Porsche 911 Speedster concept

The concept was unveiled on 8 June, marking 70 years to the day since the first Porsche-badged car – a 356 roadster – received its “operating permit” for road use in Austria back in 1948. Described by Porsche as a road-ready design study, the Speedster concept has been predicted to reach production. Should it do so, Porsche say it’ll be the ninth model to officially wear the ‘Speedster’ badge.

While the first Porsche to specifically wear the Speedster badge didn’t arrive until 1954, the idea had its roots four years earlier, when Porsche’s North American distributor, Max Hoffman, suggested the addition of a stripped-down, lower-priced version of the 356 to compete with English sports cars (MG, Austin-Healey, Triumph, etc.) that were popular in the US at the time. The result was the 356-based ‘1500 America Roadster’.

Released in 1952, the America featured a hand-made aluminium body produced by Glaser, but proved to be more expensive than originally anticipated and was removed from the Porsche lineup after only 17 examples had been built. However, the idea still had merit, and with production now in the hands of Reutter (using the same steel body as the 356 Cabriolet), the first Speedster to actually wear the badge arrived in 1954. Features included a lower windscreen that was removable for racing, clip-in side windows and a simple cover instead of a true convertible top.

The Speedster’s interior continued the minimalist ethos, with simple fixed-back bucket seats and factory-fitted instrumentation that was limited to just a speedo and temperature gauge. A tacho and heater were optional extras, but most 356 Speedsters appear to have been fitted with them.

Drivetrain was the same 1.5-litre flat four and 4-speed manual as the coupe, but the Speedster’s lighter weight meant it could outpace a fixed-roof version initially, but the margin evened out approaching top speed. Following the debut “pre-A” (aka T0) Speedster, the second version arrived in 1955, this time on the 356A platform.

though the body was largely the same as the pre-A, the 356A featured substantial chassis, suspension and steering changes, as well as a new manual transmission and a new 1600cc engine offered in two levels of tune. The changes on the 356 coupe and convertible were also applied to the Speedster, with this generation referred to as the ‘T1’.

In late 1957, the third ‘T2’ version of the Speedster was released. Changes over the T1 were minimal, with improved linkages on the gearbox the most notable difference. Repositioned door handles and re-routed exhaust exits were other differences. With the arrival of the 356 ‘Convertible D’ in August, 1958, Speedster sales officially ended, although a handful were built on this platform in 1959. Thus, the Speedster name came to an end and wouldn’t reappear for another thirty years.

While a small number of home-made speedsters were produced on the 911 platform, some arriving only a few years after its release in 1964, a factory version wasn’t on the cards initially.

That changed in 1986, when two different takes on a modern Speedster were designed in-house at Porsche, with the version based on a 911SC cabriolet presented in concept form at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show. Response to the showcar was immediate and positive, with demand for a Speedster on both the conventional 911 body as well the wide-body 911 Turbo (aka 930) version, leading to the production of 2,104 examples in 1989.

Like the original Speedster, the first 911-based version featured a shorter windscreen that was also raked further back. The convertible top, hidden under a distinctive ‘double bubble’ cover when not in use, was also simpler compared to a regular 911 convertible, while the rear seats were deleted.

The success of the first 911 Speedster saw Porsche apply the same formula to the 964 generation in 1992. Based on a Carrera 2 (2WD) cabriolet, the 964 Speedster was harder-edged than the first 911-based version, with a simple convertible top that even Porsche described as being for emergency use only.

Mechanically, the 964 Speedster was unchanged from the Carrera 2, with an air/oil-cooled 3.6-litre flat six and 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto transmission, while coil spring suspension had replaced the torsion bars used on the first 911. A planned production run of 3,000 proved to be optimistic, with 936 examples eventually built; less than half the total of the previous version. Of that number, only 20 featured the turbo-style wide-body, produced by Porsche’s ‘Werk 1’ workshop near the end of the production run.

After a solitary factory Speedster and some aftermarket versions were built on the 993 platform, the final – for now – Speedster arrived on the 997 platform in 2011. Fitted with the 300kW 3.8 flat six from the then-current 911 GTS, the 997 Speedster was only available with a seven-speed PDK auto transmission.

The shorter (by 70mm) and more steeply-raked windscreen continued, but the 997 version was safer, with built-in rollover protection. It was arguably more comfortable and less of a “driver’s car” than the previous Speedster, too, with the simple soft top being more watertight than past versions even though it was still manually operated.

As a nod to the original 356 Speedster, only 356 examples of the 997-based version were produced, limited to just two exterior colour choices - Carrera White and Pure Blue - the latter being exclusive to the Speedster.

Since that Speedster was built seven years ago, enthusiasts have been wondering if the badge will return. Now, it seems like it will.

As presented this past June, the Speedster concept uses the same chassis as the current – 991.2 – generation 911 GT3, and an engine producing “more than 500hp (372kW),” according to Porsche. If it makes production in the same form as the concept, that’ll likely mean a tweaked version of the GT3’s naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat six, which produces 367kW and 459Nm in its current form.

The engine has been matched to a 6-speed manual transmission driviin the concept, but any production Speedster is expected to be offered with the choice of a 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK auto. Finished in a silver and white colour scheme that’s familiar from early Porsche racing cars, the Speedster concept also features a race-style central fuel filler cap, while the headlights feature clear and frosted elements, designed to mimic the taped-over headlights of racers from days past.

The concept’s basic body shape is the same as that of the current 911 Carrera 4 cabriolet, but the “lightweight” ethos - the driving force behind past Speedsters - has seen the front guards, bonnet and double-bubble rear seat cover produced in carbon fibre. A slatted section between the humps on the rear cover is said to improve on-road aerodynamics.

As with past Speedsters, the windscreen on the concept is shorter, as is the side glass, while a Plexiglas wind deflector, engraved with the ‘70 Years of Porsche’ logo, has been added aft of the front seats. The concept features no convertible top, so there’s zero weather protection when driving, although a soft tonneau cover is included to protect the interior from rain when parked. Obviously, any production Speedster will add a version of the current convertible’s conventional folding soft top.

The wheels are 21-inch custom items, inspired by Porsche Fuchs alloys, but these units are a little different in that they’re the first of their kind to feature centre-lock fasteners. Finishing touches outside include bonnet pins, old-school ‘Talbot’ mirrors and gold-plated Speedster badging that graces the B-pillars and rear fascia.

Inside, the concept is largely Carrera 4-spec, but the air con, radio and sat nav have all been deleted. Identifying Speedster badging has been added, along with ‘Cognac 356’ leather trim on the seats, door cards and dash; apparently to evoke the look of classic Speedsters. Another retro touch is the use of leather straps for door pulls instead of conventional handles.

While the 911 Speedster Concept is still that – a concept – it seems likely that it will come to market, granted without some of the concept’s more radical features. Even Porsche’s language in the press release – “the concept study offers a glimpse of a potential series-production version, although this may not be presented until 2019” – sounds more positive than negative, with Porsche adding that a decision on whether to bring the concept to production will be made in the next few months.

Words: Mike Ryan. Photos: Porsche media