Custom-built turbocharged and intercooled 3.5-liter flat-six engine, fuel injection, five-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel independent suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes. Wheelbase: 89.4"

The original 1954–1959 Porsche 356 Speedster, engineered for the youth market, generated a buzz that continues to this day. It took some 30 years for the concept to resurface, this time based on the 911, and like its predecessor, the new 911 Speedster would lead its marque’s revitalization in the marketplace.

While Porsche went from strength to strength through the mid-1980s with countless racing victories and robust sales numbers, a somewhat aging product lineup and the painful late-1980s economic recession conspired to drastically reduce sales. The company’s crucial U.S. marketplace was particularly hard-hit, with a new luxury tax as well. In response, Porsche launched the 911 Speedster model for 1989, which harkened back to the elemental and relatively economical 356 Speedster of the 1950s, which injected a shot of adrenaline into Porsche sales, as Porsche importer Max Hoffmann expected when it was introduced.

Launched at Frankfurt in 1988, alongside the Carrera 4, the 911 Carrera Speedster was the unqualified hit of the show with its steeply raked, low-cut windshield and cockpit tonneau cover. Production Speedsters were, in fact, somewhat less Spartan than the Frankfurt prototype, with a taller windscreen and roll-up windows. The convertible top was manually-operated and simpler than that of the 911 Cabriolet, with no headliner and thinner insulation used, allowing storage underneath a sleek “double-hump” fiberglass cover, which recalled the headrest fairings used on the circa-1950s sports-racers of Porsche and its archrivals.

Production of the new-generation Speedster was delayed until 1989, and the construction of only 2,100 Speedsters was planned from the outset. All Speedsters were equipped with the Turbo-specification chassis and competition-style brakes with cross-drilled discs and four-piston calipers. The majority of Speedsters were also equipped with Porsche’s striking “Turbo Look” bodywork, but this feature was omitted from 159 examples. In addition, the Speedster was the last Porsche model produced at the old factory in Stuttgart, and this factor, along with the 1989 Speedster’s rakish lines, limited production, and one-year-only model status, virtually guaranteed its collectability from the outset.

With approximately 4,200 indicated miles, this very special 1989 Speedster is one of only 823 examples destined for the U.S. market, and as offered today, it is even more spectacular than when new. In 1992, Mr. Dingman submitted it, along with his 1992 America Roadster, to San Diego, California’s AJ-USA, Inc., for conversion to an all-out turbocharged-specification, with virtually no expense spared in the process. All told, about $38,000 were invested in the engine alone, adding to its substantial $111,000 purchase price.

While already a hugely capable performance car, the Speedster was fitted with a custom-built, turbocharged and intercooled, dual-plug 3.5-liter flat-six, and the rest of the car’s systems were thoroughly upgraded to match. To provide optimum performance and proper packaging, the plumbing for the K-28 turbocharger installation was custom-fabricated, and the intake system was optimized to minimize turbo lag. The engine, transmission, and exhaust mounts were either augmented or replaced with custom-fabricated parts to minimize vibration and torque-induced motion, proof positive of AJ-USA, Inc.,’s thoroughly engineered conversion work on the car.

Suspension upgrades included the installation of front and rear Carrera RSR shock absorbers, “gun-drilled” front and rear torsion bars, uprated front and rear stabilizer bars, Turbo-type tie-rod ends, and a complete wheel alignment. Brake upgrades included the addition of Carrera 2 Turbo calipers, front and rear, with custom-fabricated adapters, rotors, mounting hats, and lines, plus carbon brake pads. Front and rear brake-cooling ducts were fitted as well. America Roadster-spec wheels and tires were installed at a cost of $7,200 alone. Other items include a padded and leather-covered custom-fabricated roll bar, a blueprinted gearshift assembly with a short-throw kit, Turbo side view mirrors, and a boost-pressure gauge round out the comprehensive modifications. In the rare occasion that the turbocharged engine sounds are not enough, the car is also equipped with a Blaupunkt CD stereo system. An assault to all senses, this expertly-built 911 Speedster is a rare and modern Porsche icon with turbo-specification upgrades that have rendered it a true supercar.