The immortal Porsche 356 Speedster was succeeded in late 1958 by the more refined 356 Convertible D, with the “D” standing for their coachbuilder Drauz. These new open 356s maintained much of the Speedster’s racing feel, but with the enhanced practicality of a taller windshield, wind-up door glass, and a proper-fitting convertible top. With the dawn of the 356 B and its T-5 body type, Porsche continued outsourcing production to Drauz as the Roadster replaced the Convertible D.

For the 1962 model year, Porsche refined the 356 yet again with the debut of the T-6 body type. To not overwhelm Drauz, and to clear production lines for the upcoming 356 C, which would no longer feature a Roadster, Porsche commissioned the Belgian coachbuilder D’Ieteren to complete the T-6 Roadsters. Easily distinguishable by their squared hood, right front fender fuel filler, and engine lids with twin ventilation grilles, this final Roadster ranks among the rarest Porsches ever made at just shy of 250 total examples.

This 356 “Twin Grille” Roadster from the Rudi Klein Collection is an incredible time capsule example, which Klein’s heirs believe to be entirely unrestored with original finishes throughout, and fewer than 600 miles shown at cataloguing time. Per a copy of its Kardex build record on file, chassis 89848 was shipped on 29 March 1962 and finished as it presents today in the elegant livery of Oslo Blue (Osloblau 6203 D) over gray leatherette trim. D’Ieteren production records collected by marque enthusiasts further indicate that assembly and construction of 89848 began on 15 March 1962, and this car is the penultimate “Twin Grille” Roadster completed by the Belgian company.

Factory-equipped with the same 1600 Normal engine and transaxle that still sit in its engine bay, this Roadster was delivered new via Autohaus Krauss Porsche in Nürnberg, Germany, and exported soon thereafter to the Los Angeles home of its first owner, Jack Schultz. During the early 1970s, the car was acquired by a Porsche enthusiast in Jacksonville, Florida.

By 1976, this D’Ieteren special had entered the garage of a Los Angeles-area real estate mogul and was deposited among his small but finely curated collection of rare Porsches and Volkswagens. During its time with this previous owner the car was registered to his Oregon vacation home as CAW862, and in fact these plates still accompany the car today.

On 17 May 1978, Rudi Klein purchased chassis 89848 from the previous owner for $18,500, and subsequently trailered it to his home, high in the foothills of Rancho Palos Verdes. The car was rarely—if ever—enjoyed with any regularity during Klein’s early ownership, and some years later this remarkable time capsule of a car was subsequently brought to the storage buildings at Porche Foreign Auto’s yard.

During the 1980s, Klein loaned the car to the Porsche shop Aase Brothers in Fullerton, California so that several notable restorers from the United States and Germany could study, record, and faithfully recreate the original finishes featured upon this preserved, reference-grade Twin Grille Roadster.

Following its semi-public exhibition at Aase Brothers, it was quietly interred among Klein’s personal trove of significant vehicles for several decades until July 2024, when RM Sotheby’s staff arrived on-site to catalogue and photograph the entire collection.

Owing to its superb originality of finishes and numbers matching-drivetrain components, this highly practical derivative of the 356 Speedster wants little except its next passionate caretaker—one who will display it and enjoy it as a true marvel of preservation.