More than twenty years have passed since a summer job allowed me to fit my small butt into the single-piece seat of a 1994 Porsche Speedster. It was red. It screamed with laughter. It had a leather, oil, and gasoline odor. It had the feel of being unique, rare, and long-lasting. When the most recent Porsche Speedster arrived for an instrumented test, all of those memories suddenly came flooding back.
HIGHS: Makes the most of all of the senses, manual transmission weeds out posers, a convertible-friendly GT3.
The new Speedster is the final model of the “old-generation” Porsche 911, which we like to call the 991 since it sounds more hip and is simpler to explain at car shows than “the 911 from 2012 to 2019.” In case you missed our nonstop coverage, here is a brief introduction to the 991: It has a wheelbase that is roughly 96.5 inches, is comfortable and sophisticated, and belongs to the generation that popularized turbocharging in 911s. A type of send-off, the Speedster variant is a two-seater with a highly unique engine that will cost around $275,000. On the instrument panel, it clearly states that only 1948 will be constructed. If your knowledge of Porsche history is rusty, you should know that 1948 marks the year when the company produced its first automobile. That one is also welcome to be thrown around at coffee and autos.
The new Speedster has many similarities to the original 964 Speedster from the 1990s while being almost a foot longer and eight inches wider. The new top is 2.0 inches shorter than the original 911 convertible’s because speedsters have traditionally had a cut-down windshield that necessitates a special top. The new car’s seats are single-piece pinchers, just like the ones in the 1996 model that gave me a bruise on my thigh. The carbon fiber shells, which are taken from the 918 and other exotic Stuttgart vehicles, can travel forward and backward, but the backrest is immovable and extremely erect. Germany is sending a severe “sit up straight” message. Dummkopf, pay attention—serious things are about to happen.
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Only 1,948 of the $275,750 Porsche 911 Speedsters will be made.
Porsche debuted a new Speedster at the 2019 New York International Auto Show in April. The company is now taking orders for the $275,750 vehicle.
A legacy package that includes a throwback livery and other design elements modeled after the original 356 Speedster from the 1950s is an option for buyers with extra money to spend. The package, which adds an additional $24,510 to the cost, is offered by the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur customizing division.
The car is based on the Porsche 911 from the previous 991 generation, notably the GT3 Touring version. In other words, it has a 4.0-liter flat-6 engine that delivers 502 horsepower to the rear wheels using a standard 6-speed manual transmission.
The engine, however, is the naturally aspirated flat-6’s next-generation design and is anticipated to be installed in the revised GT3 for the 992 911 series. The engine has redesigned, independent throttle bodies to improve throttle responsiveness, higher-pressure fuel injectors, and a lighter exhaust system than the one used in the previous GT3 that sheds around 22 pounds.
The 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster will start to arrive in the US in late 2019.
Porsche 911 Speedster: Exclusive, Brutal, and Quick
There are more than 25 different Porsche 911 models, and one of them is sure to catch the attention of any sports car aficionado. The 911 Speedster, the final version based on the 991-generation vehicle, is being introduced by the German manufacturer. On the highways of Sardinia, an island off the coast of Italy, we had the chance to operate it.
What is so unique about the 911 Speedster? Although it isn’t the most potent or the best-handling version of the storied sports car, it will be extremely hard to get and exorbitantly pricey. In actuality, just 1,948 units will be produced for global use, and as this is being written, they are probably all reserved. There may only be a few left.
What is the price of a Porsche Speedster kit?
Impressive statistics are always large. In 2006, Vintage Speedsters produced and delivered 230 speedsters. Another significant milestone was reached by October 2006 when they produced and sold 2,000 automobiles. Five automobiles are currently being shipped each week. In 1988, the business produced its first Speedster. They have advanced to the front of the pack, if not the top, in the replication of 356A Porsche Speedsters over the past ten years.
Vintage Speedsters have been spotted at a number of shows across the nation. The fit and polish on the 356A reproductions appear to be outstanding. We had the chance to ride in Eddie Janis’ jet black Vintage Speedster while covering the Speedster, Spyder, and German Cars event in Paso Robles, California, in 2007. Eddie is a fantastic driver, so we were able to see how well these roadsters handled. We were quite impressed, so we made the decision to travel to Vintage Speedsters in Hawaiian Gardens, California, to have a personal look at these seductive vehicles.
Kirk Duncan, the founder and owner of KIT CAR, hurriedly greeted himself when he arrived at the Vintage Speedsters facility before rushing off to assist a couple of customers in evaluating the cars. In the workplace, where we met Kirk’s wife, we took notes from a bulletin board containing letters and images from satisfied clients. A short while later, Kirk gave us a tour and instructed us to explore the store at our leisure while taking pictures and asking questions. He returned to work after allowing us to visit the backstage area unaccompanied.
There are two methods to purchase 356A replicas from Vintage Speedsters. Most clients opt for a turnkey solution. A completely built Vintage Speedster powered by a 1,600cc VW air-cooled engine may be purchased for $21,000. A comprehensive one-year warranty is included with the turnkey vehicle. You can choose the Deluxe Kit for $9,400 if you wish to assemble the roadster yourself.
You can get the Deluxe Kit if you’re a kit car enthusiast who enjoys doing things on your own. Customers purchasing the Deluxe Kit from Vintage Speedsters are advised that assembly of the kit requires several months and that a complete donor VW car must be provided by the owner. It requires extensive expertise in fabrication, welding, electrical, assembly, body, and air-cooled engines. This is not a step-by-step process, therefore unexpected fabrication particular to each build will be needed. It’s better to leave this arrangement to very skilled builders.
They can turn your fantasies of owning a Porsche Speedster into a stunning reality, whether you’d prefer to leave Vintage Speedsters in a 356A or you want to build it yourself. For additional information, check out the Vintage Speedsters website or get in touch with them. They’ll be delighted to hear from you, we have no doubt.
Deluxe Kit, $9,400 * A Vintage Speedster with a flared or classic body that has been partially constructed
* Windshields that were preassembled and fitted were mounted on the hood and decklid’s inside and outside doors.
Porsche stopped producing the speedster when?
From the 356 Speedster’s introduction until the end of manufacturing in late 1958, Porsche produced 3,676 units, with 1957 seeing the highest annual production peak of 1,171 vehicles.
A Porsche Speedster is it quick?
The 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated flat-six engine from the potent 911 GT3 was also installed in the Speedster, which is another enticing feature. The last non-turbo engine in the 911 series, this miracle of an engine produces 503 horsepower (510 PS) at a staggering 8,400 rpm, despite lacking the huge low-rpm torque of the 911 Turbos. The maximum torque is 347 pound-feet at 6,250 rpm.
The 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster does not come with a PDK automatic transmission; instead, this vicious six is linked to a six-speed manual transmission. The car accelerates like a rocket as the engine cranks past 4,000 rpm, sending shivers down our spine with its shriek. Porsche claims a top speed of 310 km/h and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.0 seconds.
This engine consumes up to 18 L/100 km of super unleaded petrol when driving around town. Absolutely useless information for potential purchasers, yes.
Additionally, the Speedster receives a 20-inch set of wheels with 245/35ZR20 front and 305/30Z20 rear tires, the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake package, Porsche Active Suspension Management dampers, and a suspension that has been lowered by 25 mm. The variable-assist steering in the automobile is fantastic.
The 911 Speedster seemed completely at home on the North-Eastern Sardinia’s twisting mountain roads. It was simple to maneuver around hairpin turns, speed down straightaways, and past stationary traffic. Although it’s challenging to predict how the car would perform on our own roads under these circumstances, the 911 has always been a great blend of pure sport and magnificent touring. And that’s one of the reasons why, even after more than 50 years on the market, it continues to be so well-liked.
What is the market value of a Porsche 911 Speedster?
Price of the 2020 Porsche 911 Speedster The starting MSRP for a 2020 Porsche 911 Speedster is $274,500, but if you’re interested in one, you’d better act quickly because there will only be 1,948 of them produced.
What is the market value of a Porsche 356 Speedster?
One of Porsche’s first mass-produced vehicles, the Porsche 356 was produced between 1948 and 1965. The Porsche 356 coupe originally cost around $3,750, while the cabriolet was only $500 extra. A Porsche 356 coupe today can sell for between US $75,000 and $100,000, and a convertible in collectible condition can go for $500,000 or more.
Two-door coupe, three-door convertible, and two-door roadster versions of the Porsche 356 were all available. The Porsche 356 has continuously received plaudits for being a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle that is lightweight and agile and is available in both coupe and open-top versions. Starting in 1948 and continuing for the first two years of manufacturing, 60 Porsche 356s were manually constructed in Austria. The manufacturing facility was later moved to Stuttgart, Germany, where the remaining Porsche 356s were made.
There were 76,000 Porsche 356S made, and according to some estimates, about half of them have survived. 40% of the vehicles ended up in California after making it to America, where nearly half of them did.
The Porsche 356 is still a very sought-after model. Many older vehicles might not have current safety features, such air conditioning. Even so, they are fantastic old race cars that are dependable and quick compared to other cars in their class. The majority of functional Porsche 356 cars will get good gas mileage and will easily keep up with interstate traffic.
Due to their resemblance to upside-down bathtubs, these bathtub Porsches—as they are known—have a very interesting history as the start of the Porsche production tradition. They may have been able to maintain their worth for the past 60 to 70 years because of this. After all, in today’s market, they will cost at least as much as a brand-new Porsche 911.