Spring 2018 Export 56 we were tasked with finding the impossible, a factory-built S-T that had raced successfully for several decades, with a documented history that had never been crashed or restored. Well incredibly we did just that!
The ‘First in Class’ book documents the amazing life of this incredible car and the story of the men behind its quite remarkable achievement’s, from its first appearance at Rally D’Italia, followed by a fully documented 55 years of racing including 3 appearances at the Targa Florio, winning in class in 1973.

Chassis number 911 130 0721 was supplied by the Porsche Race Department on the 10th February 1971 and delivered to the Jolly Club in Italy ordered to M491 Race specification. Known as one of the most original factory-built race 911’s in the world 0721 has been successfully raced in Europe for 5 decades competing in over 100 races and remains almost exactly as it did when it left Zuffenhausen in 1971.
We carried out a three-year research project which culminated in the book ‘First in Class’. The title given to the book pays homage to the cars First in Class win at the 1973 Targa Florio.
The ‘First in Class’ book documents the amazing life of an incredible car,



Original RHD 1968 2.0S, restored by Export 56. Finished in its original colour of Dolphin Grey. #porsche #porsche901 #restored #porscheracing #vintage #classiccar #classic #1960s #60s #swb #cool #cars #car #volkswagen #porscheclassic #prototype #germancars #carrera #race #porsche911 #flat6 #aircooled #ruf #summer #cranfield #911st #porschedesign #carrera #porsche901 #911s
Better check the handbrake’s on! 💚 #356 #356a #356b #356c #356sc #porsche356 #porsche356a #porsche356b #porsche356c #356speedster #356roadster #356cabriolet #4cam #4camcarrera #flat4 #356carrera #classicporsche #356coupe #cabriolet #rhd #specialorder
Photoshoot on our recently restored 1973 2.4S Targa. AFN delivered, full M/N finished in original colour spec of silver metallic with blue madras interior. Amazing history file dating back to the original sale invoice. #porsche #porsche911targa #restoredcars #1973porsche #vintage #classiccar #classic #1970s #70s #swb #cool #cars #car #911s #porscheclassic #prototype #germancars #carrera #race #porsche911 #flat6 #aircooled #ruf #911targa #911targagts #rallycar #porschedesign #carreratarga #porsche901 #targa
Just out of hibernation, 51 Split window and 56 T1A Speedster. #356 #356a #356b #356c #356sc #porsche356 #porsche356a #porsche356b #porsche356c #356speedster #356roadster #356cabriolet #4cam #4camcarrera #flat4 #356carrera #classicporsche #356coupe #porsche356prea #356prea
Transylvania 1968 Road Tip. #356 #356a #356prea #porsche356 #transylvania #vintagecars #classiccar #classic #1950s #cool #speedster #spyder #carrera #classicporsche #porsche356a # #germancars #550 #race #flat4 #4cam #speedster #rhd #356acoupe #porsche356pictures
Nice turnout on a grey Friday. #porsche #porsche901 #restored #porscheracing #vintage #classiccar #classic #1960s #60s #swb #cool #cars #car #volkswagen #porscheclassic #prototype #germancars #carrera #race #porsche911 #flat6 #aircooled #ruf #greyporsche #cranfield #911s #porschedesign #carrera #porsche901 #356 #911turbo
Ruby out for a Thursday evening shakedown…#356 #356a #356prea #porsche356 #356prea #vintagecars #classiccar #classic #1950s #cool #speedster #spyder #carrera #classicporsche #porsche356a #porsche356speedster #germancars #550 #race #flat4 #4cam #speedster #356speedster
Built in Germany…#porsche #porsche901 #restored #mercedesclub #classicmercedes #classiccar #classic #1960s #60s #swb #cool #cars #car #volkswagen #porscheclassic #mercedesclassic #germancars #carrera #mercedespagoda #porsche911 #flat6 #aircooled #mercedesbenz #mercedes #targa #porschedesign #911s #porsche911targa #911targa
At last we have some sunshine. #356 #356a #356prea #porsche356 o in#vintagecars #classiccar #classic #1950s #cool #speedster #spyder #carrera #classicporsche #porsche356a # #germancars #550 #race #flat4 #4cam #speedster #rhd
That’s it for today…. #356 #356a #356prea #porsche356 #356prea #356cabriolet #vintagecars #classiccar #classic #1950s #cool #speedster #spyder #carrera #classicporsche #porsche356a #356speedster #germancars #550 #race #flat4 #4cam #speedster #rhd #356classic
Just out of long term storage, this original RHD 356 Super 75 cabriolet has been with its last owner since 1976! #356 #356a #356prea #porsche356 #vintagecars #classiccar #classic #1950s #cool #speedster #spyder #carrera #classicporsche #porsche356a #356roadster #germancars #550 #race #flat4 #4cam #speedster #rhd #356cabriolet #356b
This amazing RHD 356BT5 is completely original and has the most spectacular history file dating back to its original sales invoice. Painted just once it is simply spectacular. #356 #356a #356prea #porsche356 #vintagecars #classiccar #classic #1950s #cool #speedster #spyder #carrera #classicporsche #porsche356a # #germancars #550 #race #flat4 #4cam #speedster #rhdporsche #originalporsche #356b #356coupe #356c