The 356 was created by Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche (son of Dr. Ing. Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the company). Like its cousin, the Volkswagen Beetle (which Ferdinand Porsche Senior had designed), the 356 was a four-cylinder, air-cooled, rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive car utilizing unitized pan and body construction. While the 356's body was an original design by Porsche employee Erwin Komenda, its mechanicals (including engine, suspension and chassis) were derived from the Volkswagen. The first 356, was road certified in Austria on June 8, 1948, and used many Volkswagen parts for manufacturing economy. Porsche quickly re-engineered and refined the car with a focus on performance.

Today, the Porsche 356 is a highly-regarded collector car and among the most desirable 356 models. One of the most desirable collector models is the 356 "Speedster", introduced in late 1954 after Max Hoffman, the sole US importer of Porsches, advised the company that a lower-cost, open-top version could sell well in the American market. With its low, raked windshield (which could be removed for weekend racing), bucket seats and minimal folding top, the Speedster was an instant hit. Production of the Speedster peaked at 1,171 cars in 1957 and then started to decline.

The demand for this Timeless & Classic car is such that several manufacturers offer replicas often based on VW chasses of an earlier era. One of the largest manufacturers of these replicas is Vintage Speedsters of Hawaiian Gardens, California. The same love and attention goes into recreating these replicas as restoring original cars. With over 2 decades of experience and thousands of cars built you can trust a Vintage Speedsters replica to provide you with not only years of driving pleasure, but with prices of original cars easily fetching $150,000.00 to $200,000.00, an affordable compromise as well!

Replica Speedsters (This website, nor its host) is not associated with, or affiliated in any way with Dr. Ing h.c.F. Porsche AG., Porsche Cars AG., Porshce Cars North America, or their subsidiaries. Porsche and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing h.c.F. Prosche AG.