• Year of manufacture 
    1956
  • Car type 
    Other
  • Lot number 
    269
  • Reference number 
    MO22_r0119
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Location
    United States
  • Exterior colour 
    Black

Description

  • Offered from the Terence E. Adderley Collection
  • Among the most famous, and treasured, sports car designs of all time
  • Beautiful restoration in excellent colors
  • Accompanied by Kardex copy

The word “iconic” is oft overused, but it certainly applies to the 356 Speedster, one of the most famous Porsches and inarguably one of the most significant, recognizable sports cars ever produced.

Like many famous performance machines of its time, the Speedster was essentially willed into being by the powerful New York-based foreign car impresario, Max Hoffman, who convinced Porsche’s powers-that-be that a convertible with bare-bones appointments, sold at a low cost, would appeal to American buyers. He was right, and the Speedster achieved tremendous success—not only in the US, but in Europe as well, and on both road and track. It was steadily upgraded, with the 356 A offering a larger 1600 engine, offering 75 brake horsepower in optional Super tune. In such a car, 100 mph was possible, a real experience with the Speedster’s rudimentary “emergency” top and extremely low windshield!

The Speedster offered here is an especially rare version, delivered new in Aquamarine Blue with the desirable and potent 1600 Super engine, chrome wheels, and the more comfortable and livable coupe seats, via the distributor in Munich. It eventually moved to the United States and in the early 2000s was restored to the present color scheme, black with a rich dark red interior, after which it was well-maintained until joining the Adderley Collection in 2012. With sport exhaust, nerf bar bumpers, and the correct Super hubcaps, it has a superb, purposeful appearance. Note that this car’s engine was replaced in period, as recorded in the Kardex copy on file. Its presently fitted unit, which has been re-stamped to match the numbers of the original-delivery engine, is of a later date but the correct displacement.

This is a wonderful example of the famed 356 Speedster, with a potent Super engine and marvelous presentation sure to endear it to any Porsche enthusiast.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo22.


RM Sotheby's
5 Heron Square
Richmond
TW9 1EL
United Kingdom
Contact Person Kontaktperson
Title 
Mr
First name 
Augustin
Last name 
Sabatie-Garat

Phone 
+44-2078517070