The spark that launched Porsche’s road racing dynasty began with the “Fuhrman engine” in the landmark 550 Spyder racecar. Bringing that engine to the 356’s option list in 1956 and calling it “Carrera” boosted Porsche’s racing pedigree while also setting the foundation for special high-performance Porsche models to come. The expensive and complex Carrera engine was rarely ordered when new, and cars so-equipped demand a huge premium in the collector car market today. A 1956 Porsche 356A Speedster Carrera offered by Mecum Auctions in Monterey is expected to sell for up to $1.2M, or nearly 400% more than a Speedster without it.
In Premier’s 4th year as a corporate sponsor of The Colorado Grand, our VP of Sales, Doug Ewing, partnered with Steve Serio of The Bond Group as co-drivers of a 1957 Porsche 356A Speedster. Our insider report chronicles their exploits, involving loose front end castle nuts, a near miss of spooked cows, and practical jokes played out over the course of their 5 day, 1,000 mile adventure at what’s considered the nation’s most prestigious and respected charitable tour events. Read all the details here.
A Lamborghini Miura, vintage Porsche, McLaren 675LT, Ford GT and BMW M1 are among the highlights of Gooding & Company’s 2020 Scottsdale Auction. This year’s auction features 170 vehicles.
Despite the Porsche 911’s immense and ongoing success, the 356 series has always maintained a loyal fan base. The 356 was, however, a notorious ruster, which claimed many of the 76,000 built from 1948-1965. The rarest, including the first 50 or so coupes hand-built in Gmund, Austria between 1948 and 1950, plus some later models, can fetch $1.5 million.
When you say “Speedster” in the same sentence as “Porsche,” it’s usually assumed you are speaking about the stripped-down 1954-1958 variant of the 356. Capitalizing on the power of its own heritage – and the power of nostalgia – Porsche also built three different production 911 Speedsters, the most plentiful being the 1989 model. All have become desirable collectibles.
Read about a Dispute Over a 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster in the latest edition of Sports Car Market’s Collector Thoughts.
