Porsche revived the Speedster name for its 997-generation 911 and promptly created one of the most coveted sports cars of the 21st century. Introduced at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the type 997 Speedster became an instant collectible with a production number of only 356 examples, in homage to the original 1954 356 Speedster.

Using the higher-spec type 997 Carrera GTS as a base, and with the more potent Powerkit-equipped 3.8-liter flat-six at its heart, the type 997 Speedster came with virtually every available option, including the Sport Chrono package, carbon-ceramic brakes, and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). Further adding to its mystique, it was hand-assembled with countless features from Porsche’s Exclusive department, including a Speedster-specific interior motif.

The type 997 Speedster was available in only two colors—Carrera White and Speedster-exclusive Pure Blue—while the interior came in black leather with matching details in the chosen exterior hue. Black Fuchs-style alloy wheels, rock-chip protectors on the rear fenders, and a rigid tonneau cover are all nods to the hugely popular G-Series Speedster of 1989. But the chopped windshield is perhaps the most distinctive component of any 911 Speedster design—reduced by 2.4 inches in the type 997 model when compared to that generation’s standard 911.

The 2011 Speedster offered here is one of 103 examples earmarked for North America and number 173 of the 356 total produced. It completed production on 7 April 2011, finished as it is today in Pure Blue with a black soft-top over black leather. A United States-delivery car, this Speedster appears to have initially been owned in Texas. The Dare to Dream Collection acquired the car from New Country Motor Car Group out of Greenwich, Connecticut in December 2014, then showing a scant 2,539 miles. It remains incredibly well-preserved today, showing only 4,161 miles on the odometer at the time of cataloguing—making it an exceptional find for collectors seeking to acquire one of these ultra-rare Speedsters.

Like every enthusiast familiar with Porsches, Car and Driver immediately recognized how special the updated Speedster was in its in initial assessment of the car: “All previous Speedster models are rare collector's items and offer perhaps the purest driving experience of all open-top 911s … their unique design makes the driver feel more at one with the elements than any other 911.”