Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster

The vehicle in detail

1957 356 Speedster T1 A by Reutter

Cabriolets had been manufactured right from the start of 356 production, but the first open Porsche to make a significant impact was the Speedster, introduced in 1954 following the successful reception in the USA of a batch of 15 special roadsters. The Speedster was dropped in 1958 and replaced by the more civilised Convertible D, which differed principally by virtue of its larger windscreen and winding side windows. Porsche sub-contracted cabriolet body construction to a number of different coachbuilders including Drauz of Heilbronn, d’Ieteren of Brussels and, of course, Reutter. By the time the 356B arrived in September 1959, the car had gained a one-piece rounded windscreen and 15″-diameter wheels, and the newcomer’s introduction brought with it further styling revisions and an engine now standardised at 1,600cc.

In late 1955, with numerous small but significant changes, the 356A was introduced. Its internal factory designation, “Type 1”, gave rise to its nickname “T1” among enthusiasts. In early 1957 a second revision of the 356A was produced, known as Type 2 (or T2). Production of the Speedster peaked at 1,171 cars in 1957 and then started to decline.

That low curb weight was a major part of the Speedster’s appeal; Speedsters were quickly recognized as a great platform for amateur racing and hill climbs in the U.S. and Europe. They were easy to prepare; drive to the track, unbolt the windscreen, pull off the hubcaps, pump up the tires, empty the front luggage bay, tape over all the lights and stick painted or taped numbers on the nose, tail and flanks. Rollbars were soon required, which meant that some Speedsters so-equipped could only be driven without their low-profile folding tops erected.

This 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster was delivered in America. It was purchased by the current owner in 2016 and appraised with 57053 miles on the speedometer at the time.

Now almost 8 years later the Speedster only shows only 9 more miles on the Tach.

The Speedster is road registered in Germany and is ready for the next twisty road.