1955 Porsche 356 Speedster. 1600 CC, 4-Speed. Estimate $240,000 - $260,000. Photo by David Newhardt, Courtesy of Mecum Auctions.

This 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster is one of the last built before the overarching transition to the new 356A specification. It was originally a California car, residing on the Monterey Peninsula until its new owner relocated it to his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. It has long served the purpose for which it was intended, which was to serve double duty as both a road car and a racer, and it has a great racing history that includes participation in the late 1980s in the La Carrera Classic, an open-road race held annually in Mexico as part of the Silver State Classic Challenge Triple Crown based in Nevada. Finished in Metallic Blue with a Black interior and soft top, it is well-equipped for competition and road use, and presents with a distinct competition flavor attributable to its twin chromed racing mirrors, front bonnet hold-down straps, vestigial front and rear bumpers, chromed early VW-style wheels and the low-cut windshield that was a Speedster trademark. A padded competition steering wheel, snug-fitting bucket seats with safety harnesses and centrally mounted fire extinguisher give the cockpit a racy air as well. Lifting the engine cover reveals a 1,600CC version of the horizontally opposed Porsche four-cylinder in place of the original. Sourced from a 1964 356C, it has been fitted with a set of Porsche 912 pistons, a common practice for extracting maximum power from the 1600-series engine. This well-prepared dual-duty Speedster comes with documentation back to the early 1970s and comes with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity.

Mecum Monterey 2015