Air vents in Speedster

For those who obsess about exactly how their 356 left the factory!
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
Ned Hamlin
356 Fan
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Sun Valley, ID

Air vents in Speedster

#1 Post by Ned Hamlin »

Did Speedsters have operable vent pulls under the dash on both sides like A coupes? Our '58 Speedster has the holes, but they are plugged with the permanently mounted valve with carpet covering them. I just want to make sure before I order $800 worth of new assemblies from Stoddard.
Thanks for any help.
Ned Hamlin
'64 Bali Blue coupe
'65 Togo Brown SC
'58 Ruby Speedster
'65 Dolphin Grey coupe
'63 Carrera 2 coupe



If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there - George Harrison/Yogi Berra

User avatar
Dan Macdonald
356 Fan
Posts: 1029
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:37 pm
Location: Marin County, Calfornia
Contact:

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#2 Post by Dan Macdonald »

FYI. My '57 T1 Speedster does not have the vents.
Dan Macdonald 
'59 A Coupe (105327) 
'57 Speedster (82954) 
Registry #1921 (1982) 
DMAIA@aol.com
My YouTube Channel: Tinmeister 356

Dick Roth
356 Fan
Posts: 350
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:01 pm
Location: NYC, Amagansett, NY

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#3 Post by Dick Roth »

My 58 84108 didn't have them either.

User avatar
Jules Dielen
356 Fan
Posts: 3165
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:25 pm
Location: Arizona

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#4 Post by Jules Dielen »

neither do roadsters. Who cares about vents when you need weight reduction.
Jules

Water pumps are for windshield washers only.

User avatar
Ned Hamlin
356 Fan
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Sun Valley, ID

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#5 Post by Ned Hamlin »

I owe each of you a beer at the next Holiday - you just saved me $800. BTW, the car is a T2, 84282.
Thanks guys.
Ned Hamlin
'64 Bali Blue coupe
'65 Togo Brown SC
'58 Ruby Speedster
'65 Dolphin Grey coupe
'63 Carrera 2 coupe



If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there - George Harrison/Yogi Berra

User avatar
Mike Vollmer
356 Fan
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:58 pm
Location: Reno Nevada

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#6 Post by Mike Vollmer »

I have had my 1956 Speedster for 47 years with no vents. I never though once that I needed more fresh air.

Dick Roth
356 Fan
Posts: 350
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:01 pm
Location: NYC, Amagansett, NY

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#7 Post by Dick Roth »

So true!

Dick Roth

Dick Weiss
356 Fan
Posts: 4181
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:54 am

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#8 Post by Dick Weiss »

Ditto my '58 speedster Carrera.

User avatar
Jay Patrick
356 Fan
Posts: 106
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:11 pm
Contact:

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#9 Post by Jay Patrick »

My 58 84739 doesn't have them.
Jay
58' Speedster
64' Sunroof
67' 912 Sunroof
08' KTM
18' f-350

User avatar
Craig Richter
356 Fan
Posts: 1305
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:01 pm
Location: San Miguel de Allende/Traunkirchen

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#10 Post by Craig Richter »

No Speedster had vent pulls. Inhabitants need less water, not more air.
 

Tom Scott
356 Fan
Posts: 457
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:39 pm

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#11 Post by Tom Scott »

I believe that most, if not all, Speedsters DID have provision for fresh air vents, in the same location as coupes, but they were blocked off. The same type cup (cover) as was used in coupes was permanently secured by a stove bolt. They were covered by carpeting and not noticeable unless you remove the carpet. I presently have a pair of these for sale on in the classified section.
Tom Scott

User avatar
Donald Zingg
356 Fan
Posts: 371
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2012 3:03 pm
Location: Sunny So. California
Contact:

Re: Air vents in Speedster

#12 Post by Donald Zingg »

It was one of many progressive modifications on early Speedsters - - - -
The initial three or four dozen cars had vent holes with the valve disk bolted closed.
Next, the valve parts were deleted, and the port hole was covered by a patch panel.
Finally, the 1955 Speedsters got a blank panel on the hinge post - - - -
---
Attachments
vent1.jpg
vent2.jpg
vent3.jpg

Post Reply