1957 Porsche 356 Speedster

83411roadGermany

Engine: 1.6L inline-four, Porsche 912-based, built by Canepa
Colour: Black over red leather

Chassis 83411 is a 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster originally completed on 31 May 1957, factory-specified in red over beige vinyl and destined for the US market via Max Hoffman's New York dealership. Equipped with a 1600 Normal engine and US-specification fittings, its early history is unrecorded. The car later received a comprehensive restoration, emerging in black over red leather with a factory hardtop and Nardi steering wheel; a Porsche 912-based engine built by Canepa replaces the original unit, which is retained with the car.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Estimate US$475,000 – US$575,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1957 →Factory delivery
Max Hoffman dealership
partial documentation
New York importer and dealer designated as the intended sales outlet for this car when it left the factory in mid-1957.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Current consignor
partial documentation
Acquired the car roughly twenty years before the catalogue date; during their ownership a full restoration was carried out, including fitment of a Canepa-built 912-derived engine in place of the original unit.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—
Restoration
Full restoration completed; the car was refinished in black over red leather, and fitted with a factory hardtop, polished Rudge-style wheels, period lap belts, and a wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel.
Original matching-numbers engine (no. 65767) was removed and preserved; not reinstalled as part of this restoration.
—Engine rebuild
Canepa
A replacement four-cylinder powerplant based on the Porsche 912 was built and installed in place of the original 1.6-litre unit, which was retained separately with the car.
Workshop is located in Scotts Valley, California.

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