Modern Speedster
When West Coaster Johnny Von Newman went to the mighty Max Hoffman and asked him for an inexpensive bare-bones open sports car, something for sun and fun. Max got him something special. In late 1954 max introduced America to the 356 Speedster.
A stripped down low price sports car. It could be driven to the track, raced, then driven home.
The Speedster was under $3,000.00 new and was the most minimalist Porsche to date. And now it is one of the most valuable 356s around.
So did lightning strike twice in 1989? Let’s have a look shall we?
The first working prototype was finished in 1986. it was known as the “Schutz” Speedster. Named after Peter schutz who spearheaded the creation of the car. At the time it was basically a cabriolet with flared fenders no top or tonneau and a 20cm windshield .
At the same time Helmut Bott was working on his own version of a modern Speedster.It also had a very low windsheild. The major difference was Bott’s creation had additional glass that carried around the sides and ending at solid tonneau cover.
Schutz drove his version for several months and made the decision to green light the modern Speedster.
In October of 1987 the first Speedster was on exhibition at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Prototype almost didn’t make its grand debut. But dedicated Porsche staff worked countless hours right up tho the Sunday before the show, so the new car could have its moment under the lights. The prototype was shown with the standard narrow body style.
The year following it’s introduction Porsche importers saw the real-deal Speedster.
Supries!
It now was packing the “Turbo look” option, less the Whale Tail. It now had a much more aggressive look. This would make the Speedster a more attractive beast to the American market.
European importers already had orders for the narrow bodied cars. Not feeling they could sell the new version, a narrow bodied Speedster was sold exclusively in Austria, Belgium, Holland Sweden and Switzerland.
The run was to be just over 2000 cars. Porsche was able to utilize the last of it’s cabriolets to create the new Speedster as it was gearing up for the all new 964.
Like it’s 356 older brother the 911 Speedster made attempts to save weight. Most of the savings came from the removal of the rear occasional seats.Otherwise the interior was very similar to a late 80s coupe or cab. Owners did have to put up with having to raise and lower their windows by hand, but they did have windows! AC was also an option.
You are in a familiar place getting into the Speedster, you just didn’t have to duck quit so low as climbing into a coupe. Other then the low raked windshield and gobs of sky above you, you are at home. Everything is where it should be, key to the left of the steering wheel and the VDO tachometer dead center in one of cardoms most simple and elegant layouts.
Porsche had hit a peak in this period. A bullet proof 3.2 air-cooled motor attached to a most marvelous G-50 gearbox. This is a true drivers car. It doesn’t shout 80s excess. It lets you know it’s a Porsche, “nuff said.”
You may feel a little body shudder over bumps, but you are not going to hold that against such a wonderful machine. it takes you through corners on those many times mentioned “rails.” And when you put your foot down hard, the lack of the steel above your head allows you to fully enjoy the sound of angry demons being run through a meat grinder, or in other words that wonderful Porsche scream. It’s a sound you wont get tired of and the Speedster can be driven for hours and the only thing that will be sore is your face from all the smiles and maniacal laughter that the Speedster inspires from you.
Get yourself a warm day, a tank of premium octane, slap a mix tape into the period Becker cassette player and drive the wheels off this sucker! Life couldn’t get much better.
If I take a reciprocating saw to the roof of my coupe, it’s all Bob Torre’s fault for letting me drive his car!
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