1968 Vintage Speedsters 356 Speedster
The 356 was Porsche’s first-ever production car. Starting in the late 1940s, early Gmund-built cars were aluminium-bodied, whilst later Zuffenhausen-built cars were steel-bodied. But one particular variation stands clear of the rest, the Speedster.
The 356 Speedster was the originator of Porsche’s less-is-more mentality, with a low-slung windscreen; its spartan nature kept the car’s original list price low, making it a commercial success. Except, this car isn’t a 356 Speedster, it’s not even a Porsche.
It’s a replica, built by the renowned US builder, Vintage Speedsters. Just like Cobras and GT40s, as values of original cars skyrocketed, demand for an affordable alternative grew. And whilst a variety of kits were available, Vintage Speedsters are renowned globally for building some of the best.
The car is an immaculate representation of a Speedster. Fully stripped down and repainted in Porsche 5706 Silver by Cromhall Refinishers in 2021, costing over £8,000. The car wears a full Porsche badge and trim kit for an authentic look. The interior features a pair of black, open-back bucket seats, a colour-coded dash, and period-correct gauges. The wood-rimmed steering wheel completes the look but gives weight to the historic appeal.
Despite being a replica, the Speedster shares a lot of DNA with the original cars, which were equally a development of pre-war Volkswagen projects. This car is based on a 1968 Volkswagen floor pan, and utilises a 1915cc air-cooled flat four, an upgraded 3.88 ratio gearbox, and front disc brakes.
The car has had limited use since it was built. It arrived on UK shores in 2012, and since then, it has had just 2 owners. Despite an odometer reading of just 1,454 miles, it has been maintained regularly, with the service history file including invoices for general maintenance and MOTs as well as invoices for the full respray.
Now, though, the car is with us to find its next owner who will use and enjoy it. We think, though, that replica is a term that doesn’t quite cut the mustard. It doesn’t give enough weight to the standard that this car is finished to.
We should refer to it as a homage, a homage to an icon. Built as a continuation of one of the world's most iconic sports cars, honouring the original without laying claim to false originality. After all, original Speedsters can change hands for close to half a million pounds.
That makes this car an innately usable and enjoyable homage. Ready to be put to use, to bring smiles to the faces of its driver, passenger, and passersby. All without the financial burden…
As with all our vehicles, an entire digital folder is available upon request and contains more images, walk-around videos, and scans of the service history. The car can also be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.