To be sold at the Gooding & Company Amelia Island Auction on March 8, 2013. For further details please visit www.goodingco.com or contact a vehicle specialist at 001.310.899.1960 or specialist@goodingco.com.
Engine Specifications:
1,750 CC OHV Air-Cooled, Flat 4-Cylinder Engine
Dual Dell’Orto Twin-Choke Carburetors
4-Speed Manual Gearbox in Type 741 Rear Transaxle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc Brakes
4-Wheel Independent Suspension with Torsion Bars and Rear
Swing Axles
About this Car:
Based largely on the Glaser-built 356 America of 1953 and even retaining its Type 540 internal designation, the Reutter-built Porsche 356 Speedster debuted in 1954. Spearheaded by legendary US importer Max Hoffmann and strategically priced from just $2,995, the Speedster brought Porsche ownership within reach of a wider audience and it quickly assumed iconic status with rakish flair and an ultra-modern attitude. The seats were simple and the top small, with roll-up windows replaced by a pair of side curtains. However, once freed of the weightier 356 Cabriolet’s traditional appointments, the Speedster’s performance and handling were noticeably sharper.
Along with the “regular” 356 models, the speedster was soon upgraded with a 1.6-liter engine and it established a formidable reputation on American racetracks in SCCA competition. Characteristically, Porsche improved carburetion, added ZF worm-and-lever steering, and made various mechanical changes, continually evolving the 356’s engineering and distancing itself further from its earlier Volkswagen-based roots.
Period road tests summed up the Speedster experience on a number of fronts. According to the July 1955 edition of Motor Trend, “Its size, power, easy shift and steering make it fun to drive...The brakes are extremely good...they get you out of situations where you may have delayed too long...For a sports car, and especially such a small one, the Porsche Speedster has a very smooth ride...” An engaging report in the 1958 Sports Cars Illustrated Directory provided perhaps the best argument of all in favor of the Speedster versus the other sporting choices of the era: “You don’t get as much iron as such for your money but you do get an engineering masterpiece in the full, literal sense of the term.” Today’s enthusiasts still agree, with every surviving Speedster instantly recognized and highly coveted. In short, many agree that no serious classic car enthusiast can truly consider life complete without having experienced the Speedster’s uniquely visceral driving experience at least once.
With its factory-stock body handsomely finished in Ruby Red with a tan leather-trimmed cockpit, this 1958 Porsche 356 A Speedster features “Outlaw” style mechanical upgrades. Among them are the addition of disc brakes and a tweaked 1,750 cc engine sourced from a Porsche 912 that is topped by a pair of Dell’Orto twin-choke carburetors, which delivers an estimated power output twice that of the Speedster’s original engine. An improved later-model Type 741, as used after 1960 on production Porsche 356s, provides synchromesh gear selection for smoother shifts and the ability to tolerate much greater power output. Another advantage offered by the new rear transaxle is the ability to accommodate rear disc brakes, a welcome improvement over the original.
The Speedster’s original body features excellent floors and the car retains all matching body panels, including the doors, deck lid, and hood. The structural longitudinal members in the floors are also noted to be original to the car. In addition to its tan soft top and original top frame, the Speedster is equipped with a very rare period aftermarket hardtop manufactured by Glasspar, accompanied by a matching pair of Glasspar side windows. A tool kit rounds out the package. According to the current owner, who is a classic Porsche expert and restorer, this Speedster offers the best of both worlds, with its elemental original body and an infusion of horsepower from its 1,750 cc engine plus stopping power to match, making it an ideal car for sporting drives and classic tours. As such, it provides a virtually unbeatable modern interpretation of the classic Speedster theme, ready for continued enjoyment.
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