Porsche 356 A T1 1600 - Lot 17

Porsche 356 A T1 1600 Speedster 1956 Chassis no. 82487 Spanish registration title Spanish registration title Among the most collectible 356s, the Speedster occupies a special place in the Porsche world. Immediately recognizable by its low, wraparound windshield, discreet soft top, lowered beltline and two bucket seats, the Speedster was in fact an "economy" version designed to compete with British sports cars. Although its concept originated with von Neumann, it was East Coast distributor Max Hoffman who convinced Porsche that American buyers would be very interested. Initially offered with a 1500 cm³ flat engine, it received a new 1600 engine with the arrival of the 356 A in 1955. Priced at $2,995, the Speedster was the lightest of the 356 models, with a performance boost that allowed it to reach 160 km/h. Thanks to its exceptional handling, it immediately became a benchmark in the burgeoning American motor racing scene. Combining style, performance and value for money, the Speedster became an iconic model. A fact still firmly anchored in the minds of collectors. Our example is one of the first models equipped with a 1,582 cm flat 4-cylinder engine with overhead camshafts. engine developing 60 hp at 4,500 rpm; the engine, no. P63303, is well-matched. Purchased over thirty-five years ago in the USA, its owner initially kept it there to enjoy it on his many business trips across the Atlantic. It was not until the early 2000s that he repatriated the car to Switzerland, before registering it at the address of his holiday home in northern Spain in August 2005. Still very well preserved in an important collection, our example was cared for by the owner's regular mechanic and by Porsche specialist Nou Onze in Barcelona. Immediately perceptible on close examination of the car, original parts were preserved and restored wherever possible, and where replacement was necessary, new period parts were preferred to modern spares. The engine cover is the original one, as is the front hood bearing the number 487. In this black (original Signal Red) color, with beige leather interior and oatmeal-colored floor mats, this Speedster rests on restored 15-inch wheels, correctly dated and fitted with Michelin XZX tires that should be replaced. Serviced just prior to the sale, this 356 Speedster is an unmissable opportunity to discover one of the most iconic cars of the 1950s, if not the most coveted 356 among collectors. Among the most collected 356 models, the Speedster holds a special place in the Porsche universe. Instantly recognizable by its low, wraparound windshield, discreet soft top, lowered beltline, and two bucket seats, the Speedster was originally conceived as a "budget" version aimed at competing with British sports cars. While the concept came from von Neumann, it was East Coast distributor Max Hoffman who convinced Porsche that American buyers would be strongly interested. Initially offered with a 1500 cc flat engine, it received a new 1600 cc engine with the arrival of the 356 A starting in 1955. Priced at $2,995, the Speedster was the lightest of all 356 models, with a performance boost that allowed it to reach 160 km/h (100 mph). Thanks to its exceptional handling, it quickly became a benchmark in the emerging American motorsport scene. Combining style, performance, and value, the Speedster established itself as an iconic model - a status that remains deeply rooted in the minds of collectors. Our example is one of the early models equipped with the 1582 cc OHC flat-four engine, producing 60 hp at 4,500 rpm; the engine, number P63303, is indeed matching. Purchased over thirty-five years ago in the United States, the owner initially kept the car there to enjoy it during his frequent business trips across the Atlantic. It wasn't until the early 2000s that he repatriated the car to Switzerland, before registering it at his secondary residence in northern Spain in August 2005. Always well preserved as part of a major collection, this example has received meticulous care, either from the owner's personal mechanic or the renowned Porsche specialist Nou Onze in Barcelona. A close inspection of the car reveals that original parts were retained and restored whenever possible, and when replacements were necessary, period-correct parts were favored over modern reproductions.