For more than six decades the Porsche Speedster has stood tall as a pinnacle of driving pleasure. We take a look back at the model’s high points
- Porsche America Roadster ‘Speedster’ (356)
- Porsche 911 Speedster (G-series)
- Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster (964-series)
- Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster (993-series)
- Porsche 911 Speedster (997-series)
The newly-released Porsche Speedster is the German sports car brand’s 70th birthday present to itself.
Limited to just 1948 examples, the 911 Speedster makes 374kW/470Nm from its naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre six. Driving the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, Porsche says the 911 GT#-based Speedster will hit 100km/h from rest in just 3.8sec.
It’s the latest in a Speedster lineage that stretches back to 1952. All have delivered on the promise of open-air driving pleasure, and all have offered something extra on the derivative model.
Here, we take a quick look back at the top five moments in Porsche Speedster history (to date), beginning with the car made famous by Hollywood icon, James Dean, the 356 America Roadster ‘Speedster’.
Porsche America Roadster ‘Speedster’ (356)
The America Roadster – made famous by Hollywood icon, James Dean – had its beginnings in 1948 when Porsche received its first operating permit for the 356 Roadster. The Roadster and its Coupe sibling were Porsche’s first production models, and began the lightweight, rear-engine, two-door formula we still know and love today.
An expensive aluminium body ensure the exclusivity of the 356. Coupe models sold from US$3750 with Roadster models US$4250 when American sales began in the early 1950s. By way of comparison, a family-size Chevrolet Bel Air from the same era asked just US$1741.
The ‘Speedster’, as it later became known, was around 160kg lighter than the Coupe and offered a top speed of 180km/h from its 52kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. A short, raked windscreen, reduced interior equipment levels and a rain cover were about all the 356 Speedster offered, focussing instead on driving enjoyment.
The 356 Speedster reached its peak in 1957 with the introduction of the 356 A 1500 GS Carrera GT Speedster. Its 1.5-litre vertical shaft engine produced 110hp to see the model become the first production Porsche to hit 200km/h. Only 140 examples were produced.
Porsche 911 Speedster (G-series)
As the G-series 911 range (1975-89) wound up, Porsche pulled out all the stops to create the most open, and perhaps most desirable 911 of its time.
Based on the 911 Carrera Cabriolet, and with many styling cues from the 911 Turbo (930), the 1988 Porsche 911 Speedster (or option M503 as it was known internally) featured a shortened windscreen like its predecessor, and a large, body-coloured ‘double bubble’ cover to conceal the soft-top roof.
Just 2104 examples of the 1988 Porsche 911 Speedster were made, 171 in the narrow body and 1933 with the wider Turbo style haunches. The latter included the 930’s brakes, suspension and front valance. There were 139 made in right-hand drive.
All were powered by Porsche’s 210kW 3.3-litre flat-six coupled to a Getrag five-speed manual transmission. It was the last 911 to use Porsche’s G-series platform and thus the end of an era.
Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster (964-series)
Exclusivity returned to the Speedster range when Porsche introduced its 911 Carrera Speedster in 1993. Based on the 964-series 911 (1989-93), a total of 936 examples were produced — with just 14 in right-hand drive! In addition, 20 examples were produced with the wide-body ‘Turbo’ look.
Porsche honed both the soft-top mechanism and the plastic cover to make it easier to operate. Visual highlights on the Speedster included 911 Carrera RS bucket seats in body colour with ‘special’ leather upholstery.
Like the original 356, the 911 Carrera Speedster had a less is more philosophy, doing away with “non-essential” equipment like air-conditioning, electric windows and airbag, though this was reinstated in later examples.
Porsche 964-series 911s drew motivation from a 3.6-litre flat six making a 184kW/310Nm and were available with the choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions.
Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster (993-series)
If the 964-series Speedster was exclusive, the 993-series (1994-98) 911 Carrera Speedster was as rare as horse feathers. So rare, in fact, Porsche never officially offered the 993-series in a Speedster body style for general sale.
In fact, the factory producing only two examples for special customers.
The first example, a dark green, Tiptronic S with 17-inch wheels, was made for Ferdinand Alexander Porsche for his 60th anniversary in 1995. The other, a silver, wide-body Speedster with manual transmission and 18-inch wheels, was built for American comedian, Jerry Seinfeld in 1998.
Porsche records says the Seinfeld Speedster was “originally delivered as either a 4S Cabriolet or Targa model” and sent back to the factory to be re-built as a Speedster.
It’s also believed a few 993-series Convertible options underwent the same treatment, albeit by external coachbuilders.
The 964-series 911 was the last to feature an air-cooled engine. In the Speedster, this was a 3.6-litre M64-series flat six making 210kW. Porsche claimed a 0-100km/h time of 4.9sec.
Porsche 911 Speedster (997-series)
Speedster versions of the 997-series Porsche 911 (2004-12) were not offered until late in the model generation, making their debut in 2010.
The debut coincided with the 25-year anniversary celebrations of the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, and in the best tradition of Speedster specials, featured a car with a 70mm lower, raked windscreen, manual soft-top roof and characteristic ‘double bubble’ convertible cover.
The two-seater was 44mm wider in the rear and was powered by the same engine as the Carrera GTS. This water-cooled 3.8-litre six-cylinder boxer engine made 304kW and was capable of accelerating 0-100km/h in 4.2sec on its way to top speed of 306km/h.
Just 356 examples of the 997-series Porsche 911 Speedster were made, all available only in two colours: Pure Blue, which was specific to the Speedster; and Carrera White from the regular 911 range.
Keyword: Top five moments in Porsche Speedster history