Beschreibung:

1958 Porsche 356A Speedster Coachwork by Reuter Chassis no. 84294 •Iconic early Porsche model •Delivered new to New York, USA •Matching numbers •Original colour scheme •Professionally restored in 2018 Fußnoten Although Ferdinand Porsche had established his automotive design consultancy in the early 1930s, his name would not appear on a car until 1949. When it did, it graced one of the all-time great sports cars: the Porsche 356. Having commenced manufacture with a short run of aluminium-bodied cars built at Gmünd, Porsche began volume production of the steel-bodied 356 coupe at its old base in Stuttgart. The work of Ferry Porsche, the 356 was based on the Volkswagen designed by his father. Like the immortal 'Beetle', the 356 employed a platform-type chassis with rear-mounted air-cooled engine and torsion bar all-independent suspension. A cabriolet followed hot on the heels of the original 356 coupé and then in 1952 a trial batch of 15 roadsters was constructed at the behest of US importer Max Hoffman, who had persuaded Porsche of the potential for a 'cut-price' entry-level model. The roadsters' successful reception in the USA led to the introduction of the Speedster model in 1954. The Speedster's inspiration is also credited to John Von Neumann, Porsche's West Coast distributor, who had chopped down a Gmünd-built coupé in the late 1940s to create a lightweight competition car. Explaining such a car's appeal Neumann once said: "Guys want to go, on a Saturday night in June, down Sunset Boulevard with their elbow over the door and the girls can see them in the car." Plus ça change... Instantly recognisable by virtue of its low, wraparound - as opposed to V-shaped - windscreen, smaller and entirely retractable hood, lower door waistline, horizontal trim strip at the level of the door handles, and twin bucket seats - all of which served to emphasise its sporting image - the Speedster was, in effect, an 'economy' model intended to compete with the cheaper British sports cars. The Speedster was powered initially by the 1.5-litre version of Porsche's horizontally opposed four, gaining the new 1.6-litre, 60bhp engine with the introduction of the improved 356A for 1955. Priced at $2,995, the Speedster was the lightest of the 356s, enjoying a commensurate performance boost that meant over 100mph was possible. Allied to its already renowned handling characteristics, this meant that the Speedster was an instant success in the burgeoning American sports car racing scene. Its combination of style, performance and value for money made the Speedster deservedly popular - 4,822 examples being constructed between 1954 and '58 - and today this most handsome of the 356 variants enjoys iconic status. A matching-numbers 1958 model completed on 16th December 1957, this pristine example was delivered new to Max Hoffman in New York finished in Ruby Red with brown leatherette interior. The vendor purchased the Speedster two years ago in Zürich from the previous owner, who had imported it from the USA. Since then the car has been comprehensively restored, including a full engine rebuild, by Porsche Zentrum Bern, whose detailed invoices totalling CHF 41,738 are on file. Presented in quite beautiful condition, this most desirable of Porsche 356 models is offered with Certificate of Authenticity, Swiss Carte Grise and the aforementioned invoices. VAT will be payable on the Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium at the standard rate if the car remains in Switzerland. Porsche 356A Speedster 1958 Carrosserie Reutter Châssis n° 84294 •Modèle Porsche emblématique •Livrée neuve à New York, États-Unis •Numéros concordants •Couleurs d'origine •Restaurée professionnellement en 2018 Bien que Ferdinand Porsche ait fondé son bureau d'étude indépendant au début des années 1930, son nom ne devait pas apparaître sur une voiture avant 1949. Lorsque ce fut le cas, c'était sur l'une des plus importantes sportives de tous les temps, la Porsche 356. La production débuta avec une peti