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173and more unique Porsche mechanicals. Annual 356 A Speedster production eventually peaked at 1,416 units for 1957. Just 2,922 examples were built in all before the advent of the more comfortable and highly equipped 356 A Convertible D in 1959. Contemporary road-test reports almost unanimously praised the Speedster, which must have appeared much like an alien spacecraft to Americans more accustomed to large V8 sedans. Detailed coverage in the May 1955 issue of Road & Track of a 1500 Super-powered 356 Speedster was particularly enlightening and, as related, “… the engine is small, and the torque is proportionate. Yet, as we show in this road test, the latest Porsche 1500 S Speedster is capable of a very high performance. This result is due to an efficient engine, four useful gear ratios (all synchronized), and low overall weight. Common-sense design, thorough engineering, and good workmanship contribute to the overall effect and insure customer satisfaction in terms of reliability.” Exemplifying the dual-purpose nature of the Speedster, Erich Bücklers drove the Road & Track test car to victory in a 1,500cc sports-car race at Willow Springs just a few days before the magazine’s road test was published. On the track, especially in American SCCA competition, the 356 Speedster was devastatingly effective. Light in weight and possessing sleek low-drag bodylines, the Speedster was an unqualified “giant-killer” on the track. In the hands of the era’s top amateur and professional drivers, the Speedster outbraked and out-handled the competition with remarkable ease everywhere it appeared. On the street, the Speedster’s avant-garde flair and adventurous attitude made it an instant hit with buyers and an enduring classic that continues to captivate successive generations of Porsche enthusiasts today All surviving Speedsters are highly sought-after collectibles today, and this early “Pre-A” 356 Speedster from 1955 is a particularly compelling find. Finished in white with red upholstery and seats smartly piped in white, it retains the original air-cooled, 1500cc flat-4engine that was built to a largercapacity 1600cc configuration. Fitted with two dual-venturi Zenith carburetors and now rated at a very usable 80 horsepower, the Speedster is equipped with a number of new supporting items, including the exhaust system, clutch disc, front transmission mount, front suspension bumpers, a rebuilt front suspension and rebuilt brakes, along with many other original parts, plus a German windshield. Other updated items include the speedometer, engine temperature gauge and tachometer cables. While rightly considered a masterpiece of design and engineering, the 356 Speedster continues to be prized by today’s enthusiasts and collectors for its incomparable, open-air driving experience and unmistakable sound at full chat through the gears. Handsomely representing the first iteration of the iconic Speedster lineage, this 1955 Porsche 356 “Pre-A” Speedster selling with No Reserve at the January 20-24, 2024, Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction is a highly drivable and enjoyable classic sports car that appropriately celebrates Porsche’s early greatness. Register to bid today for a chance to drive it home.– David Neyens For up-to-date information on this vehicle, visit Barrett-Jackson.com