The Last Speedster

[Jon Schmid]

Jim Ansite is a hell of a mechanic and a nice guy. Too bad (for me) that he relocated to Paso Robles, CA.

[Steven Harris]

According to the Carrera book, the last Speedster to leave the factory was 84952 - built for factory driver Harry Schell. It is, I believe the third from last chassis number. The last chassis number is in Ralph Lauren’s collection and the penultimate one is in the Ingram collection. All three were originally Ruby Red, but rumor has it RL painted his white. 84952 will be at Amelia.

[Joris Koning]

Jim Ansite is a hell of a mechanic and a nice guy. Too bad (for me) that he relocated to Paso Robles, CA.

+1 on that

[Steve Proctor]

Speaking of wrong data, it boggles the mind that proper installation of Speedster windshields has not been locked down. Based on period photographs, it appears that nearly every Speedster in existence has the windshield rubber installed improperly in one way or another. Some are so bad that they actually funnel water behind the bottom seal at the corners. I believe that the late Tim Goodrich was a student of this installation and may be the only restorer that really got it right. Does anyone have detailed photos of the installation on the Heinrichs cars or others he restored?

[Steven Harris]

Not sure where my reply to this thread ended up, but 84952 (by one reconning) the last Speedster, will be at Amelia this year.

[Ibrahim Kuzu]

Jon,
110% agreed....Jim Ansite is a real gentleman.

[Mike Wilson]

I talked with Jim just the other day. He'll be in town for the Lit Show weekend.

Mike

[Steven Harris]

So, to answer the first question in this thread, “When did the last Speedster the Porsche factory?”, it was July 23, 1959. It was chassis number 84952. The last chassis number, 84954, was completed July 10, 1959.

[Harlan Halsey]

The last Speedster hasn't been built yet. They're still building them, brand new. Harv and Linda Smith used to refer to rusty 356s as "light bodied". The new ones won't be as "light bodied" as the old ones.

[Dave Erickson]

Right. Restoration design had a new one on display at Rennsport 7.

[Al Zim]

Steven: Would you send me a copy of the build data for 84954 so I can compare it to the data I have. The factory build documents would be the most interesting. Thank You al zim

[Alan Klingen 2]

I do knowow of the last 54 speester to leave that was a customer of mine Linda Lamb. See blew up the motor and I went to JIM At EASY and not only did he have a 54 block it was the next one in the serial number !!Alan The Stable.

[Brian R Adams]

The last Speedster hasn't been built yet. They're still building them, brand new.

Porsche AG is still building them?
-

[Al Zim]

Brian: I hope the "NEW" speedster is as enjoyable as the old ones were. al

[Michael Doyle]

There are two cars that could be considered "The Last Speedster". 84954 is the highest chassis number, but 84952 is the last one by production finish date. According to the Sprenger Heinrichs Carrera book, 84954 was finished on July 10, 1959 while 84952 was finished on July 23, 1959. Both cars were originally Ruby Red with 692/3 specification engines making them pretty much identical.

Most pushrod engine Speedsters had what is generally known as "Speedster" gearing, BBAB. These very late production Carrera GT Speedsters had 716 transmissions with lower gearing, usually BBAA or even lower depending on customer preference. The little spec book lists all the types of transmissions and what cars they came in and gear stack. For example, the 716/1 transmission would be for a Carrera and have a BBAA stack.

Jeff,
That’s correct. Cars were not completed by date in the order of their chassis numbers.

84 952 was the last 356A Speedster. A Carrera GT completed on 23 July 1959. Engine no. 95044 - Gearbox no. 29186

84 949 was the last of 7 356A 1600S GT Speedsters completed on 3 April 1959. Engine no. 83723 - Gearbox no. 27123

/MD