Car of the Month – May, 2025

1956 Porsche 356a Speedster

Prior to World War II Porsche designed and built three Type 64 cars for a 1939 Berlin-to-Rome race that was cancelled because of the war in Europe. In 1948 the mid-engine, tubular chassis 356 prototype called “No. 1” was completed. This led to some debate as to the “first” Porsche automobile. Although the original Porsche 356 unit had a rear-mid engine placement, the rear engine 356 is considered by Porsche to be its first production model. The first 356a was road certified in Austria on June 8, 1948 and was entered in a race in Innsbruck where it won its class. In late 1954 an American Porsche dealer, Max Hoffman, realized that the 356a would sell better here in the States if it could be inexpensive enough to compete with the Triumphs and MGs of the time, so he requested a cheaper model from Porsche. Porsche’s answer was the 356a Speedster – a model that had only the bare necessities, a stripped-down roadster version with minimal equipment and a cut-down windscreen. So was born the Speedster.