In the current market, beauty and condition matter as much as originality
In the current market, beauty and condition matter as much as originality
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 lighter than the luxurious coupe and cabriolet versions. Speedsters looked great and, due to the reduced weight, were fun to drive, making the Speedster experience remarkably different from the rest of the 356 line.
The 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 S Speedster presented here is a pristine example complete with its Porsche Certificate of Authenticity. It is finished in the unusual and rare color combination of Aquamarine Blue with a red interior. We judge the car to be stunning in all respects.
Racing and sports car enthusiast (and SCMer) Roger Werner formerly owned it. The current owner invested much time and effort in ensuring that this 1958 Porsche 356A would be of a caliber rarely seen. The overall condition and attention to detail illustrates what the concours judge wants to see when it is time to choose a winner.
