Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster by Reutter, 1957
Porsche 356 الثاني (أ)
Porsche 356 الثاني (أ)•
•99 مشاهدة
Chassis No.: 83352
Engine No.: 65506
Registration: US Title
Location: Monterey, California
$423,000 USD | Sold
- Award-winning restoration by a Porsche 356 expert
- Sold new in Bologna, Italy
- Retains numbers-matching engine and gearbox
- First in Class at the 2025 La Jolla Concours d'Elegance
- Accompanied by copy of its original Kardex and restoration invoices
The arrival of Porsche’s intentionally austere 356 Speedster in late 1954 revolutionized the world of low-cost, high-reward sports cars, previously dominated by British roadsters. In effect a stripped-down 356 Cabriolet with a chopped windshield, the Speedster was devoid of almost every amenity. A pair of removable side curtains and a rudimentary folding fabric top kept the weather at bay—even a heater was optional. With a starting price under $3,000, it was a formula for instant success: nimble, eminently stylish yet also reliable enough to be enjoyed as everyday transportation, including to racing circuits, where it quickly established itself as the car to beat in under-2.0-liter competition.
Porsche updated the 356 in late 1955 and designated it the 356 A. Though visually similar to preceding models, save for the addition of a curved windshield and dashboard, among other minor tweaks, it received notable mechanical upgrades. Two new air-cooled flat-four engines—internal codes 616/1 and 616/2—featured increased displacement and higher compression ratios to produce more power. Meanwhile, the suspension was revised to take advantage of the latest advances in tire technology.
This beautifully restored 1957 Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster completed production on 15 May 1957 and was originally sold through Auto-Germa in Bologna, Italy, according to a copy of its Kardex on file. It left the factory finished in white over red vinyl and equipped with sealed-beam headlights, instruments in English, and S.B. lamps.
The previous owner is said to have kept the car for more than 45 years, the majority of which it purportedly sat disassembled in his garage, with original parts bagged and boxed, following an unfinished restoration. The consignor, a Porsche expert specializing in 356 restorations, acquired the Speedster in August 2020 and immediately undertook a meticulous, multi-year refurbishment, which started with stripping the body and performing metal work where needed. All original parts were restored and refinished to factory specifications, and the bare-metal body was resprayed in Glacier White, a very pale shade of green that Porsche offered as a special-order factory color from 1957 to 1959.
The interior was refinished with German materials, including tan carpets and green vinyl upholstery on the seats, door panels, rear panels, side curtains, and dash. The black soft-top in Haartz material features the correct herringbone pattern on its underside. The turn signal and taillight housings and fuel tank are said to be original, according to the consignor.
The restoration was completed in August 2024 and the Speedster won First in Class at the 2025 La Jolla Concours d'Elegance, affirming the quality of workmanship and attention to detail. With confirmed numbers-matching engine and gearbox, this superb Speedster is ideal for further showing and touring. Besides the copy of its original Kardex, the car is accompanied by invoices from 2020 through 2025.
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo25/lots/r0119-1957-porsche-356-a-1600-speedster-by-reutter/
التكلفة
1,553,468 AED
