Few automotive nameplates are as iconic as the Porsche 911. It is a marque that has stood the test of time and engineering and has seen little change to its shape and design since its inception. Advancements have been made and appearances altered, but the Porsche 911 is still essentially the same vehicle as the original 356s that first rolled out of the factory in Germany. To celebrate that, Porsche has reinterpreted a modern 911 GT3 to better represent that history. Enter the 911 Speedster.
The name and design come from the drop-top 356s back in the day, while the rest of the car is out on loan from Porsche’s 911 GT3. Powering the Speedster is a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated, flat-six cylinder engine that delivers 500 horsepower and can rev to a spine-tingling 9,000 rpm. As for the transmission, only a six-speed manual unit can suffice. No automated dual-clutch here, either. This, after all, is a driver’s car.
The exterior is where most of the 911 GT3 has seen changes with the most obvious change being the deleted roof. Only a manually operated tonneau cover remains under the double-bubble rear hood panel. The windshield remains untouched, but the side glass has been shortened, and the side mirrors replaced with “Talbot” shaped units that give the Speedster a more classic look. Lastly, the Speedster’s exterior receives a more iconic fuel-filler location centered directly in the middle of the hood.
Porsche has stated that the company will only build 1,948 examples of the Speedster marking the year the company officially received its operating license and began production. Pricing hasn’t been released yet, but given that the 911 Speedster will be one of Porsche’s ultra-exclusive Heritage line, the Speedster won’t likely be comparable to the 718 Boxster or even a standard 911 GT3. We’d hazard to guess that the 911 Speedster will set buyers back GT2 RS money, or around $250,000.
As for now, let’s just stare at this gorgeous, gorgeous automobile and wait until we can get our hands on one and take a spin on some winding narrow roads, top back, wind in our hair.
For more Porsche action, check out how the brand celebrated its 70th anniversary.
