From the moment the Speedster moniker first entered the Porsche lexicon in 1954, it became a byword for exclusivity, desirability, and performance. It was exactly that heritage that the Stuttgart firm tried to capitalise on when it began work on its 911 namesake in 1983.
Launched in 1989, the 911 Speedster was initially intended to be built on the incoming 964-generation 911 chassis, but eventually made use of the pre-existing 3.2 Carrera platform. Capturing the spirit of its lauded forebear, the new model featured a steeply raked and lower windscreen, with an aerodynamic rear hump covering a storage area where the rear seats used to be and a sleek cloth roof that completely changed the profile of the car.
At its heart lay the same air-cooled 3.2-litre flat-six engine shared with the Carrera, linked to a five-speed Getrag G50 transaxle. A healthy 231 horsepower was transferred to the rear wheels, which—thanks to the model’s crash diet—ensured the Speedster was as engaging to drive as it was to look at.
The bulk of production—accounting for some 1,943 examples—comprised “Turbo-look” examples with front wings, rear quarter panels, and Fuchs alloy wheels borrowed from the top-of-the-range 911. Just 161 examples of the 911 Speedster left Zuffenhausen wearing narrow-body coachwork.
Chassis 152241 is one of these rare narrow-body examples, leaving Stuttgart in June 1989 destined for Japan. It is believed to be one of just 56 examples of the 911 Speedster sold to the Japanese market, just 24 of which are understood to have been in narrow-body configuration. In addition to its rare non-Turbo-look specification, chassis 152241 was attractively finished in the ever-popular Slate Grey Metallic over a Black partial leather interior. At an unknown point the car left Japan before being purchased by the consignor from Ronny Pannhorst Sportwagen in Germany in March 2016. It is offered for sale with selected Porsche manuals, including the service book.
The Porsche 911 Speedster is a rare and desirable model, doubly so when specified in the rare narrow-body configuration. Combining perfectly with its in-vogue colour combination, this smart Speedster would hold its own in any collection covering the more special models in the 911 range.
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