Introduced in late 1954, the Porsche 356 Speedster was a true dual-purpose sports car – one that could serve as both daily transportation and, with minor modifications, a successful weekend race car.
Originally priced at $2,995 – well below Porsche’s Coupe and Cabriolet models – the Speedster was equipped with a stylish, cut-down windscreen, racy bucket seats, minimal folding soft top, and side curtains in place of standard roll-up windows. These features reduced the car’s weight and made it ideally suited to competition use. It was not long before the 356 Speedster established itself as a dominant force in sports car racing.
With its competition record, brilliant driving dynamics, and quality build, the Speedster was a favorite among sports car enthusiasts – particularly in California, where top-down motoring was possible almost every day of the year. The fact that celebrities such as James Dean and Steve McQueen owned Speedsters contributed greatly to the model’s iconoclastic image.
According to the accompanying copy of its Porsche Kardex, this 356 A Speedster, chassis 83955, was completed on October 18, 1957. Originally finished in Elfenbein (Ivory, Code 704) and equipped with US-specification equipment, this Porsche was delivered new to official North American distributor Hoffman Motors of New York.
Little is known of the Speedster’s early history, but by the mid-1970s it had apparently made its way to California, where it was repainted silver and sold to Frederick Myeron of Orangevale. He registered the car on vanity plates reading “FM356A.” The car remained in his ownership for at least 25 years before its recent sale to the consignor.
Parked in static storage for decades and presented today in as-found, unrestored condition, this highly sought-after 1957 356 A Speedster is a prime candidate for a complete concours-quality restoration.
An accompanying copy of the Porsche Kardex confirms that the Speedster’s engine is the original matching-number unit (no. 67384) and notes a replacement transaxle fitted in 1963. Additionally, the hood and deck lid are stamped with the last digit or digits of the chassis number and the car’s factory data tags are visible in the driver’s door jamb and front compartment. There is corrosion apparent in the battery box, floor pan, and lower sections of the body. It is accompanied by a selection of additional wheels and the soft top frame.
Today, the Porsche possesses the charm of a bygone era thanks to its period, fiberglass hardtop, club badges, coupe seats, headlight stone guards, and 1970s-era California blue-and-yellow license plates. An exciting, fresh-to-market restoration project, this 356 A Speedster has a bright future ahead.
*Please note that this vehicle is titled by its engine number. Please also note that the VIN listed on the title contains a typographical error; the second to last character of the VIN is listed as a “6”, but is in fact an “8”. Please also note that this vehicle has been in long-term static storage and may not be currently operational. It will require mechanical attention prior to road use.
1956 
