Porsche 356 A 1500 Speedster - 1955

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Model history and curiosity

The idea of a Speedster version of the bodywork was born overseas. The brilliant Max Hoffmann, (he was also responsible for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider and Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster) Porsche importer for the American East coast, asked for a cheaper open-top version of the overpriced 356 America Roadster. For the customers he intended to address, something more basic and economical was needed, he wanted to offer them an uncompromising sports car for less than 3000 dollars of the time, about half the price of a contemporary convertible. At Porsche they gave in when pressure from Hoffmann was added to that of John von Neumann, Porsche importer for the West Coast.

Porsche 356 Pre A Speedster
Starting from the 356, the technicians developed a 2-seater without eliminating the rear seats and excess mouldings. They fitted a low wraparound windscreen, an oddly shaped soft top, transparent acetate windows, chrome strips along the entire side that passed neatly through the door handles, lighter and more enveloping seats and a simplified dashboard with just three VDO dials behind the steering wheel. There were only 3 colors available; white, red or pastel blue. The gear ratios were shortened and combined with the 50 HP 1500 or 70 HP 1500 S engines.

Thus lightened, the car had very reactive dynamic behavior and searing acceleration that customers liked very much. It was a car to be used every day and on weekends, taking everything away, going to race and also, often, to win. Hoffmann's gamble had also been won when in 1955 requests arrived in Zuffenhausen and it was adapted to the T1 and T2 specifications and the choice of colors and engines was expanded with the 1600 and the twin cam Carreras.

James Dean in a Speedster
It was so regretted when in 1958 Porsche stopped producing it in favor of the more luxurious cabriolets after more than 4000 examples produced in about 4 years that replicas immediately began to circulate. More or less beautiful, many used the floor of a banal Beetle with a fiberglass body to experience similar sensations, moreover at a much lower price.

It also had a successful film career after James Dean (who drove a white 1500S as much as possible), like other young Californians, fell madly in love with it. He appeared in numerous successful films and TV series such as Detective's Story (1966) with Paul Newman; very often it was replicas who "acted", as in Top Gun (1986) alongside Kelly McGillis.