Vehicle Description
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https://www.flickr.com/gp/149927902@N02/nfV18L
Fully restored by G&W Motorwerks to original specification
Large collection of detailed restoration receipts
Matching numbers engine and transmission per Porsche Certificate of
Authenticity
Complete set of authentic Rudge wheels
Has copy of original invoice, tools, spares kit, spare wheel/tire,
and jack
The final year of Speedster production
Created and built on the vision by one of America's most prolific
importers Max Hoffman, the Porsche 356 Speedster filled a void that
the clever automotive industrialist thought was lacking: a
lightweight, few frills, open top sports car. His intuition, like
many other times, proved to be correct and the Speedster was a
resounding success. Finding iconic owners such as Steve McQueen saw
the Speedster's popularity shoot into the stratosphere, and today
these low-slung 356s are some of the most sought-after variants
built by Porsche.
This 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster was completed at the Porsche
factory in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on December 6th, 1957 per the
Porsche Classic Certification. Destined for the shores of the US,
it was optioned in Silver Metallic paint with a red interior along
with U.S.-specific equipment. It was imported and then sent to
Marshall Motors, Inc. of Miami, Florida. It didn't take long for
the no-frills Speedster to sell, with airline pilot Stillman Bell
purchasing the car on March 24th, 1958 for a cool $3,143.04 per the
copy of the vehicle's original invoice.
You can imagine that a pilot used to the speeds provided by his
Douglas DC-4 aircraft would need his other transportation on the
ground to provide a similar feeling of speed. With its open top and
raked windshield along with its powerful 1,600cc engine pushing
very little weight around, the Speedster was known as a cornering
machine. Stillman owned the 356 for a few years before the car was
reportedly sold to Podney Nowakowski in April of 1962. By 1982 the
Speedster had found its way to another Florida enthusiast, John
McCoulloch of Naples, Florida. By this time the 356 had been driven
and enjoyed for quite a few miles, with the copy of the original
title reporting 97,529 miles as of November 7th, 1983. John kept
the car for 8 years, upon which William P. Blincoe III purchased it
from him on September 6th, 1990. William and his wife Nancy decided
that the Speedster should be restored, and saw that the Porsche
went through an extensive and comprehensive restoration spanning
more than 2 years.
William and Nancy approached G&W Motorwerks, a restoration
outfit located in Waynesboro, Virginia. The understanding was that
the Speedster was to be restored in the most spectacular fashion,
disregarding all cost in the pursuit of the ultimate restored
example. With its restoration finished in 1994, the results were
and still are exemplary. With a large binder of restoration
receipts that have followed the car since the completion, it is
easy to understand why the quality of this particular Speedster is
second to none. Between its concours-level paint work to the
period-correct materials and finishes, along everything else that
accompanies an award-winning restoration, a project like this today
would represent a restoration in the range of $350,000 to a
$500,000. It cannot be said enough about the quality of this 356
Speedster and how it has been preserved for the past 26 years.
During William and Nancy's ownership, the Speedster found its way
to a number of different concours events, always trailered as to
preserve its restoration. In 1994, fresh after the Speedster had
completed its restoration, the couple took the Porsche to the
annual Porsche Parade at Lake Placid. During judging among the
field of other entrants, the Speedster received a total of 288.8
points, just 1.6 points shy of being the Best-of-Show winner. With
their restoration justified after such a fantastic result on their
first entry, William and Nancy took their pride and joy back to
their home in Atlanta, Georgia.
After some time, the Speedster found a new owner who was based in
New York who kept the car in his well-curated collection. Intent on
keeping the car pristine just as William and Nancy had done, the
Porsche remained in his garage and was only driven to shows or
trailered. Authentic Rudge wheels were added to the Porsche at some
point during its lifetime, adding a subtle-yet-stylish upgrade to
the usual 5-bolt wheels. After a decade with this owner, the
Speedster made its way to a European collector who then
subsequently sold it to its most recent owner in Southern
California. After a year and a half of owning the Speedster, the
owner spoke with Bruce Canepa about if Canepa was interested in his
car. Always seeking the highest quality cars, Bruce said that it
was exactly the kind of Speedster that belongs at Canepa, and
shortly afterwards the Porsche arrived.
Each and every collector car that comes to Canepa is put through
and extensive and diligent process called the "Canepa Difference."
This includes a major and comprehensive mechanical inspection where
all systems are checked and serviced as necessary. They also
receive an award-winning concours-level detailing, a thorough
cleaning of each and every surface that ensures that every car is a
sight to behold. Finishing off with a foam-pad-only polish to
enhance the paint finish, each and every car is a perfect example
and a personification of Bruce Canepa's impeccable attention to
detail. This Speedster now is the definition of stunning, with its
fantastic restoration, authentic Rudge wheels, and with a clean
bill of mechanical and cosmetic health, it's ready for its next
owner to drive and enjoy.
Speedsters are a unique breed of Porsche. Their special low-slung
look attracted movie stars, industrial icons, and fans around the
world, all based on the vision of Max Hoffman. Without him, we
might not have these iconic Porsches running on roads today. This
fully restored example, with its supreme quality throughout, an
authentic set of Rudge wheels, a full collection of restoration
documents and copies of original documents that tell its history,
it is a knock-out of a car. With the 356 Speedster concluding
production in 1958, this is one of those final examples to grace
the roads. Opportunities don't come often to own 356 Speedsters,
let alone cars of this quality and caliber.