In the face of competition from the likes of Ferrari and its wild Testarossa, Porsche sought to lean into the era of excess with a special version of the 911. Drawing inspiration from a series of concepts, the firm unveiled its 911 Speedster—a sculpted and muscular homage to its 356 Speedster forebear—for the 1989 model year.
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of its landmark pared-back sportscar, the 911 Speedster was based on the firm’s existing 3.2 Carrera platform, sharing its 3.2-litre air-cooled flat-six powerplant and five-speed Getrag G50 transaxle. With 231 horsepower on tap and a lighter kerb-weight than its Carrera stablemate, the Speedster was a spirited performer—but its appeal lay more in its bold styling.
Though some narrow-body variants were produced, most Speedsters left
Zuffenhausen with a suite of body panels borrowed from the top-of-the-range Turbo, including front wings and rear quarter panels, in addition to its meatier forged Fuchs alloy wheels. Most striking, however, was the windscreen, which was mounted at a steeper angle than that in the Carrera, as well as being more than three inches shorter. The sleek look continued at the back of the car, which featured an aerodynamic hump that covered a storage compartment where the rear seats used to be. A roof was provided, but only as a cursory nod to practicality; in reality they were rarely used.
The example offered—chassis 173678—was completed on 21 June 1989, finished in Guards Red over a Black partial leather interior. The Porsche was specified with air conditioning, “Charleston” radio, electric seats, and a desirable limited-slip differential. Destined for the United States, it was one of just 2,104 examples build during a production run that lasted for just one year.
Chassis 173678 was delivered by Taylor Classic Motors to its first owner, based in Hillsborough, California on 5 August 1989. Little is known about the car’s early history until March 2008, when it was acquired via Victory Motorcars in Houston, Texas and became part of The Carrera Collection.
Presenting today in its factory-correct colour and interior combination, this attractive and well-specified 911 Speedster would make a nice addition to a collection. Equally, it is sure to garner plenty of attention at Porsche Club events.