ALEX MANOS
Max Hoffman’s vision of a stripped-back, more playful 356 resulted in a Porsche which delivered an individual and unique driving experience, one proving immensely popular in the years following model introduction. The Speedster would go on to prove itself a breed apart from every other vehicle being produced in post-war Europe...
During a time when an automotive manufacturer’s clients played an equally important role in the development of its cars as the in-house engineers building them, the 356 evolved rapidly — new model variants arrived annually to meet the demands and expectations of sales teams and Porsche’s growing customer base. The 356 continued its developmental journey until the point of its replacement, the 911, but during Porsche’s early, formative years, when new markets were opened and new models created to appease small, but discerning (and commercially important) groups of customers, Porsche managed to keep control of its product development strategy. Engines received more power, disc brakes were introduced and suspension was tweaked in direct response to feedback from buyers, who keenly relayed to Porsche their impressions regarding the 356 driving experience.
New York-based European sports car importer, Max Hoffman, was chief among those eager to let Ferry Porsche know about changes the Stuttgart manufacturer could be making to its cars. Recognising the need for a lightweight 356 designed specifically for the buoyant North American club racing scene, Hoffman set in motion a chain of events resulting in the 356 Speedster, a Porsche designed to enjoy weekend circuit life before returning to weekday commuting. Suffice to say, convincing Ferry to produce a lightweight production 356 for track work was a master stroke.
Sleek and comfortable, the 356 Speedster immediately ensured its place in history as one of the most visually pleasing automobiles ever produced. It’s one of the all-time great sports cars, too. I absolutely love it when one of these early Porsche drop-tops comes into stock at Beverly Hills Car Club. Those sumptuous, subtle curves — there’s nothing else quite like them!
It was in late 1954 that the 356 Speedster first appeared. Today, the car has a considerable cult following, but few know it was the first road-going Porsche to offer the Type 547 ‘Fuhrmann’ four-cam flat-four engine as an option. As I’ve just outlined, the idea for the 356 Speedster, which was essentially a stripped-down 356 Roadster with a low-profile windshield, didn’t come from Porsche itself. Rather, it was the brainchild of Max Hoffman, who was the impetus for some of the most iconic sports cars of the mid-twentieth century. Indeed, the Mercedes-benz W198 300 SL ‘Gullwing’, BMW 2002, 507 roadster, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider and many more were all Hoffman ideas. Needless to say, he was the driving force behind the introduction and promotion of MG, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-benz, Fiat, Austin-healey and others into the USA.
At his insistence, the first 356 As were sold in North America as Porsche Continentals. He desired a distinctive brand name, rather than merely a factory type number. This led to a lawsuit from Ford, maker of the Lincoln Continental. Accordingly, by 1956, the equivalent 356 was being sold as the Porsche European, but the car was expensive. The Speedster, on the other hand, was a low-cost, low-weight version of the 356 Cabriolet and sold for just under $3k. The light body helped top speed reach more than 100mph.
Sporty black leather-wrapped fibre-glass buckets replaced the standard seats, a minimal folding top was added and side windows were discarded in favour of side curtains. The Speedster featured a lightened body and special gearing, as well as a simplified dashboard, with clocks limited to a speedometer and a temperature gauge. This 356 was about as basic as was feasible, with minimal trim, including a large, two-spoke steering wheel and a floor covered in thin black carpet. The model was an immediate hit — initially, only 200 units were built, but the next year, sales grew to more than five times that figure. Ironically, the 356 Speedster, despite its lack of amenities, is now worth significantly more than the much better-equipped 356 A.
The Speedster would only be offered for sale from 1954 until 1959, after which it was replaced by the less attractively named Convertible D. General production of the 356 series continued until April 1965, overlapping 911 production by a year.
Of the 76k 356s produced, approximately half survive. Lay your hands on one — Speedster or otherwise — and you’ll be in possession of pure Porsche history. Don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help with the search!
INITIALLY, ONLY 200 UNITS WERE BUILT, BUT THE NEXT YEAR, SALES GREW TO MORE THAN FIVE TIMES THAT FIGURE