1958 Porsche 356A T2 1600 Speedster, Coachwork by Reutter

1958 Porsche 356A T2 1600 Speedster
Coachwork by Reutter
Chassis no. 84036
Engine no. 67500
1,582cc OHV Flat 4-Cylinder Engine
2 Twin-choke Carburetors
60bhp at 4,500rpm
4-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Matching numbers example in the factory livery of Meissen Blue over Black
*Just 3 owners from - second owner for over 50 years
*Desirable fully-evolved T2 Speedster
*Accompanies by Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, tools and records

THE PORSCHE 356 SPEEDSTER

Although Ferdinand Porsche established his automotive design consultancy in the early 1930s, his name would not appear on a car until 1949. When it did, it graced one of the all-time great sports cars, the Porsche 356. Having commenced manufacture with a short run of aluminum-bodied cars built at Gmünd, Porsche began volume production of the steel-bodied 356 Coupe at its old base in Stuttgart. The 356, the work of Ferry Porsche, was based on the Volkswagen designed by his father. Like the immortal "Beetle", the 356 employed a platform-type chassis with rear-mounted air-cooled engine and torsion bar all-independent suspension. In 1951, a works car finished first in the 1,100cc class at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race, thus beginning the marque's long and illustrious association with La Sarthe.

Constant development saw: the 356's engine enlarged first to 1.3 and then to 1.5 liters, the original split windscreen replaced by a one-piece, and a Porsche synchromesh gearbox adopted. A cabriolet followed hot on the heels of the original 356 Coupe. Then, in 1952, a trial batch of fifteen roadsters were constructed at the behest of US importer Max Hoffman, who had persuaded Porsche of the potential for a "cut-price" entry-level model. The roadster's successful reception in the USA led to the introduction of the Speedster model in 1954. The Speedster's inspiration is also credited to John von Neumann, Porsche's West Coast distributor. Neumann chopped down a Gmünd-built Coupe in the late 1940s to create a lightweight competition car. Explaining such a car's appeal Neumann declared, "Guys want to go, on a Saturday night in June, down Sunset Boulevard with their elbow over the door and the girls can see them in the car." Plus ça change ...

Instantly recognizable by virtue of its low, wraparound—as opposed to V-shaped—windscreen, smaller and entirely retractable hood, lower door waistline, horizontal trim strip at the level of the door handles, and twin bucket seats—all of which served to emphasize its sporting image—the Speedster was, in effect, an "economy" model intended to compete with the cheaper British sports cars. Initially, the Speedster was powered by the 1.5-litre version of Porsche's horizontally opposed four, gaining the new 1.6-liter, 60bhp engine with the introduction of the improved 356A for 1955. In the optional and rare Super tune, the Speedster put out a good 75bhp; 25% more than the standard 1.6-liter motor. Priced at $2,995, the Speedster was the lightest of the 356s, enjoying a commensurate performance boost that meant over 100mph was possible. Allied to its already renowned handling characteristics, this meant that the Speedster was an instant success in the burgeoning American sports car racing scene.

In 1956, Road & Track magazine announced the Speedster alongside its Coupe sibling as, "A more comfortable sports car for long, high-speed journeys would be very hard to find, and certainly no other car achieves the combination of comfort, performance and fuel economy of the Porsche Continental Speedster or Coupe." Its combination of style, performance and value for money made the Speedster deservedly popular—4,822 examples being constructed between 1954 and '58—and today this suberbly handsome of the 356 variants warrants iconic status.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

At Porsche's Zuffenhausen-based plant, in October of 1957 (as a 1958 model-year car), Speedster chassis no. 84036 was completed in one of the first months of the upgraded T2 production run—the final and fully evolved 356A model. This sporting and lithe Speedster was finished from new as it appears today, in the beautiful era-evoking Meissen Blau color (5703). Moreover, the Speedster bucket seats are trimmed in black and the carpets laid in the light "oatmeal" color. Speedster 84036 was equipped for the US market; fitted with fog lights and US-type bumpers, undoubtedly a miles-per-hour speedometer, and sealed beam headlights.

The car's first owner was a Californian, who retained the car for roughly two years, before selling it in 1960. Fond of the Meissen Blue Speedster, the second owner—also a California based Porsche collector—preserved the car for over 50 years! A Porsche club article was written about this family's ownership of this car, and other treasured Porsches in their collection. A concours-quality restoration was performed and finished in 2012. During this time, a bare-metal refinishing of the original Reutter-built body was carried out, resulting in great panel fit and finish. The original matching numbers engine was rebuilt to factory specifications, including new plating and powder coating of shields and shrouds. The undercarriage, suspension, and brake systems were beautifully and accurately finished throughout, including the correct undercoating and fitment of refurbished Koni shock absorbers. The original bumpers and brightwork and interior and engine compartment was restored to the same level of quality as the rest of the car. Speedster 84036 was purchased by the consignor in 2012, settling into his impressive Texas-based collection of rare European Sportscars. This spectacular specimen of the final-year T-2 Speedster is accompanied by the Porsche-issued Certificate of Authenticity, photographic restoration records and owner's notebook (dating to the 1970s), and an original tool kit—probably the kit the car was delivered with. Retaining its matching number engine, and stunningly finished in its as-delivered factory Meissen Blue exterior color, this long-time California Speedster deserves serious consideration.