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| Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster by Reutter 1958 |
Porsche’s 356 Speedster was designed specifically for the American market in order to offer enthusiasts a simpler, more affordable option to their standard offering, and it has long been considered one of the most iconic and desirable collector cars ever produced. The Speedster was originally conceived by noted Porsche dealer and European car importer Max Hoffman, and it proved to be a huge success, as it was able to successfully convince the American market that, in terms of a sports car, less is indeed more.
In an effort to save weight, the Speedster was fitted with simple bucket seats, the side windows were removed and replaced with a pair of side curtains, a less cumbersome convertible top was fitted, and a raked windshield that could be removed for racing was added. These weight-saving measures translated into improved performance, which was just what the American market was looking for. At the same time, the Speedster was priced at just $2,995, which was considerably lower than the standard 356 Cabriolet.
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| Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster by Reutter 1958 |
Porsche tasked Reutter & Co., of Stuttgart, Germany, with supplying the bodies and also assisting with engineering, for economical purposes. While early Speedsters were fitted with the 1.5-liter engine, the introduction of the 356 A for the 1956 model year brought about a larger and slightly more powerful 1.6-liter engine. Just shy of 4,300 examples were produced between 1954 and 1958, before production was phased out in favor of the Drauz-built Cabriolet D, and high-quality examples such as the one offered here are always in demand.
The car shown here, chassis 84100, was built in 1958, the 356 A Speedster’s final year of production, and according to its Certificate of Authenticity, it was originally finished in its current shade of Meissen Blue. This example was fitted with sealed-beam headlamps, U.S.-specification bumpers, and a 60-horsepower Type 616/1 engine bearing number 67644, and like many Speedsters, it was destined for export to the United States.
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| Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster by Reutter 1958 |
By 2003, the car had arrived in Chicago, after allegedly spending the majority of its life in California. At that time, the car received a minor service and was driven sparingly and maintained as necessary, while an additional, more comprehensive service was performed seven years ago, for just under $7,000.
From 2009 to 2010, the car was treated to a full cosmetic restoration by Porsche specialists located in Chicago. At this time, the body was stripped down to bare metal in order to allow for a full repaint in its original shade of Meissen Blue. The bucket seats were upholstered in black leather and are perfectly offset by cream-colored carpets in the cockpit.
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| Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster by Reutter 1958 |
Following the cosmetic restoration, the car’s matching-numbers engine was overhauled by noted Porsche specialists at Beck’s European in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2011. Beck’s European also took the time to service the braking system and perform several other minor repairs to make sure that the car’s mechanical condition was to the same incredible standard as the car’s interior and exterior. Receipts from this service total to nearly $10,000.
For their inherently simple nature, incredible looks, and driving characteristics, the 356 Speedster is considered by many to be the most desirable body style of Porsche’s iconic 356. There is no doubt that this Speedster, finished in its correct and highly attractive shade of Meissen Blue, will only receive the most favorable of comments when out and about.
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