- Extensive restoration within the last decade
- Restored in its originally delivered livery of Speedster White over Red leatherette
- Considerable history dating back to the late-1970s, documenting long-term preservation into the late 2010s
- Original U.S.-specification 1600 Speedster delivered to Hoffman Motors
- Fitted with a period-correct 1956 1,600-cc engine with twin Solex carburetors paired with its numbers-matching transmission
- Furnished with a copy of its factory Kardex warranty card, Porsche CoA, owner’s manual, and toolkit
Chassis No. 82181
Engine No. 63249
Transmission No. 8775
USD 485,000$/ CAD 678,130$ (exchange rate at time of posting)
Dispatched to Hoffman Motors in New York City in the spring of 1956, this 1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster was among those U.S.-market examples delivered via the legendary American-market distributor and tastemaker. It left the factory wearing Weiss (White) paint over Red leatherette, the same striking livery it wears today. Additional options noted on the Kardex include a speedometer in miles and sealed beam headlights.
The earliest history of the car dates to the late 1970s when it was sold via Weldon Scrogham’s G&W Motorwerkes to R.A. Hendricks of Waynesboro, Virginia. Service invoices show that by at least 1983 the car was in the hands of long-term owner Carter Elliott based in nearby Charlottesville. Elliott would take fastidious care of the car while under his ownership, a span that would last over three decades.
Invoices on file reveal more
Invoices remain on file showing parts purchases and work completed by the best suppliers throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including Stoddard, Performance Products, and H.G. Bieker. In 2018 the story of Speedster chassis number 82181 simultaneously began anew and circled back to familiar hands when noted 356 Porsche expert and restorer Cole Scrogham (son of Weldon) was tasked with a thorough refresh. Directed by its then-owner to keep as much of the original car intact as possible, Scrogham is said to have been able to retain the majority of its original, Reutter-built sheet metal with an eye on preservation while the car was refinished to “show quality” in its original shade of Speedster White.
A period-correct 1,600-cc flat-four (serial number 63249) from a 1956 356 A powers the wheels through its numbers-matching transmission. In the nicely detailed engine compartment, you’ll find proper FRAM and Bosch decals, correct finishes and components, as well as a pair of Solex carburetors topped by silver Knecht air cleaners.
Today, this Speedster appears just as Max Hoffman and the Porsche factory intended: in elegant White over Red, with such details as accessory chrome guards protecting the sealed-beam headlights, period-style Michelin XZX 165 tires, and gold-tone badging serving as clear indicators as the quality of its restoration. A matching red vinyl boot (trunk) covers the occasional soft top when it’s folded. Inside, the red vinyl bucket seats made famous by the Speedster wear contrasting ivory edge piping. A correct ivory two-spoke steering wheel with a horn ring frames a body color dashboard covered with a red upholstered top. VDO instruments feature with correct green lettering — including a miles-per-hour speedometer, as specified in the original Kardex. In a smart nod to modernity, the car is equipped with a pair of vintage style lap belts. Otherwise, Speedster chassis number 82181 presents very much as it did when delivered new in 1956 — down to its exquisite color selection.
In addition to extensive documentation dating back more than four decades, this iconic 356 A Speedster is furnished with a toolkit, a spiral-bound driver’s manual, a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, a copy of its Kardex warranty card, and side curtains with their protective case.
For the Silo, Alexander Weaver/ Hagerty.
