Versatility is King

As useable and versatile classic cars go, there are few that trump Porsche’s cult-classic 356 Speedster. Its sleek and simple silhouette exudes Hollywood glamour, its air-cooled four-pot engine is best described as metronomic and its rarity all but guarantees entry to the world’s greatest classic road rallies. Think the Colorado Grand and the Modena Cento Ore. It’s as adept prowling Sunset Boulevard as it is bombing across an Alpine pass with the crisp winter air blowing through your hair.

The Speedster was famously the brainchild of Max Hoffman, the shrewd and charismatic East Coast importer of prestige European cars. Hoffman recognised that a sportier and more rakish version of Porsche’s drop-top 356 would prove popular in the United States, more specifically in the warmer climes of Southern California. And he was right: the resulting Speedster was a smash hit, selling by the boat load. If you were a someone in Los Angeles in the late 1950s, you were most likely cruising around in a Speedster.

Chassis no. 84372

A mere 73 Porsche 356 Speedsters were finished in the sophisticated shade of Fjord Green, of which the Reutter-bodied example we’re offering – chassis number 84372 – is one. The car was sold to its first owner, one George C. Buck from Seattle, in July of 1958, fitted with a Brown Leatherette interior, spotlights, an outside mirror and USA-specification speedometer and bumpers. Pertinently, it was also fitted with the more powerful Super engine.

Remarkably, this 356 remained Stateside for six decades, returning to Europe in 2018 after it was acquired by a well-known South African Porsche collector based in the United Kingdom. At the point of sale, chassis number 84372 was noted as having a number of thoughtful and discreet performance upgrades fitted, enhancing its real-world useability. These included a 12-volt electrical system and the later 356 C’s engine, wheels and brakes.

During the six years in the hands of its current custodian, this Porsche has covered fewer than 1,000 miles and been diligently maintained by respected Porsche specialists. Most recently, in June of 2023, the car’s engine was removed to allow the fitment of a new flywheel.

Today, this 356 Super Speedster looks, feels and drives like a car that’s been cherished and very well maintained by a small number of owners – owners who’ve not shied away from using and enjoying the car as intended. And that’s the charm of chassis number 84372 – this is no garage queen, but rather an opportunity to capitalise on the approachability, useability and eligibility of the Speedster, a car with a perhaps unsurprising cult following around the world.

Fresh from full professional paint correction, this Porsche is accompanied by its Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, a tool roll, a colour-matched leather tonneau cover with fitted bag, sides screens and a red leather-bound Girardo & Co. history file.

Price Upon Application