Former Porsche 356 Speedster Racer Brought Back to Life
This old-school racer is still around thanks to the efforts of a diligent collector.
Happy Ending
The fate of old Porsche race cars varies greatly, with some winding up restored and on display at the Porsche Museum and others heading for the scrap heap or long-term storage. The story of this particular racer - privateer Edward Parlett's 356 A 1600 Super Speedster - is a bit more complex than that, but luckily, it's still around today and looking better than ever.
Photos: Porsche
Fond Memories
Parlett obtained his competition license at the Marlboro Motor Raceway, took part in his first race there, and would go on to win its six-hour endurance events twice. He was one of the so-called "Philly gang," a group of local racers including Bob Lorrailliere, Jack Heron, Nagle Bridwell, and Ray Kraftson. Old pictures reveal them gathered around the 356 A 1600 Super Speedster that was Parlett's long-standing and last racing car - and the car Ron Szasszer now owns.
Photos: Porsche
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Forever Record
Today, birch trees are growing out of the tarmac at the track, although the grandstands are just about still intact. Until 1974, racing royalty such as Mario Andretti, Roger Penske, and Paul Newman drove here. And Jackie Stewart won the 12-hour race in a Lotus Cortina in 1964. "This race track closed down shortly after I retired from motorsport," Parlett said. "I think that means I still hold the lap record here. And that is then a record forever."
Photos: Porsche
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Love at First Sight
Back in 2008, Szasszer was sitting on the sofa in his flat in northern Germany, surfing online car deals. "I didn't really want to buy anything, and also not a Porsche," he said. Eventually, he came across a dealer in Austria for this 356 A 1600 Super Speedster, built-in 1957, in its original racing trim and orange paintwork. "There was hardly any description for it, and there was also no price," Szasszer said. "There was just a comment that it had competed in many major races on the East Coast of the U.S. and that it once belonged to a driver called Ed Parlett. For me, it was love at first sight."
Photos: Porsche
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Staying True
Once the car had arrived in Hamburg, Szasszer decided to get it roadworthy but didn't want to change the Porsche's appearance. Some parts had already been replaced, however, including the original racing bucket seat, fuel bladder, roll cage, wind deflector, and wheels. Amazingly enough, he did manage to track down a set of old magnesium wheels, still with 50-year-old Goodyear rubber on them, which had been used by Parlett in the 1960s.
Photos: Porsche
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Doing Research
After fixing it up, Szasszer began to do research on the Porsche's history and managed to get in contact with Parlett, who retired from racing in 1975 and sold the car to TWA driver Jack Klinges in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who stored it in his barn until 2008 when Franz Wittner from Carcollection brought it to Austria. Szasszer finally returned it to the road in 2011 and frequently met up with Parlett during this time to better understand its history. In 2012, the race veteran gave Szasszer his helmet, as well as all the car's old invoices and his detailed race records.
Photos: Porsche
>>Join the conversation about this 356 Speedster's restoration right here in the Rennlist Forum!
Keeping a Memory Alive
Sadly, Parlett died the following year but Szasszer has done much since to ensure his memory lives on. The Speedster, which still bears traces of rubber from its final race almost half a century ago, is driven regularly despite Hamburg's less than perfect weather. And its dedicated owner now runs the United Garages Instagram account, where around 1,500 subscribers share their unifying passion for a Porsche with patina.
Photos: Porsche
>>Join the conversation about this 356 Speedster's restoration right here in the Rennlist Forum!
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