Vehicle Description
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.
