Paris 2010: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster in the flesh
#21
09-30-2010, 02:10 AM
John Von Neumann, the 1950s Porsche west coast distributor wanted a convertible "boulevard racecar" he could sell to his California customers for cheap money. So he went to Max Hoffman, who was US importer for Porsche at the time, and told him he wanted a stripped down, lightweight 356 convertible he could sell for 3 grand. Von Neumann put in the request and eventually Ferry Porsche ordered Reutter (who was building the bodies at the time) to simplify the lines of the 356 cabriolet, cut down the windshield, add removable canvas side windows instead of roll-up glass, and a very rudimentary top. The car became a hit on the street, since everyone in hollywood bought one, when it came out in '54. It also didn't need much preparation be competitive in club racing either, which added to the popularity of the car.
Flash-forward to 1988. Porsche is getting ready to debut the 964 in 1989 and end the era of the "impact-bumpers". They come up with the 911 Speedster for 1989. They designed the hump to go over the rear seats, cut down the windshield, but went with glass roll-up windows and a manually operated top. In the USA it was only available in turbo-look, with the wide fenders, brakes and suspension of the 930 turbo. But, in Europe you could get it in narrowbody as well. The performance wasn't all that impressive, since it didn't have anything deleted from the options or stripped down at all. Basically an '89 Turbo-look cab with the speedster canopy, windshield, side-windows and top.
In 1994 Porsche was again getting ready to bid the current 964 model farewell and they released another run of Speedster cars. This time, it was only available in narrowbody worldwide, although they made some special-order widebodies for the UK market in the end. You could get it in standard or "clubsport" trim (which was more of an appearance group than anything else) and you could even get it in tiptronic. Once again, besides the Speedster-specific parts, it was not all that different from a C2 cab.
Now in 2010, Porsche is bidding farewell to the 997 next year and looking to send it off with the Sport Classic, and now the Speedster. They're once again banking on the success of the previous two 911 Speedsters, which were popular because of the legacy of the 356 Speedster. But, just like its 911 predecessors, we have what is more or less a cabriolet with the power top gone and Speedster-specific parts added. But, nothing close to a truly stripped-down, barebones car for less money than the base Carrera coupe.
Flash-forward to 1988. Porsche is getting ready to debut the 964 in 1989 and end the era of the "impact-bumpers". They come up with the 911 Speedster for 1989. They designed the hump to go over the rear seats, cut down the windshield, but went with glass roll-up windows and a manually operated top. In the USA it was only available in turbo-look, with the wide fenders, brakes and suspension of the 930 turbo. But, in Europe you could get it in narrowbody as well. The performance wasn't all that impressive, since it didn't have anything deleted from the options or stripped down at all. Basically an '89 Turbo-look cab with the speedster canopy, windshield, side-windows and top.
In 1994 Porsche was again getting ready to bid the current 964 model farewell and they released another run of Speedster cars. This time, it was only available in narrowbody worldwide, although they made some special-order widebodies for the UK market in the end. You could get it in standard or "clubsport" trim (which was more of an appearance group than anything else) and you could even get it in tiptronic. Once again, besides the Speedster-specific parts, it was not all that different from a C2 cab.
Now in 2010, Porsche is bidding farewell to the 997 next year and looking to send it off with the Sport Classic, and now the Speedster. They're once again banking on the success of the previous two 911 Speedsters, which were popular because of the legacy of the 356 Speedster. But, just like its 911 predecessors, we have what is more or less a cabriolet with the power top gone and Speedster-specific parts added. But, nothing close to a truly stripped-down, barebones car for less money than the base Carrera coupe.
#22
09-30-2010, 02:44 AM
I left some details out about the 356, like the engine options that came along in the later years that pushed the price way up. But, the philosophy with the 356 was stripped down convertible for cheap. The philosphy with the 911s seem to be, "we'll take a Carrera cab, change a couple things and put it in their ass." So yeah, ghey.
#23
09-30-2010, 03:10 AM
Without a doubt!
Porsche really is squeezing all the different models they can out of the 997 chassis, aren't they? Next we'll see a "slant nose" variant, lol...
Porsche really is squeezing all the different models they can out of the 997 chassis, aren't they? Next we'll see a "slant nose" variant, lol...
#24
09-30-2010, 04:42 AM
i feel the same way. i suppose if i lived in a place where top down motoring made sense, there would be some appeal...
#26
09-30-2010, 12:22 PM
And for maybe 120k out the door (Paint to sample i guess is what 4kish?)
#28
09-30-2010, 12:36 PM
To me its just a more expensive Carrera GTS Cabriolet with a paint to sample colour and limited edition plaque.
Is this a MAN or Woman? Looks like a man's hands to me.... whole posture looks manly.