1958 Porsche 356A Speedster

For Sale

£325,000

For Sale

chassis number:  84796 
engine number:  69485
engine type:  616/1
exterior colour:  Ivory
interior colour:  Red Leatherette
production date:  26/04/58  
mileage:  4,753 miles


optional equipment:
- rear backseat
- sealed beam headlights
- cushion overlays
- cigarette lighter
- ashtray
- electrical clock
- Fulda wheels 

  • one family-owned car for more than 50 years
  • matching numbers engine and gearbox
  • beautiful original colour scheme of Ivory and red
  • fully restored in Europe and maintained since by UK specialists
  • driving impeccably, and speedily, with a tuned 1,720cc engine
details

The 356 Speedster was originally introduced by Porsche in 1954 after Max Hoffman, their celebrated US importer, encouraged them to produce a cheaper model to compete with the more prevalent British sports cars.  The Speedster’s design was much simplified which not only reduced cost but also made it lighter and more dynamic to drive.

Just over 4,800 Speedsters were made in a production run that lasted 5 years.  The 1958 model year Type 2 Speedsters (of which around 1,100 were produced) are highly sought after.  They benefitted from a number of improvements to the gearbox, clutch and steering which made them easier and more pleasant to drive.

This car was one of the last 356A Speedsters produced & delivered new to Fulda, Germany on 18 April 1958 to Mr H. P. Cochran, an American lieutenant stationed in Germany from his home state of Maryland. Mr Cochran soon returned home to American and sold the car to its second owner, Mr Edward L. Rogers, whose family owned and enjoyed using the car for over 50 years.

The next owner, in Europe, remarkably managed to locate the original engine in Los Angeles, reuniting the car and engine together some 50 years after they had been separated, and then sold the car to be fully restored over 2 years by Stace in Belgium. The current owner sent the car for some further detailing, implemented by the Sportwagen metal and paint shop at Southend-on-Sea.

chassis number:  84796 
engine number:  69485
engine type:  616/1
exterior colour:  Ivory
interior colour:  Red Leatherette
production date:  26/04/58  
mileage:  4,753 miles


optional equipment:
- rear backseat
- sealed beam headlights
- cushion overlays
- cigarette lighter
- ashtray
- electrical clock
- Fulda wheels 

  • one family-owned car for more than 50 years
  • matching numbers engine and gearbox
  • beautiful original colour scheme of Ivory and red
  • fully restored in Europe and maintained since by UK specialists
  • driving impeccably, and speedily, with a tuned 1,720cc engine
An extremely smart restoration that gives the car the allure that it could have had when new.
Our thoughts

Speedsters are rightly on the bucket list for every Porsche enthusiast.  They are both an iconic design generally and an important car for the marque specifically.

The history file for chassis 84796 tells the complete story of a car that was thoroughly enjoyed and well-maintained by one family for a half-century. It includes the original notarised sales agreement between Mr Cochran and Mr Rogers from 1966, invoices dating back to the car’s arrival in the USA and correspondence with the three previous owners of the car.

The car is immaculate to look at and drives extremely well. The tuned engine really suits the car’s cheeky nature and it beetles along at a speedy rate of knots without any effort at all.

It is rare to come across a car of this age that has such an impeccable history file, without gaps and with correspondence from every owner, as well as supporting documents and invoices. If you are looking for a completely reliable period correct Speedster, this could well be the one.

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