The Porsche legend lives on
1954 Porsche Speedster Porsche
Fourth edition of iconic Porsche debuts in L.A.
Original Post
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The Porsche legend lives on
1954 Porsche Speedster Porsche
Fourth edition of iconic Porsche debuts in L.A.
1954 Porsche Speedster Porsche
Fourth edition of iconic Porsche debuts in L.A.
2nd half of article
By 1950, the 356 was in series production and came to the attention of New York-based auto entrepreneur Max Hoffman, who was busy cashing in on the growing U.S. demand for European cars. A meeting between Ferry Porsche and Hoffman resulted in a contract to supply 15 Porsches a year and the first three 356s arrived in the fall of 1950.
The small, rear-engined but surprisingly fast German cars proved a hit and Hoffman was soon selling a dozen a week and was keen to improve on that. To do so he felt he needed a more affordable model and Porsche
By 1950, the 356 was in series production and came to the attention of New York-based auto entrepreneur Max Hoffman, who was busy cashing in on the growing U.S. demand for European cars. A meeting between Ferry Porsche and Hoffman resulted in a contract to supply 15 Porsches a year and the first three 356s arrived in the fall of 1950.
The small, rear-engined but surprisingly fast German cars proved a hit and Hoffman was soon selling a dozen a week and was keen to improve on that. To do so he felt he needed a more affordable model and Porsche
I believe I get the same reaction from my car.
If the new one cost half of what they're asking, I honestly don't know that I'd trade my car in for one.
"Treat it with finesse ..." -- one input at a time. It took me a long time to get what that meant, but the writer there was pretty on the mark, IMHO. you just can't throw these things around, that's for sure. Not even one as overbuilt as the Sloppy Jalopy.
Nice post. Thanks, John!
If the new one cost half of what they're asking, I honestly don't know that I'd trade my car in for one.
"Treat it with finesse ..." -- one input at a time. It took me a long time to get what that meant, but the writer there was pretty on the mark, IMHO. you just can't throw these things around, that's for sure. Not even one as overbuilt as the Sloppy Jalopy.
Nice post. Thanks, John!
I'm having all the fun, for a fraction of the cost of an original. Can't drive the car anywhere without somebody wanting to take a picture, talk about the car, or ask where to get one. Drives great handles well, brings back my youth, and makes others smile. Everything many of you had said before I got into this is true about the fun these replicas provide. If it weren't true then these cars would just pass on into history like so many other vehicles. I'm about four months into ownership and I still appreciate the encouragement and input from so many of you!
Even Porsche can't leave it alone as the above article proves.
Even Porsche can't leave it alone as the above article proves.
2011 Boxster Spyder with a/c and sound-system delete- the REAL "new-speedster". Nice.
Very cool.
I drove the Boxster Spyder in anger a few times at this years Porsche Club Parade. It was indeed a neat car, but I came away underwhelmed. My wife & one Son both have Boxsters and I found the Boxster Spyder to resonate the same vibe as their cars. Neat no doubt but it did not make me bananas. Oddly my VS Speedy makes me bananas. Stans car would probably make me go insane.
I drove the Boxster Spyder in anger a few times at this years Porsche Club Parade. It was indeed a neat car, but I came away underwhelmed. My wife & one Son both have Boxsters and I found the Boxster Spyder to resonate the same vibe as their cars. Neat no doubt but it did not make me bananas. Oddly my VS Speedy makes me bananas. Stans car would probably make me go insane.
I keep hearing the same thing, guys either love them or are, as Michael put it, underwhelmed. No middle ground heard from so far.
Many people felt that the original Boxster was "underwhelming".
I drove one around Roebling Roads track a few years back and found it to be a very neutral-handling car, and that was interesting, considering that I expected it to be a little more "Porsche-like", meaning rear-weighted.
What really surprised me, was that the harder you pushed it, the better it performed, and when you REALLY pushed it, it stuck like glue in the corners and accelerated out of the corners (because, I believe, of really well-thought-out gear selection by the designers) like a mini-rocket. I had a Carrera C-4 behind me and he was really scratching to keep up and HE was a seasoned driver.
If I didn't have the emotional commitment to Pearl (and the fact that I refuse to afford a new Boxster "S") I might have one.....
Naaaahhhh........Just kidding!
I drove one around Roebling Roads track a few years back and found it to be a very neutral-handling car, and that was interesting, considering that I expected it to be a little more "Porsche-like", meaning rear-weighted.
What really surprised me, was that the harder you pushed it, the better it performed, and when you REALLY pushed it, it stuck like glue in the corners and accelerated out of the corners (because, I believe, of really well-thought-out gear selection by the designers) like a mini-rocket. I had a Carrera C-4 behind me and he was really scratching to keep up and HE was a seasoned driver.
If I didn't have the emotional commitment to Pearl (and the fact that I refuse to afford a new Boxster "S") I might have one.....
Naaaahhhh........Just kidding!
Oh yes. Don't get me wrong. I adore the family Boxsters' and place them at the top of my list of fun "must have" cars. BUT I wanted to be wowed by the new Spyder - and found it to be just another of what I already have.
But that's just one mans opinion. I am certain that others that have driven nothing but say Mustangs or Acura's would be pleased beyond comprehension.
But that's just one mans opinion. I am certain that others that have driven nothing but say Mustangs or Acura's would be pleased beyond comprehension.
I think Cory (Hoopty) said it best with "Porsche...there IS a substitute"!
I didn't say anything about replacing my car with a Boxster Spyder- I wouldn't. Ever.
But- the new 997 "speedster" is as far from the original speedster concept as my car is from a GT2RS. 356 speedsters were far from the most powerful cars on the road/track- they were giant slayers because they were nimble. IMHO, any car that has an automatic transmission (automated manual- whatever), traction control, and GPS cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called a "speedster". I'll offer no aesthetic opinion, other than to note that the "turtle back", really does look like a turtle- which seems a dubious choice.
I think the Spyder with it's pretend top and less-is-more philosophy is THE modern incarnation of the spartan over-achieving 356 speedster... or close enough for rock 'n roll.
But- the new 997 "speedster" is as far from the original speedster concept as my car is from a GT2RS. 356 speedsters were far from the most powerful cars on the road/track- they were giant slayers because they were nimble. IMHO, any car that has an automatic transmission (automated manual- whatever), traction control, and GPS cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called a "speedster". I'll offer no aesthetic opinion, other than to note that the "turtle back", really does look like a turtle- which seems a dubious choice.
I think the Spyder with it's pretend top and less-is-more philosophy is THE modern incarnation of the spartan over-achieving 356 speedster... or close enough for rock 'n roll.
Yes yes yes, Bob Garret when he states....(Speedster) brings back my youth. My 87 year old father made it in and out of the my roadster by himself muscled by pride alone and stated ... Johnny, that car makes me feel young again.....Yeah That Indefinable Something
Amen, my brothers. Not quite definable, but, like pornography, you know it when you see it.
You'll (likely) never see anything that has that "something" from Porsche again, or from any other major sports car manufacturer for that matter. I think the closest thing today to what a Speedster was in 1954 is the Lotus Exige. It's a pure sports car, striped down, no frills, go fast car. They too need to treated with finesse, so to speak. The demnds for "Speedster of old-like" sports cars is long gone with regard to the who's buying them. Give up on Porsche ever making that type of car again, they have a different clientel now. But thats just my opinion.
Well said Mickey.........I like my IM-6 much better than anything they have now save the new Cayman R.
I'm still drooling over that one......;-)
I'm still drooling over that one......;-)
There is a really good article in Oct R&T (I think) about their six best handling cars under $100K. Lotus, Audi, Corvette, Boxster, plus ???. Anyway, the article goes a very long way toward defining a lot of that undefineable something we're playing with here. How does the car "feel"? Not just HP, not just toque, not just wheel feel, turn-in, brakes, and skid pad numbers, but sumptin' of how it all works together -- or not. Some very surprising results in some areas. Very subjective, zen type stuff. Cool article, but not without some cool data thrown in too. The Boxter came in #1.
Kelly, I haven't read R & T in a long time, but in October Car and Driver did an article on "Best Handling Car in America". I think this is what you were remembering. The candidates, surprisingly, were BMW M3, Corvete ZO6, Lotus Elite SC, Mazda RX-8 R3, Nissan GT-R, Porsche Boxster Spyder, and VW GTI! And the winner was Boxster Spyder. Significantly, it did NOT turn in the biggest numbers. In fact it was badly trounced in several performance catagories. It was, as Kelly so aptly described, that indefinable combo that, like pornography, "I know it when I feel (see) it" that won.
Now, if it only had a bigger trunk . . .
Now, if it only had a bigger trunk . . .
Dave,
Right you are about the cars reviewed and the mag. Picked the copy up at the docs office recently. Was tempted to steal it. Instead, just finished it up after my appointment was done. It was/is an eclectic bunch of cars, and a cool article. I wonder where my Speedster (or even a real one) would have fit in?
Right you are about the cars reviewed and the mag. Picked the copy up at the docs office recently. Was tempted to steal it. Instead, just finished it up after my appointment was done. It was/is an eclectic bunch of cars, and a cool article. I wonder where my Speedster (or even a real one) would have fit in?
Googled "2011 Porsche 911 Speedster" and saw the pictures. I must admit that they have captured a little bit of the real 356 Speedster line in there. Definitely a 911 front end. Sorta Boxsterish amidships, and very Speedster-like at the rear. Using the real Speedster script -- nice touch there on the brake handle. What I REALLY want to know is: how do I get a pair of those seats into my car??
400 HP, and a 1/4 of a $mil??? Yeeowy! I can get the same amount of air in my face for about 1/10 that, and look cooler doing it. Does look like fun, though. Must be wicked fast. If I were rich man . . .
400 HP, and a 1/4 of a $mil??? Yeeowy! I can get the same amount of air in my face for about 1/10 that, and look cooler doing it. Does look like fun, though. Must be wicked fast. If I were rich man . . .
New designs are way over-the-top. Earlier revision was more on the mark; just my opinion...