Driven by Fritz “Huschke” von Hanstein and Petermax Müller, the Porsche 356 SL No. 51, competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14–15, 1952. It was one of three 356 SL Coupes fielded by Porsche, marking their second Le Mans appearance.
It was Porsche’s first dedicated customer racing car, with a lightweight design and sophisticated aerodynamics reflecting the company’s philosophy of efficiency over raw power.
A purpose-built race car based on the 356/2, designed for the 1951 Le Mans race and used throughout 1952. Built at Porsche’s Gmünd, Austria facility, it featured:
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Chassis: Aluminum box-section frame, lighter and more rigid than the steel-bodied 356s built in Stuttgart. The car weighed approximately 640 kg, optimizing performance in the 1100cc class.
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Body: Streamlined aluminum coupe with covered wheels, nicknamed the “aluminum can” by mechanics. Its aerodynamic design achieved a top speed of ~160 km/h (100 mph).
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Engine: 1.1-litre (1086cc) air-cooled flat-four (Type 369), producing ~51 bhp in 1952, up from 46 bhp in 1951, thanks to tuning improvements.
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Transmission: Four-speed manual, sourced from Volkswagen, but prone to issues under racing stress.
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Chassis: one of four SL's prepared for 1952 by Reutter in Zuffenhausen. It was modified with a higher roof to meet Italian race regulations, though this was less relevant for Le Mans.
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Tyres: Continental, typical for Porsche’s factory entries.
Drivers
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Fritz “Huschke” von Hanstein (Germany, 1911–1996): A Prussian nobleman and pre-war racing veteran, von Hanstein was Porsche’s newly appointed Head of Press and Motorsport (1951–1968). A skilled driver, he won the 1940 Mille Miglia in a BMW 328 and competed at Le Mans since 1936. His diplomatic skills and multilingualism made him a key ambassador for Porsche, especially in post-war France.
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Petermax Müller (Germany, 1915–unknown): A less-documented driver, Müller was a regular Porsche co-driver in 1951–1952, competing in events like the Liège-Rome-Liège Rally and Montlhéry speed records. He paired with von Hanstein in multiple races, including the 1952 Le Mans and Liège-Rome-Liège, where they finished 10th overall and 2nd in the 1100cc class
As Porsche’s racing manager, von Hanstein’s participation as a driver in 1952 demonstrated his hands-on leadership. His aristocratic charm and strategic acumen helped Porsche navigate post-war European motorsport, securing class wins and building global recognition.
