Don't sleep on this one, it's going to go quick!
The Porsche 356 is considered by many enthusiasts to be one of the all-time great sports cars. Some even may consider them to be on par with the 550 Spyder and the 911 though not quite as powerful as either. As the first Porsche model, the 356 was based off of the Volkswagen Beetle which Ferry Porsche’s father designed.
By 1954, the 356 had undergone many changes and upgrades and a limited production variant dubbed the 356 Speedster was tailored by Max Hoffman to bring the roadster to the American market. Only 200 were built in its first year of production. With so much interest, production numbers jumped to more than 1,000 the following year. The 1958 model year was one of the most desirable 356 Speedster’s thanks to multiple upgrades, including a refined transaxle and steering box design. In all less than 1,500 356 Speedsters were made that year.
Bonhams is offering a prime example, 1958 Porsche 356A T2 1600 speedster. Chassis number 84140 features coachwork by Reutter, a 60-horsepower 1,582cc OHV Flat four-cylinder engine with (2) twin-choke carburetors, and a 4-speed manual transaxle. The 4-Wheel Independent Suspension and 4-Wheel Drum Brakes allow for good handling and braking characteristics, respectively.
The current owner oversaw the car's restoration. 356-expert, Roy Smalley of Eurowerks in Texas, performed most of the car’s restoration while many other reputable specialty shops helped out. Most of the original parts were repaired instead of replaced, adding to the value of this 356 Speedster. The cars show history is also noteworthy as it won the Best Porsche Award at the 2019 Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance and People's Choice Award at the 2020 Porsche Club of America North Texas Region show. This rare Porsche icon is expected to sell for at least $475,000. Bidding may even bring the price up as high as $550,000.
