1956 Porsche 356 Speedster

This 1956 Porsche 356A Speedster left the factory in December 1956 for delivery to Raffay Porsche in Hamburg, Germany, and was originally owned by an SCCA racer in Los Angeles. The car reportedly spent over 30 years in the collection of late-night television host David Letterman before being purchased by the selling dealer in 2023. Finished in red over black upholstery with red piping, the car is powered by a replacement 1.6-liter flat-four that features dual-throat Solex carburetors and is mated to a replacement four-speed manual transaxle. Additional features include Rudge-style 15” center-lock wheels, four-wheel drum brakes, Koni shock absorbers, and a black convertible top. This 356A Speedster is offered by the selling dealer in White Settlement, Texas, with 1992 appraisal paperwork, service notes and invoices dating back to the late 1990s, a black tonneau cover, a jack and lug wrench, and a clean Oklahoma title. Finished from the factory in Rot (601), the Reutter-built bodywork was repainted under previous ownership. Features include body-color bumpers with chrome guards, quadruple beehive taillights, a driver’s side mirror, gold badging, a black convertible top, and a black tonneau cover. Rock chips on various areas of the car’s lower surfaces are shown up close in the photo gallery below, and marks in the finish on the rear decklid and front hood were touched up in 2022. Bright-finished 15″ Rudge-style wheels were added in 2008 and are secured via three-eared knock-offs. They are mounted with 165-width Vredestein Sprint Classic tires that show date codes from 2012, and a matching spare is housed in the front compartment. Stopping is handled by hydraulic drum brakes at all four corners. The cabin is trimmed in black upholstery with red piping accenting the fixed-back bucket seats, while oatmeal square-weave carpeting covers the floors and seatbacks. Additional features include black rubber floor mats, a beige shift knob, a passenger-side grab handle, and gold Porsche script affixed to the body-color dash. The beige two-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of green-letter VDO instrumentation including a central 6k-rpm tachometer, a 120-mph speedometer, and a combination gauge monitoring oil temperature and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 19k miles. The replacement 1.6-liter flat-four breathes through a pair of dual-throat Solex carburetors and features a case stamped with serial number 716919, which corresponds with an engine from a 1965 356C. Service in 2020 included the replacement of the battery as well as a cosmetic refurbishment of the engine and other mechanical components. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a replacement Type 644 four-speed manual transaxle. The suspension incorporates Koni shock absorbers all around. A copy of the Kardex lists the original colors and component serial numbers as well as delivery to Germany and initial ownership by Jack Brumby of Los Angeles. A 1992 appraisal report shown in the gallery below notes preparation for David Letterman. Filed under: 356