This 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster is a 1600 Super that was completed in February 1958 and is said to have been sold new in Nevada before being purchased from its second owner by the seller in 1979. A subsequent refurbishment performed by the seller over several years included a repaint in the original shade of Aquamarine Blue and a re-trim of the interior in red leather. Following the project’s completion, the car won its class as well as the Toast of the Concours Award at the 2016 Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance. Power is provided by a 1.6-liter Super flat-four that breathes through twin Zenith carburetors and is mated to a four-speed manual transaxle. Additional features include four-wheel drum brakes with a dual-circuit master cylinder, Koni shock absorbers, 15” wheels powder-coated in silver, and a black convertible top with matching side curtains. This 356A Speedster is now offered with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, a tool kit, an owner’s manual, and a clean Oregon title.
Originally finished in Aquamarine Blue (5707), the Reutter bodywork was stripped to bare metal before being finished in epoxy primer followed by PPG single-stage paint in the factory shade during the refurbishment that was completed approximately nine years ago. The floor panels and battery box were replaced during the project, while the hood and right door are said to have been replaced in the late 1950s. Features include body-color bumpers with chrome guards, headlight stone guards, front fog lamps in body-color housings, a driver-side mirror, gold-color badging, dual exhaust outlets that exit through the rear bumper guards, and a black convertible top with matching side curtains.
Steel wheels were powder-coated in silver during the refurbishment and wear Porsche-crest hubcaps, while 165SR15 Michelin XZX tires are mounted at each corner and on a matching spare housed in the front compartment. Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes were refreshed during the project, at which time the backing plates were powder-coated and a dual-circuit master cylinder was added.
The cabin was re-trimmed during the refurbishment with red leather over the bucket seats, door panels, and upper dash. The rear shelf remains trimmed in red leatherette, and an uninstalled leather cover for the shelf is included in the sale. Additional features include oatmeal square-weave carpeting, black and tan Coco Mats, an adjustable rearview mirror, and a chrome passenger-side grab handle.
The two-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a body-color dash fascia housing green-letter VDO instrumentation including a central 6k-rpm tachometer, a 120-mph speedometer, and a combination gauge monitoring oil temperature and oil pressure. The five-digit odometer shows 855 miles, all of which have been added under current ownership.
The 1.6-liter flat-four breathes through twin Zenith carburetors topped by Knecht air cleaners. The engine tin was powder-coated during the refurbishment, and an updated wiring harness was installed.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via an all-synchromesh four-speed manual transaxle. Suspension incorporates Koni shock absorbers at each corner, while modifications include a larger sway bar and reinforced link-pin carriers.
The Porsche Certificate of Authenticity lists the original colors and component numbers as well as options including fog lights, a side mirror, and US-market bumpers. Stampings of engine number 81581 and transaxle number 18118 can be seen in images taken during the refurbishment in the photo gallery below.
Additional images from the refurbishment can be viewed below.