One-Of-Two 993 911 Speedsters Returns to Porsche's Possession
Porsche only built two genuine 993 Speedsters, which makes all other "rare" variants look mass-produced in comparison.
Rare and Rarer
The latest Porsche 911 Speedster is the continuation of a very special model - a low-volume, high-content nod to the past sporting a big price tag. But no matter how few of these special cars Porsche produces, they will never be as rare as the 993 version of the Speedster. Just two of these pure two-seaters from the last air-cooled generation of the classic sports car were ever built, in fact.
Photos: Porsche
Special Ocassion
Of those two cars, one was sold and the other was given away. Thankfully, however, the latter car eventually made its way back to the Porsche Museum on loan. There, it's treated like the priceless artifact that it is, only let out on special occasions. A recent photo shoot with the new 911 Speedster on the roof terrace of the Porsche Museum certainly qualifies as such.
Photos: Porsche
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Nod to the Past
The Speedster itself is a nod to Porsche's origins, as it replicates the core brand values of the sports car manufacturer – namely driving pleasure and driving dynamics. With small windshields and bare essentials, they also pay proper homage to the original Porsche - the No. 1 Type 356, as well as its forefather - the 356 1500 America Roadster of 1952.
Photos: Porsche
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Shaping the Future
That car helped shape many key Speedster features, including an emergency folding top, slot-in windows for the doors, lightweight bucket seats, and aluminum body. Only 21 were built in total, and they carried a price tag much higher than a standard 356. Two years later, the 356 Speedster brought all of these desirable qualities to the masses with a much more affordable price of just under $3,000.
Photos: Porsche
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Paying Tribute
In 1995, Porsche Exclusive set out to build something special to celebrate Ferdinand Alexander Porsche's 60th birthday. And what better way to do that than a Speedster? Porsche started out with a 993 Carrera 2 Cabriolet, which they transformed into a Speedster using a flat windshield from a 964 and a streamlined rear lid with a locking mechanism located behind the driver's seat.
Photos: Porsche
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Second Time Around
Porsche was pleased with this creation, though he didn't drive it much. Even today, the car only has a little over 1,200 miles on the odometer. Then, in 1998, a second example came to be thanks to comedian and Porsche superfan Jerry Seinfeld. After practically begging Porsche to transform his silver 911 cabriolet into a Speedster, the automaker agreed to make it happen. And in 2001, that project was completed.
Photos: Porsche
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Rarest Ever
Today, 70 years after Porsche unveiled their first production sports car, the latest Speedster has hit the road. Like its predecessors, this new car is a uniquely styled, lightweight performer produced in small quantities. But chances are, no matter what happens in the future, we'll never see another Speedster as rare as the coveted 993.
Photos: Porsche
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