1957 Porsche 356 A Speedster
- Engine
- Porsche 912 engine (replacement unit)
- Colour
- Light Ivory
Chassis 84333 is a 1957 Porsche 356 A Speedster, factory-finished in Light Ivory and built to United States specification for distribution through Max Hoffman's New York dealership. By the late 1960s it was acquired in Philadelphia by amateur racer Ed Parlett, who fitted a 912 engine, disc brakes from a 356 C, and campaigned the car in SCCA events across the northeastern United States through 1975. After roughly three decades in storage, it passed to a Hamburg-based enthusiast who refreshed it mechanically while preserving its original racing patina.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$224,000
- 1957-12-19 →Factory deliveryMax Hoffman dealership (New York)full documentation
Car was built for and distributed through Hoffman's prominent New York import operation, as confirmed by factory build records.
- → 1975Private saleEd Parlettfull documentation
Racing enthusiast who purchased the car from Baker in the late 1960s, fitted a 912 engine and disc brakes, and campaigned it in SCCA competition across the northeastern US. Retained detailed records, invoices, and notes about every racing appearance.
- 2008 →Private saleHamburg-based German enthusiastpartial documentation
Bought the car after roughly three decades of storage; carried out mechanical refurbishment while deliberately preserving the original racing patina. Visited Parlett in 2012 to compile the car's competition history.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownBruce Bakerpartial documentation
Noted Porsche 356 specialist based in Philadelphia who held the car at some point before selling it onward.
Competition
- —SCCASCCA Northeast region eventsDriver: Ed Parlett
Parlett raced the orange number 45 Speedster at multiple SCCA events throughout the northeastern US; period photos and dash placards corroborate participation. He mounted an onboard camera behind a custom fairing to analyse his driving.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2008Mechanical
Mechanical refreshment carried out by the new German owner to return the car to reliable running order, while the original racing patina and external appearance were deliberately left intact.
- —Modification
A Porsche 912 engine (no. 746019) was fitted in place of the original unit, and disc brakes sourced from a 356 C were installed to prepare the car for club racing.
Work carried out by Ed Parlett, who also fabricated a bespoke aerodynamic fairing to protect an onboard Super 8 camera used to study lap footage.
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