According to its previous owner, a knowledgeable marque specialist, this late-production 1958 Speedster was originally owned by a Volkswagen dealer in Natchez, Mississippi. In late 1988, it was acquired by a very persistent admirer, after 15 years of pursuit, and was then painstakingly restored to its original condition over a five-year period.

In its previous ownership, the car’s engine was upgraded to one from a later Porsche 912, using a counterweighted crankshaft and correct Super 90/SC 912 Solex carburetors with correct factory air cleaners. The surrounding sheet metal, starter, generator fan shroud, oil filler and filter, etc., are all original 356. The result is a wonderfully “stock” appearance, but with a 25 percent increase in power over the original!

More recently, the car has been beautifully refinished in Meisen Blue with a Navy top and interior and OEM tan square-weave carpeting. It is enhanced by a pair of correct OEM USA full bumpers, with overriders in both front and rear and a set of chrome wheels with matching year-correct hubcaps. In addition, the Speedster features a chrome driver’s side-view mirror, U.S.-specification body-colored bumpers, and a correct factory-specification muffler with through-the-bumper exhaust elbows. Inside the Spartan cockpit is a beautifully refinished Meisen Blue dashboard with correct VDO gauges, including a date-coded 1958 tachometer converted to electric operation and a properly restored Nardi wooden steering wheel with correct horn button. The car is accompanied by not only an original jack, but also an original factory OEM tool roll with tools, Certificate of Authenticity, and Kardex. The current owner had the engine and transmission both rebuilt and their seals replaced by a marque specialist in 2016.

A rocket offered in excellent running condition, this car is certainly one of the most complete, correct, and entertaining 356 Speedsters available today, and it promises to offer limitless entertainment to its lucky new driver.