1957 Porsche 356 Replica Speedster

This 1957 Porsche 356A Speedster tribute captures the spirit of one of Porsche's most iconic designs. According to the seller, this replica was built in 2019 by Vintage Motorcars of Hawaiian Gardens, California — a respected name in the Speedster replica community — and has covered just 5,220 miles since completion. The fiberglass body wears a Seal Gray Metallic finish and sits atop a modified Volkswagen Beetle chassis that has been shortened and jig-welded for proper proportions. The title reads as a 1957 Porsche 356, and the build maintains authentic period touches including teardrop taillights, a single-grille engine lid, gold Speedster and 1600 Super badging, glass wind wings, and a reproduction Reutter badge on the right fender.

The original Porsche 356A Speedster was produced from 1955 to 1959 and remains one of the most sought-after sports cars in history. With fewer than 4,200 examples built across its entire production run, genuine 356A Speedsters command prices that typically exceed $300,000 — with top examples bringing well over $600,000 at auction. This tribute offers enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the open-top, minimalist charm of the legendary Speedster at a significantly more accessible price point, while benefiting from modern mechanical reliability.

Power comes from an air-cooled 1,914cc Volkswagen flat-four upgraded with dual Weber 44 carburetors with Uni air filters, sending power to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle featuring a 4.10:1 final drive. Braking has been modernized with discs at all four corners — a meaningful upgrade over the drums found on original 356s. The 15-inch polished wide-five wheels wear 185/65 Goodyear Assurance tires. Inside, the cabin features fixed-back seats upholstered in brown with matching dash pad and door panels, gray square-weave carpeting, a wood-rimmed steering wheel with a colored Porsche crest horn button, and VDO-style green-letter instrumentation including a 120-mph speedometer and 6k-rpm tachometer.

Key characteristics that make this vehicle special:

• Respected builder provenance — assembled by Vintage Motorcars, a specialist in 356 Speedster replicas
• Recent, low-mileage build — completed in 2019 with only 5,220 miles traveled since
• Period-correct details — teardrop taillights, wind wings, Reutter badge, and Speedster badging
• Upgraded mechanicals — 1,914cc engine with dual Webers and four-wheel disc brakes
• Authentic interior appointments — wood-rimmed wheel, VDO-style gauges, and square-weave carpeting
• Desirable convertible body style in a market where genuine Speedsters are extraordinarily rare and valuable

For those interested in the broader replica market, you can explore similar vehicles on the Porsche 356 Replica market page.