1958 Porsche 356A 1600 S Speedster

In the current market, beauty and condition matter as much as originality

by Jim Schrager

Introduced to the United States in September 1954, the Speedster found a receptive audience as the lowest-priced Porsche. In the USA, there was some confusion caused by the fact that when constructing the newest Porsche, the designers left out many components standard on cabriolets. The audience in Europe didn’t find the Speedster of interest at all, but USA importer Max Hoffman had a special target in mind, dealing not just with price, but speed and style as well. Notable changes included a revised windshield, which significantly improved the somewhat ungainly look of the cabriolet. An aluminum side spear visually split the 356 side flanks, making the car appear even lower. Gone were the unnecessary roll-up windows and an effective top. Speedsters were not known for their air-tight or waterproof fit. The dashboard was reworked and made lighter, with a smaller padded eyebrow over the instruments and no glove box. Seats were lower, non-reclining, cheaper, and...