Daily Slideshow: A rare classic goes across the auction block.
As we count down to the Porsche 70th Anniversary Sale event held by RM Sotheby's in late October, we take a closer look at another one of the special Porsches up for auction at the event. Appropriately named 'Super' Speedster, this Concours-winning 356A would add prestige to any collection.
The US-spec Speedster was first sold in 1956 to its original owner, Manny Smith in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Porsche spend the first eleven years of its life with Smith who drove it all of about 32,000 miles before deciding to part ways with it in order to fund other ventures. At this point, the car was purchased by its second (and current) owner, Robert Howry, Jr.
>>Join the conversation about the 356A Super Speedster and the auction right here in Rennlist.com!
Having gotten into the world of Porsche ownership with a 1955 356 Continental Coupe after selling his Jaguar XK 120, Howry enjoyed the great performance that the sports car offered, and like pretty much every Porsche owner prior and since, he gained an increasing love and appreciation for these German machines. However, the life of his first 356 was cut short when the car was totaled in an incident. Thankfully, Howry survived uninjured.
>>Join the conversation about the 356A Super Speedster and the auction right here in Rennlist.com!
Bob's West Germany tour as a part of the US Army in '58 provided an opportunity for him to invest in another Porsche. He enjoyed driving his '59 356A Super sunroof coupe for several months all around Europe before heading back home. He had the Porsche shipped back Stateside and drove it from the shipping docks in New York back to Pennsylvania.
>>Join the conversation about the 356A Super Speedster and the auction right here in Rennlist.com!
This Glacier White convertible entered Howry's life thanks to Manny Smith. Though he didn't quite have the same affection for Speedsters as he did for coupes, he couldn't resist the urge to purchase the Super Speedster. "Manny had this convertible for sale, and he said it was certainly worth $2,000, so I bought it" remembers Howry. The convertible found a way into the man's heart. "I didn't really want it, but it just looked so pretty!"
Interestingly, in the next 51 years of ownership, Bob only put 3,000 more miles on the Super Speedster. Being a bit on the taller side, he did not find driving the Porsche very comfortable. Therefore, it spent the majority of its life sitting in a garage, only being driven occasionally on a weekend or to be displayed at events, car shows, and club meets.
It has to be said, however, that in those 51 years, Bob has taken great care of the Porsche. He has gone above and beyond to make sure the car maintains its original condition in every way possible. The engine, the drivetrain, the and the interior trim are all original. The special-order paint is original everywhere except for the front trunk lid. A shop incident about 10 years ago left some scratches on the paint, so Bob had it repainted.
With a plethora of its original accessories such as the side curtains, jack, spare, manuals, tool roll, and much more, this Super Speedster is now looking for its third home. Look for it at the Porsche 70th Anniversary Sale in Atlanta, GA on the weekend of October 27th, and follow the event over at RM Sotheby's website.
>>Join the conversation about the 356A Super Speedster and the auction right here in Rennlist.com!
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