Vehicle Description
Click here to view high resolution photos
https://www.flickr.com/gp/149927902@N02/15k9C8ww0w
1958 Porsche 356A Carrera GT Speedster
VIN: 83622
• Extremely rare and desirable "Four-Cam" GS/GT Speedster
• Original matching-numbers 1500 GT engine
• Delivered new through U.S. distributor Max Hoffman
• Fully restored to the highest concours standards
• Recent mechanical freshening totaling close to $50,000, now fully
sorted
• Includes rare steel Speedster hardtop
• Includes Kardex, Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, and history
documents
Created and built from the vision of America's most prolific
importer 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. With barely over
4,000 of these built over the span of 5 years, the infallible
driving characteristics of Porsche's early roadster, along with its
fantastic styling, drove its massive surge in popularity, rooting
Porsche's foothold in the United States. 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. Some of these were even
more exotic, with only a handful of Speedsters powered by the
complex and powerful engineering marvel, Dr. Ernst F�hrmann's
"Four-cam" engine, a passion project which turned into one of
Porsche's most recognizable engines.
The powerful yet compact design by F�hrmann was a radical design
that incorporated a host of advanced engineering applications, all
in the name of being a racing powerplant. The aluminum-alloy cased,
double overhead camshafts, roller-bearing crankshaft, dry sump
lubrication, dual ignition, and a pair of distributors driven off
the intake camshafts with dual switches in the cabin to test each
individual coil. The "Four-Cam" first appeared in Porsche's
mid-engined 550 Spyders of the early 1950s. Developing
approximately 110 horsepower in race tune, nearly twice as much
power as the manufacturer's own pushrod engines of similar size,
the engines found themselves utilized heavily in the Carrera
Panamericana road races in 1953, 1954, and 1955.
The F�hrmann engine proved to be exceptionally competitive, after
winning time and time again against larger and more powerful
competitors. With this competition-proven performance, Porsche
decided to then install a de-tuned version of the racing version,
named the Type 547/1 engine (now known as the Carrera), in
road-legal Porsche 356 coupes, cabriolets, and Speedsters, dubbing
them the "GS."
This 1957 Porsche 356 Carrera 1500 GS/GT Speedster was completed on
the 23rd of July in 1957 according to the authoritative
Heinrich/Sprenger volume on Carreras, and was delivered to
luxury-importer Max Hoffman's New York dealership in "lightened"
form. Finished in Silver metallic with a black leatherette
interior, the front floor was covered with black rubber mats, and
the rear floor area was covered in "crushed black vinyl." The deep
Speedster bucket sets with aluminum frames included Beige (Perle)
corduroy inserts. The thin black canvas folding top with its bows
were completely removable. The car's factory Kardex reflects one
service carried out on October 25th, 1957 at the same
dealership.
Although the Speedster is listed in the Heinrich/Sprenger tome, its
history until the early 1980s is limited until the car was acquired
by the late noted Four-Cam authority Weldon Schogham. A bill of
sale states that Scrogham sold the car on the 28th of December in
1981 to import service shop owner Reid Vann in St. Louis, Missouri.
At the time the car did not retain its original numbers-matching
engine, number 90858, but the bill of sale interestingly included a
few handwritten notes regarding the prior owners of the correct
engine. Vann tracked down the correct engine to another individual
in an attempt to bring the correct engine home to his Speedster,
but that owner was not willing to part with the engine at the time.
Vann then reached out to the late Four-Cam expert Al Cadrobbi of
California, who supplied a series-correct and slightly later
engine, number 90869. During this time it was noted by Vann that
new floors had been installed.
On January 8th, 1988 Vann sold the Speedster to James W. "Bill"
Brown of Lincoln, Nebraska, who commissioned Joe Harris at Sanders
Antique Auto in Rockford, Illinois, to finish the metalwork and
repainting of the car as part of its restoration. Offered for sale
in 1995, the Speedster was described as restored, but with engine
number 90869. The sale included the original matching-numbers
crankcase (90858 GT), which had been acquired by Dick Koenig of the
Rocky Mountain 356 Club. Brown stated that the car had new floors,
"longitudinals", battery box, and rockers, but retained its
original panels, doors, decklid, and lightweight GT interior, among
other parts.
Dick Weiss, a long-time Ohio Valley Porsche Club of America member
and veteran 356 owner, inspected the Speedster on behalf of John
Hanning of West Chester, Ohio. Satisfied with Weiss's assessment, a
copy that is included, Mr. Hanning purchased the Speedster in 1995
and in April of 1996 commissioned extensive transaxle work.
Importantly, Weiss noted the GT equipment fitted to the car,
including the 60-millimeter ventilated brake discs, 15-inch alloy
wheels with steel centers, rear wheel spacers, and an 80-liter GT
fuel tank was retained. Weiss also noted that a replacement
transmission, number 23509, had been fitted and was rebuilt to
original specifications. Some time later, the numbers-matching
gearbox, 15632, was located, the numbers-matching engine, 90858,
was rebuilt, and the pair were reunited together with the
Speedster. Both the matching-numbers engine and transmission are
with the car today.
In 1998 the Speedster passed from Hanning to John Dixon at the Taj
Ma Garaj in Dayton, Ohio. Dixon commissioned marque specialists Die
Werkstatt in Dayton, Ohio to carry out a complete restoration that
spanned the course of 3 years, with the GT-specification engine
enjoying the expert hands of the renowned Bill Doyle at Rennwagen
in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. During his time as the Speedster's
caretaker, Dixon acquired a removable rollbar and an extremely rare
steel Speedster hardtop with a wraparound 3-window.
In 2019, the most recent caretaker acquired this Speedster in
exquisite concours-level condition, famously known for their large
collection of automobiles spanning all eras, treated this car to an
extensive amount of mechanical freshening. Speed Sport Tuning of
Danbury, Connecticut was charged with close to $50,000 of servicing
which included a professional conversion of the Four-Cam engine to
full-synthetic engine oil, as well as timing, carburetor, and brake
adjustments. To ensure that the Carrera was dialed in 100%, extra
care was given to fine tuning and improvements throughout.
Upon arrival at Canepa the Speedster was thoroughly inspected both
cosmetically and mechanically during the "Canepa Difference"
process, and was found to be in excellent condition. Regardless,
the Speedster was given concours-level detailing which included a
complete foam-pad polishing by the artisans at Canepa, enhancing
the luster of the Silver metallic paint and creating a finish
worthy of any concourse event, and sitting on correct "open"
lightweight steel-and-alloy wheels dated-coded "2-57".
Ready for its next owner, perhaps looking to top off their
collection of rare and exotic collector cars, this Speedster also
includ...for more information please contact the seller.
