1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster

Porsche’s remarkable 356 put the Zuffenhausen Company firmly on the automotive map in the 1950s, with Dr Ferdinand’s original design - a somewhat basic sports car closely based on Volkswagen’s Beetle - evolving into a technically advanced, beautifully resolved machine over a production life spanning more than 15 years.  The earliest 356s were powered by a Volkswagen-derived flat-four displacing 1068cc and rated at 40hp, but the 1300cc engine became an option from 1951 onwards. 

In 1952, the body was refined with a one-piece windscreen (bent in the middle) and revised bumpers, while a new 1488cc engine became available with a roller-bearing crankshaft, twin Solex carburettors and a handy 60bhp on tap.  Other improvements included duplex front brakes, a rear parcel shelf and revised instrumentation (the tacho became standard).  Stronger brakes, full synchromesh gearboxes across the range and a new two-spoke steering wheel appeared in 1953 and two new 1500cc engines were introduced, the 55bhp standard unit and the 70bhp 'Super'. 

Sold in Coupé, Cabriolet and Speedster variants, the so-called ‘Pre-A’ 356 is highly prized amongst collectors for its rarity and purity of design. Built at the instigation of Porsche’s North American distributor, Max Hoffman, the original Speedster was a stripped down, open-topped version of the 356 and became very successful in North America as a dual-purpose sports car, proving popular with amateur racing drivers competing in SCCA events.  Porsche built approximately 920 Pre-A Speedsters before adopting the new Type 616/1 and 616/2 engines in October 1955 and a total of 1,234 Pre-A cars were made prior to the official introduction of the 356A in January 1956. 

The left-hand drive Speedster we have on offer here is an early one, indeed it’s the 347th car produced and the accompanying Kardex card confirms that it was completed on 3rd March 1955 prior to being delivered to Hoffman’s in New York City.

Little is known about the car's early history although it has been enjoyed by its current owner for more than 20 years in Monaco. Recently, it's been looked after by award-winning Porsche restorers, Sportwagen in Southend as well as JAZ Porsche and recent attention includes a minor service with the relevant documentation on file.

Sitting on a set of the desirable and valuable Rudge knock-off alloy wheels, the 356 is now attractively finished in Dunkelblau with a grey leatherette interior. The original colour was Signal Red according to the Kardex and additionally the Speedster now also boasts a more powerful 1600 cc engine.

Overall, this is a car to use and enjoy, it's one for a driving enthusiast. If you’re after a matching numbers, Concours restoration with history from new, then this car is perhaps not for you, however, if you’re in the market for a highly usable example that you could still be proud to own and is priced very competitively, then this cracking little Speedster may well be worth the effort to come and see it in the metal at our NEC sale and investigate a bit further.

Thanks in part to its association with glamorous film stars like James Dean and Steve McQueen, the 356 Speedster has always been a very desirable Porsche and any Pre-A version ranks amongst the most collectable Porsches of all, with a cult following that shows no signs of waning.