1956 Porsche 356A SUPER Speedster VIN 82834

Completed December 14, 1956

Hard to believe, this Speedster left the Porsche factory 61.5 years ago. Very desirable T1 beehive Speedster, numbers-matching 1600 S Speedster (Super Speedster) with Porsche Kardex & Certificate of Authenticity. Only 451 1600 Super Speedsters were built out of 4,577 from 1954 to 1959. Beautifully restored with perfect paint and a correct German interior. Finished in one of the best classic color combinations: Black with Red Wine interior, oatmeal carpets, black canvas boot & soft top. Fully detailed front trunk compartment, engine bay, suspension & undercarriage. Ready to show at your local concours or drive and enjoy on the weekends. It truly does not get much better than this 356!

75 horsepower, 1,582cc OHV air-cooled horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine with dual Zenith carburetors, four-speed manual 644 transmission, independent front suspension with laminated torsion bars, parallel trailing arms, and tubular shock absorbers, independent rear swing axles with torsion bars and tubular shock absorbers, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 82.7 in.

Porsche has the Speedster to thank for their success in the United States. Without this little convertible, it could be argued that Porsche sales might not have ever taken off in the fiercely competitive U.S. market. The car's low-slung and focused looks appealed to sports car enthusiasts and its price of just under $3,000 definitely helped to get Speedsters off the showroom floors and out onto the open road. Boasting few creature comforts but excellent driving characteristics, it helped cement Porsche's reputation in the United States and earned it a hugely desirable portion of the sports car market at a time when the motto of most British marques was “export or die.”

The Speedster holds a special place in Porsche history, not only as a sales success but also as an icon of minimalist automotive design. It remains a beloved vehicle today, and a well-restored and properly maintained Speedster, such as this example, is on the wish list of nearly every car enthusiast the world over. This status has also contributed to a meteoric rise in desirability for these cars, as they lead the charge for all 356s and 911s that are gaining momentum in the marketplace. Simply put, no important collection would be complete without a proper Speedster, as it is an equal in automotive design and history as the California Spider and 300 SL, but it further benefits from practicality and ease of use, which makes it as perfect for running errands as handling twisty mountain roads. Motoring enthusiasts new to the classic car world are well served to acquire a “blue chip” Porsche such as this.