Vehicle Description
1957 Porsche 356A T1 Super Speedster
• VIN 83401
• Engine No. 80880
• Transmission No. 14630 - Matching
• Completed on May 24, 1957
• Cosmetic and mechanical restoration was completed in 2014
Single-family ownership for over 54 years with California black
plates. According to the Porsche Kardex, this Speedster was
imported by Hoffman Motors to New York and was originally finished
in Red with a Beige leatherette interior. Special ordered with a
factory Super 1600cc engine No. 81017 and equipped with U.S.
bumpers and sealed beam headlights.
The earliest recorded history on file begins with a registration
card from 1967 where the past owner is recorded from Covina,
California. Registration cards on file track ownership from
1967-2021. Since 1967 the vehicle was stored in Southern California
where it was driven and maintained for nearly three decades. While
in California, this Speedster was serviced by Competition
Engineering, and any parts were purchased from Stoddard.
By 1999, the Speedster was relocated to Princeton, Massachusetts
where it was driven sparingly. After decades of enjoyment, the
decision was made to restore the Speedster, a bare metal rotisserie
restoration was performed by Paul Russel & Company in Essex,
Massachusetts. The restoration commenced in 2011 and over $150,000
was spent. During the restoration the entire chassis was stripped
to steel, metal finished, sealed, primed, prepped, and painted in
Signal Red. All the panels were pre-fit including the bumpers,
overrider bars, windshield frame, and the soft top frame to ensure
the absolute best result. All the chrome was triple plated, and all
of the components were restored or replaced. The undercarriage was
stripped to steel and undercoated along with the engine bay and the
front trunk. All the electrical and mechanical components were
repaired as necessary using OEM or NOS parts. The Speedster was
fitted with new rubber and aluminum trim during the reassembly. The
upholstery work includes recovering the dash and front seats in
leather with oatmeal German square weave carpets and black rubber
mats.
A cosmetic and mechanical restoration was completed in 2014. The
paintwork shows beautifully with a very nice fit and finish.
Exterior brightwork, aluminum trim, rubber, and glass are all in
remarkable condition. The upholstery is in great overall condition
with a Les Leston wooden steering wheel, VDO instrumentation, and
two-point lap belts. The Lemmerz silver painted wheels are date
coded 3/58 and fitted to Michelin XZX 165 SR15 tires. The
undercarriage is very nicely detailed including the suspension.
Mechanically powered by a period correct 1600cc Super engine (Type
1600 S) with a 4-speed manual transmission (Type 644) and 4-wheel
drum braking system. The engine presents exceptionally well with
fresh CAD plate and the engine tin has been powder coated. Complete
with a full tonneau cover, Porsche build sheet, photo documentation
of the restoration, and 54 years of service records. A rare
opportunity to acquire a well-documented and cared-for
Speedster.
Specification
• 75 horsepower - 1600cc Super
• 1,582cc OHV air-cooled horizontally opposed four-cylinder
engine
• Dual 32 Zenith carburetors
• Four-speed manual 644 transmission
• Independent front suspension with laminated torsion bars
• Parallel trailing arms
• Tubular shock absorbers
• Independent rear swing axles with torsion bars and tubular shock
absorbers
• Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes
• Wheelbase: 82.7 in