1958 Porsche 356 Speedster

This 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster left the factory on October 18, 1957, for delivery in the US via the Hoffman Motor Company of New York, and by the early 1980s it had appeared in San Francisco with a replacement engine. The car later received a repaint in silver before undergoing a mechanical refurbishment performed by Wilhoit Auto Restoration of Long Beach, California, in 2016 that included installing an overhauled 1.6-liter Type 616/2 flat-four and a replacement Type 716 four-speed manual transaxle. Additional features include dual-circuit four-wheel drum brakes, a full-flow oil filter, an electric fuel pump, a 12-volt electrical system, fixed-back bucket seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a black convertible top with matching side curtains. This 356A Speedster is offered on dealer consignment in Houston, Texas, as part of DriverSource’s 2023 Oktmotorfest Collection with a copy of its Kardex, a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, owner’s manuals, a reproduction tool kit, and a clean Montana title. Originally finished in Ivory, the Reutter-built body reportedly underwent a color change to silver early in its life and received an additional repaint over two decades ago. Exterior features include body-color bumpers with chrome overriders, a driver’s side mirror, gold-color badging, dual exhaust outlets that exit through the rear bumper guards, and a black convertible top with matching side curtains. The last three digits of the chassis number are shown stamped on the engine lid and front hood hinge in the photo gallery below. Silver-painted 15″ steel wheels wear baby moon hubcaps and are wrapped in 165-width Vredestein Sprint Classic tires showing 2020 date codes. An overhaul of the four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes performed by Wilhoit Auto Restoration in 2016 included converting the system to dual-circuit actuation, turning the drums, and replacing the wheel cylinders, brake shoes, hoses, and lines. The left-rear brake drum was replaced during further work in 2016. The cabin is trimmed in black vinyl upholstery over fixed-back bucket seats with color-matched trim over the door panels, rear shelf, and upper dash. Additional features include charcoal square-weave carpeting, black rubber floor mats, lap belts, and a chrome passenger-side grab handle. The RS 60-style leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel frames green-letter VDO instrumentation including a 6k-rpm tachometer, a 120-mph speedometer, and gauges monitoring oil temperature, fuel level, oil pressure, and amperage. The five-digit odometer shows 53k miles, approximately 30 of which have been added under current ownership. The replacement 1.6-liter Type 616/2 flat-four was reportedly sourced from 356 Classic Parts of Saarbricken, Germany, before being installed during the 2016 mechanical refresh. Additional work during the project included a 12-volt electrical conversion as well as the addition of a full-flow oil filter and an electric fuel pump. Service in 2022 involved adjusting the carburetors and replacing the spark plugs. Results from a compression test performed by the selling dealer are viewable in the photo gallery below. The replacement Type 716 four-speed manual transaxle is also said to have been installed in 2016, at which time the clutch assembly and flywheel were replaced. The tie rod ends were replaced during the project, and a 17.5mm front sway bar was installed. The composite photo above shows replacement engine number KD*P*82872* stamped on the case along with a “1600S” marking. Also shown are replacement transaxle number 27355 and type number 716, wheel date-code stamps from between 1957 and 1961, and a 1957 date code stamped on the fuel tank. The Kardex lists the original component numbers, factory departure date, and delivery to Hoffman in New York. The Porsche Certificate of Authenticity can be viewed in the gallery below along with invoices from the 2016 refresh by Wilhoit Auto Restoration and photos from the repaint several years ago. Included in the sale are a tool kit, a jack, and a collection of owner’s literature. There is currently a lien on the car, and the owner’s lender will need to be paid off before the title can be transferred to the new owner. Filed under: 356