1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster

We’ve shown quite a few 911 Speedsters over the past few months, either in the guise of the 3.2 Carrera or the 964 Carrera 2, but I cannot recall the last time we featured the original, the car those 911s were intended to recreate in spirit: the 356 Speedster. Here we have one of those rare examples: an Aquamarine Metallic 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster. Released in 1954 the first Speedsters were quite a success, though the overall run would be short-lived as interest waned and the Speedster was replaced in 1958 with the Convertible D, followed by the 356 Roadster. With a spartan interior, minimalist top, and removable windscreen the Speedster was intended to appeal to weekend racers and those who wanted a no-frills, lower-cost, Porsche and during those initial years that’s exactly what it did, especially in the sunny environs of California. The short life the model lived has made the 356 Speedster a highly sought after collectible with the earliest examples being particularly noteworthy. Because we come across them so rarely they are almost always worth our attention.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster on eBay

Year: 1955
Model: 356 Speedster
Engine: 1.7 liter flat-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 99,999 mi
Price: $295,000 Buy It Now

1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster

Completely Restored, 200 Miles since Engine Rebuild, Period Correct 1500 Long Block Included

We are proud to offer for sale this 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster. The car has been completely and comprehensively restored over a period of two years beginning in late 2011, when the car was entrusted to experts at Better Bodys Antique & Classic Car Restoration in Edgewater, FL. The first step in the restoration was to completely disassemble the vehicle and media-blast it down to bare metal. The car was found to be in very good structural condition and little repair work was needed. All panels were replaced and refitted, and the car received excellent paint prep, eventually receiving a new coat of striking Aquamarine Metallic paint (5607). During this time, almost all chrome and exterior trim was replaced with OE parts. Any items not replaced were refurbished to like new condition. The car received a complete new correct interior from K & H European Auto Upholstery, featuring attractive Cashmere Leather over Oatmeal square weave carpeting, as well as a brand new top.

As one might imaginewith such extensive attention paid to the cosmetics, no expense was spared when it came to the mechanicals. Since the car had been separated from its original engine some time ago, the previous owner decided to improve the performance of the car by installing a 1600 616/1 T6 engine. The car was handed over to Porsche 356 specialists Troysport of Orlando, FL, who completely rebuilt the engine in 2012. With drivability and performance in mind, new .040 over pistons were ordered and installed from JE, increasing the displacement to 1700 cc. However, this car comes with a period correct and recently rebuilt 1500 long block (P-31041) should the new owner decide to convert the car to its original specifications. The Zenith 32 NDIX carbs were completely rebuilt and the valves were properly adjusted. During this time, the transaxle assembly was sent to Vic Skirmants of 356 Enterprises for a complete rebuild of the 519 tranny using the highly preferred 741 internals. Other improvements to drivability and performance include a new clutch and flywheel, new sports exhaust, new 911 dual circuit brake master, new hard brake lines, and most of all a ZF steering box from the B/C series 356. All gauges were completely rebuilt by North Hollywood Speedometer.

No expense was spared restoring this 1955 Speedster, and the result is a car that not only looks the part, but drives and handles like a sports car ought to. The ZF box rids the car of the vague steering endemic to early 356s, and the freshly rebuilt engine and sports exhaust make sure the car really sounds the part. The car comes with toolkit, jack, spare, and side curtains.

The car here isn’t entirely original as the original engine was replaced “some time ago” and a 1.6 liter engine from the 356B T6 was installed, and recently rebuilt with displacement increased to 1.7 liters. The seller does mention that a correct 1.5 liter long block would be included in the sale should the buyer want to return the car to its original engine type. The very expensive question, of course, is where does that put the value of this car? I’ll be interested to see what happens here (though I’d be even more interested were this an auction and we could get a sense of where bidding might go) as the asking price is on the high end of the market, though not at the top of the market. It is still likely priced much too high, but the overall quality of the work looks exceptional and given the rarity of these models in general there may be someone out there for whom the nostalgia of a car like this is too good to pass up.

-Rob