The 1957 Porsche 356 A Speedster was designed as an offshoot from the Porsche 356. The Speedsters were made for racing when Gullwing godfather and New York-based car dealer Max Hoffman had clients who wanted racing versions of the Porsche 356. Hoffman immediately complied, making affordable, stripped-down, minimalist cars made with racing in mind.

Enthusiasts also prefer to restore this car, as doing so is fairly straightforward and they can sometimes find experts on hand for assistance. It also helps that they were only made for three years and a limited number were made, making them even more valuable thanks to their rarity. Several Speedsters were made later, some even as concepts, but this generation was the original.

Read on to find more about the history, perks, features, and details of the 1957 Porsche 356 A Speedster.

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Background & History

The Porsche 356 A Speedster had a lot of interesting experiences in its time. Max Hoffman designed it to make a more affordable and stripped-down version of the Porsche 356 for amateur club racers. Seeing how Hoffman was heavily involved in the development of the 300 SL Gullwing and a New York-based car dealer, this was a very practical goal. The Speedster was more affordable because it was stripped down, and vice-versa.

With its more minimal design came some challenges. After all, the vehicle provided little weatherproofing, lacked side windows, and had a shorter windscreen, all in the name of making the car more lightweight. Drivers even had to tuck down in the car to look outside, allowing the top to often remain unscathed.

At the time, these Speedsters only cost $3,000, which was much cheaper than their full-size counterparts were. They are also quite rare, as only 1,171 models were made for the 1957 model year. This rarity also makes them valuable, even more than their full-size counterparts.

Wonderfully Restorable

This car is sometimes chosen by enthusiasts for restoration, as it can be quite straightforward to repair and restore. While there are other Speedsters out there, such as the 911, it is the 356 that enthusiasts love to get their hands on. Back in 1957, when Hoffman's clients wanted a stripped-down 356 for racing competition purposes, Hoffman made them the ideal vehicle with racing in mind.

There were racing-style bucket seats and the body took the form of a basic roadster, as well as a windshield that could be removed and replaced with a windscreen. The car's earliest origins actually date back to 1952, however, when the Roadsters were produced. Two years later, the first Speedsters were designed as a mix between a 356 Cabriolet and a 540 America Roadster.

Side windows were replaced with side curtains, and the convertible hood was pulled over the cockpit. Any instruments and interior fittings were at the bare minimum. It's important to keep in mind that minimalism took center stage here, as any added luxury features and extravagances would have little practicality in the racing world. New engines were developed, allowing the Speedster to reach 100 MPH and be produced in several engine sizes for three years.

After their racing tenure ended, these models would be on display at museums or acquired by collectors. One model was on display at a Porsche Club, where one enthusiast, David Harrison, noted it was for sale and acted accordingly. It was then restored by Porsche expert Jim Shuh with no expense spared, though it helped that it hadn't been long since the car's previous restoration. The trim, chassis, mechanical components, and other body parts were first in line to be restored, and they were done without any modern reproductions or used parts from other Speedsters.

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Skyrocketing In Value

The value of the Porsche 356 A Speedster has made significant jumps in recent years. This is especially true in the last 15 years, where they have become such hot commodities that the prices paid for them have appreciated exponentially. While a lot of old Porsche Speedsters are neglected, abandoned, and left in a state of disrepair, there are, as mentioned earlier, devoted enthusiasts dedicated to restoring these models.

A lot of these sales are done by private sellers and not dealerships, meaning there is little official formality in tracking trends. However, even then, the trends show an undeniable increase in appreciation from data collected during private sales. Prices range from $50,000 to $484,000 and keep in mind that most of these cars are not in working condition, even if the chassis lacks serious rust, paint flaking, or damage.

Stats & Specs

The Porsche 356 A Speedster has some notable data on its inner workings for its time. It had a four-cylinder engine that produced 81 ft-lb of torque at 2800 RPM. With a 7.5:1 compression ratio, the Speedster had two valves per cylinder and sported rear-wheel-drive. Its top speed was 100 MPH, and it featured a four-speed, manual transmission.

Other features the car sported included four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, as well as shock absorbers that had fully independent torsion-bar suspension. They also came in various colors, and of note is that only 141 models were painted black.

Sources: hagerty.com, porscheroadandrace.com, goodingco.com, rmsothebys.com,

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