Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster

What the America Roadster achieved was the notion that a car of this type could be a sales success if it could be built to a price. By 1953, Max Hoffman and John Von Neumann pushed Porsche to begin a new, price-conscious project Type 540 – ultimately called “Speedster.” It was a simple car, just as requested. A tachometer was not standard equipment, neither was a heater or roll-up windows. Sun visors and padded seats were optional. When it ultimately retailed at Max Hoffman’s Manhattan showroom for $2,995 the 356 Speedster was the sales success that Porsche dreamed of, especially on the West Coast where it became a boulevard race car for some and a class-winning SCCA race car for others.

According to a digital copy of its Kardex, this 1956 356 “Pre-A” Speedster, chassis number 81154, was completed in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on 13 December 1955 and destined for the United States. Like most early U.S.-delivery Speedsters it was imported through Max Hoffman’s network and this example was originally finished in Aquamarine Blue Metallic over a Beige Kunstleder interior. It was fitted with a Type 616/1 1,600 cc engine and a Type 519 four-speed transmission with BBAB (H5) gears. It was sparsely optioned from the factory, with its Kardex noting its U.S.-specification sealed-beam headlights and speedometer scale in miles.

This pre-A Speedster’s history file first places it in Brookfield, Ohio at A.W. Davis Inc., a Volkswagen dealership in the summer of 1963. While there, it caught the attention of Joseph Mahony of nearby Masury. Mahony received an impressive machine for his $830 and if that wasn’t enough, the dealership cleaned the carburetor jets, balanced them, adjusted the idle mixture, and set the timing for an additional $2! Charles Martin acquired the car from Mahony in May of 1966 and in November 1967, sold it to David Wilcox, who would keep it for an impressive 27 years. In 1994, it joined its second long-term owner, Larry Abel of Pennsylvania, who chose to embark on the complete restoration of this matching-numbers Pre-A Speedster to return it to a condition it had not seen in decades. Quite remarkably, the restoration began with a matching-numbers Speedster that retained many original body panels including its hood, engine lid, and both doors. Furthermore, it is noted that it retains solid, straight floors – a rarity among early Speedsters! The history file includes numerous, charming “as found” photographs of the Speedster in red paint with additional photos taken during its comprehensive restoration. Abel chose to restore the Pre-A in a new color, non-metallic black, and elected to retain the original Beige interior color with oatmeal carpeting. When completed, the Abels now had a vintage 356 Speedster, one of the most recognizable, collectible Porsches to date, ready for numerous prestigious touring events throughout the world, including Mille Miglia, Colorado Grand, California Mille, and others.

Most recently, in 2023 it has undergone a major mechanical service including the restoration of its original transmission by the marque specialists at 356 Enterprises. Its matching-numbers Type 616/1 engine received a rebuild of its Wolfsburg West dual port carburetors, a valve adjustment, as well as new gaskets and fluids while the braking system saw an overhaul with new master cylinders, wheel cylinders, and brake hoses. This was followed by a full top-to-bottom detail with a dry ice cleaning of the undercarriage. To complete the work, all four wheels and the trunk-mounted spare were fitted with Michelin XZX tires and Michelin tubes.

Rare is the opportunity to find a correct and well-sorted matching-numbers Pre-A 356 Speedster. This example, one of the very last Pre-A’s constructed, is just that, noted by the consignor to feature excellent driving characteristics with a solid, tight feel. A charming Speedster worthy of serious attention, chassis number 81154 is offered with a driver’s manual in folder, jack, spare tire with leather strap, boot cover, its original side curtains, and a pair of Solex carburetors.