Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Speedster by Reutter, 1955
Porsche 356 II (A)
Porsche 356 II (A)•
•133 views
Chassis No.: 80288
Engine No.: 34322
Registration: US Title
Location: Coral Gables, Florida
$401,000 USD | Sold
- Exquisitely presented example of Stuttgart’s iconic open-top model
- Retains its numbers-matching engine
- Beautifully restored in factory-correct color combination
- Eligible for vintage events including the Mille Miglia Storica
Porsche’s immortal Speedster was born out of the vision of influential North American importer Max Hoffman, who was instrumental in bringing open-top European sports cars to the burgeoning US market in the 1950s. Hoffman suggested to Ferry Porsche that a market existed for a no-frills, race-ready convertible, particularly on the West Coast. This was based in part on input from California distributor John von Neumann, who would make similar overtures to Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti.
By early 1951, a prototype was built and shown to Hoffman, who promptly urged Porsche to greenlight production under the name America Roadster. The rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive 356 America Roadsters were comparatively elegant creations with aluminum bodies by Erich Heuer’s Gläser-Karosserie. While customer reception was overwhelmingly positive, the aluminum construction was too costly, making it impossible to compete with affordable offerings from Austin-Healey and Jaguar. So after just 16 America Roadsters were built, Porsche shifted strategy, contracting Reutter to build bodies in steel, a less expensive and more resilient material, to a revamped design that streamlined the bodywork, most noticeably eliminating the America Roadster’s discrete front and rear fender lines.
The simplified, high-waisted, upside-down-bathtub design allowed Reutter to immediately begin construction with 356 Cabriolet bodyshells before developing dedicated Speedster tooling. Equipped with an aggressively raked windscreen and a minimal folding top, the 356 Speedster was spartan, featuring thin-shelled bucket seats, rudimentary side curtains in place of roll-up windows, and no heater.
Speedster production commenced in late 1954 with cars offered in two different states of tune: 1500 and 1500 S. The 1500 model was powered by the type 546/2 engine, a development of the previously introduced 1,500-cubic-centimeter engine that amply capitalized on the model’s rewarding power-to-weight ratio. The more potent 1500 S offered even more performance. Available at a base price of $2,995, about $1,600 less than its America Roadster predecessor, the Speedster proved to be a hit in showrooms, especially those in warmer climes. A typical Hoffman advertisement of the day proclaimed, “Years ahead in engineering. Miles ahead on the road.”
Speedsters quickly established themselves as the cars to beat in small-displacement racing classes, eventually proving so popular in amateur competition as to often fill entire grids. Celebrated today for its distinctive and pivotal design, the 356 Speedster is arguably the most iconic model in Porsche’s illustrious production history. It is an undeniable member of the sports car pantheon that continues to fascinate with its distinctive lines and racing ethos, ably justifying its place at the center of major collections worldwide.
This beautifully presented example of the celebrated 356 Speedster benefits from the presence of its matching-numbers engine and a prior restoration. According to a copy of its Kardex on file, chassis number 80288 was ordered by the Hoffman Motor Car Company in New York, specified with sealed-beam headlamps and instrumentation displayed in miles. Finished in white over black leather, it was dispatched from the factory in February 1955.
Although this Porsche’s previous history is yet to be uncovered, by the early 2010s the car had been reimported to Europe, where it reportedly spent many years in France before being treated to a restoration. This work included refreshing the cosmetics in the factory-correct color scheme and the fitment of instruments in kilometers.
After being purchased by The Carrera Collection in June 2014, the restored Speedster was appraised by marque expert Christian Kramer in April 2016, the report for which notes the excellent refurbishment and numbers-matching engine. Indeed, stampings indicate that the engine number 34322 matches the original Kardex data, demonstrating optimal mechanical authenticity.
Acquired by the consignor in 2023 from The Carrera Collection, this superb Speedster was sent to RUF for servicing, ensuring that it remains in top condition. As such, it would be ideal for presentation at concours and marque gatherings and is eligible for exclusive vintage racing and touring events worldwide, including the Mille Miglia Storica. Aptly epitomizing one of Stuttgart’s most iconic models, this enchanting Speedster offers spirited performance and rapturous aesthetics that evoke one of motoring history’s most celebrated eras.
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mi25/lots/r0057-1955-porsche-356-prea-1500-speedster-by-reutter/
Cost
1,472,673 AED
