Born on 8 June 1948, the Porsche 356 No.1 was presented to the world, immediately setting standards by which the famous Stuttgart marque is still known today. Created around the philosophy of lightweight and nimble, the 356 quickly made a name for itself as a road car. But it also became the sports car of choice by a growing number of enthusiasts who prepared the car for motor racing. The Speedster, a lightweight version of the 356, was produced in the autumn of 1954 through until 1958. Despite being introduced at various times over the years, the Speedster was not a regular model in the 911 family line-up, but thanks to a new concept shown in 2018, the Porsche Speedster lives on today.
The 356 Speedster with test pilot and Porsche customer Martin L. Tayler in front of a USAF fighter jet at the Langley Air Force base in Virginia, USA
Ferry Porsche quickly realised that the company’s largest market for potential growth was in North America, and a distribution deal was signed with the well-known automotive dealer, Max Hoffman. In turn, Hoffman signed John von Neumann as his West Coast distributor, and it was this deal which really gave Porsche the sales injection it needed. Von Neumann had a nose for an opportunity, and with the 356, he saw the young set as the market with the most potential for Porsche. A keen racing driver, von Neumann raced a 356 in events along the West Coast, and this laid the foundation for the creation of a special model.
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