Introducing The Porsche 911 Speedster Concept: A Topless GT3

This stunning concept celebrates 70 years of the 911.

The next generation 992 911 is right around the corner, but Porsche typically likes to release a few special edition cars before putting a 911 out to pasture. Rumors were circulating that Porsche would revive the Speedster name, and it looks like the speculation was correct. The last Speedster was based on the 997 generation 911, and came out back in 2010. Unfortunately, this new 991.2 Speedster is only a concept car, and Porsche says it is a “potential series-production version.” That's Porsche speak for "we're building it, wink, wink."

As we expected, the chassis comes from the 911 GT3, which means this concept is powered by the same 4.0-liter flat-six producing more than 500 horsepower. Unlike the previous Speedster, which was PDK only, this Speedster will be offered with the option of a six-speed manual transmission. Inside and out, Porsche has focused on making the new Speedster as light as possible. The car ditches a traditional convertible top in favor of a light weight tonneau cover. The weight saving diet gets even more extreme with the removal of the infotainment system and air conditioning. This concept car is definitely for purists only.

As you'd expect, Porsche didn't just grab a GT3 off the line and cut the roof off. The body is based on a Carrera 4 Cabriolet, but the wings, hood, and rear deck are all made from lightweight carbon fiber. Of course, that rear deck features a double bubble, harkening back to the original 911 Speedster in 1988. Porsche says this concept was designed to pay homage to predecessors like the 356 1500 Speedster. Even the silver paint with brown leather interior is meant to harken back to classic Porsche Speedster models. Other small details from the past include a '50s-style central fuel cap on the hood and classic-style mirrors.

To finish it all off, Porsche placed the number 70 on the car to celebrate 70 years of the 911. Combine the livery with classic-style 21-inch Fuchs wheels, and the 911 Speedster looks remarkably retro. Although this is only a concept, we have a strong feeling that Porsche will build a few examples for a select group of lucky customers. We also expect that the loyal Porsche fans who can afford a Speedster are already on a list to buy one, and prices will instantly skyrocket as soon as they hit the used market.

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Porsche 911 Speedster Rumored To Be "Exactly" Like Concept Car

That means a center-mounted fuel cap and leather straps for the hood.

Just last month, Porsche showed off the 911 Speedster Concept, which looked fairly close to production aside from a few small details. Porsche hasn't officially confirmed that the Speedster would enter production, but we spotted a test mule on the Nurburgring, pretty much confirming that the Speedster will reach production. We are still waiting from an official announcement from Porsche, but sources close to the project have just leaked some details on the Spike's Car Radio podcast.

The podcast is hosted by Spike Feresten, a writer, comedian, and Porsche enthusiast. Feresten is best known for his work on Seinfeld, having written the famous 'Soup Nazi' episode. He is also good friends with Jerry Seinfeld, one of the world's greatest Porsche collectors. Feresten didn't say who his anonymous source was, but it could be Seinfeld, who claims he influenced Porsche to build the 911 R. In any case, we trust that Feresten may know a thing or two about the upcoming Speedster. For starters, Feresten said on his show that the car would be "exactly" like the concept.

This means those crazy side mirrors and centrally mounted fuel cap will remain on the production car. We find this hard to believe, but we certainly wouldn't object to it. More importantly, Feresten confirmed that Porsche will build 1,948 examples of the Speedster, to celebrate the company's 70th anniversary. Porsche only built 356 examples of the previous 997 Speedster, so perhaps this new car will be slightly more attainable.

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1958 Porsche Speedster Barn Find Extraordinaire

The vintage roadster is currently available via Craigslist.

As one of the most coveted Porsche models in the world with its cut down windshield and bucket seats, the vintage 1958 Porsche Speedster is a rare model that normally only turns up at classic car auctions. Barn Finds, however, tracked this particular example down on Craigslist. According to the ad, the car was parked up back in 1982 with 93,500 miles on the clock, 3,500 of which came after a body restoration.

A 1979 Porsche 911 Turbo it shares a garage with is also for sale, as are a few other models from the nineties. Before it came down, the seller's Facebook page stated the car is worth $125,000. With no major issues that could be a decent price for the black on red Speedster. Although any serious buyer is strongly urged to do their research before parting with such a substantial sum of money.

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Stunning Porsche 911 Speedster Replica Is Sure To Turn Heads

The Speedster that used to be a Targa - 911 modifying done right.

In the world of the Porsche 911, older is better, especially if it happens to be a limited-edition model. And where it was once considered sacrilege to modify an original car, it has become big business for specialist tuners to update and produce their own versions of the iconic earlier air-cooled models. DP Motorsport is one such firm, whose current focus is mainly on lightweight road and track 911s. Its latest design is a stunning grey 911 Speedster that actually started life out as a far more common 1989 3.2-liter Targa.

The current owner brought the car to DP Motorsport already having had the Speedster bodywork done. Patrick and his team were then tasked with giving it an even more retro appearance, drawing inspiration from the pre-impact bumper 1970s F-model 911s. The smooth lines, lowered front bumper and wide rear arches give the car a recognizable yet unique look, accentuated by the striking Nardogrey paintwork. The light surrounds, door handles and other trim pieces are now a deep black which looks great against the orange Porsche decals running along each side. The interior is largely unchanged save for an Alcantara-covered steering wheel and metal shifter.

With the exterior completed, the next step is to upgrade the standard internals. The 218-hp 3.2-liter flat-six will receive updated camshafts, bigger throttle bodies and a new exhaust manifold to boost its output to around 260 hp. The handling will also benefit from a KW Clubsport adjustable suspension package and the end result should be a well-balanced retro-looking 911 Speedster with very satisfying performance. The care and attention given to these modifications should also ensure that the essence of this classic air-cooled 911 is not lost in the process.

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Porsche Speedster Concept Is A Go For Production

Classically styled but technologically advanced, this may be the most desirable 991 yet.

When it comes to 70th birthday presents, the Porsche Speedster Concept was a particularly good one. Initially presented in Zuffenhausen on June 8 in 2018 to coincide with the exact date seven decades ago when the very first Porsche 356 received its operating license, the 911 Speedster was a fully driveable concept that many suspected would enter limited production.

Well, Porsche has just released a second Speedster Concept just in time for the Pairs Motor Show and officially confirmed that it will indeed put it into production, 1,948 units in total, to coincide with its anniversary date.

The nod to Porsche’s history continues with the Guards Red paintwork that adorns the new Porsche Concept Speedster II, a color used on the 1988 911 Speedster. It is perhaps not surprising that this model will be the first car to be offered with the new Heritage Design Packages too.

This exclusive accessory line by Porsche Exclusive will allow for an even higher degree of personalization for 911 models. The concept car’s body is based on a Carrera 4 Cabriolet but borrows its chassis, drivetrain, and gearbox from the GT3. Most importantly, the naturally-aspirated 500 horsepower flat-six engine and six-speed manual transmission are also borrowed from the GT3.

Both Speedster concepts share this basic layout, however the Guards Red example featured here has red-tinted daytime running lights, 21-inch wheels and a black leather interior with red highlights.

A lightweight Tonneau cover can be erected over the car in case of rain but we doubt many owners will be taking their limited-edition Speedsters out in inclement weather. Production is slated to start in 2019 and as with most limited-edition Porsches, it's best to get in line before they are all gone.

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Porsche 911 Speedster Looks Production Ready On Nurburgring

We knew Porsche would put it into production.

Earlier this month, Porsche showed off the 911 Speedster Concept: a topless version of the beloved GT3. Though it was only a concept, a new Speedster has been rumored for quite some time, and Porsche revealed a lot about the car's performance. The Speedster has been spotted testing at various points in the development cycle, and now the car has been seen lapping the Nurburgring looking pretty darn close to production specification. So what can we expect from the swan song of the 991.2 generation?

For starters, this is the first time that we've seen what will likely be the production roof without any camouflage. The concept version didn't show any images of the roof, and earlier test mules sported a more conventional convertible top. This roof looks like the real deal, and reminds us a lot of the roof on the Boxster Spyder. Like the Boxster Spyder, the 911 Speedster's roof will probably be manually operated to save weight. This test mule also shows off a large rear spoiler, which appears to be power adjustable. The spoiler will likely rest flat on the deck lid when not in use, then deploy when the car reaches a certain speed or the driver pushes a button.

We expect to see a full reveal of the Speedster next month at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. For now, these spy shots give us a pretty good idea of what the the car will look like, and we already know that it will be powered by a 4.0-liter 500 horsepower flat-six from the GT3.

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Porsche Is Bringing Back The 911 Speedster

This highly limited 911 marks the end of the 991.2-generation 911.

We all know money is part of it, but Porsche insists that it’s in the game for its fans. Even though its cars cost a pretty penny, it loves to make special editions that recount some of the most rare and popular models it has ever made. The current 911R is a shoutout to the ultra-rare 1967 Porsche 911R that only saw 20 examples ever made, but it's not all Porsche has in store for the 991.2-generation 911. That's because Car Magazine has learned that Porsche is planning to debut a 911 Speedster at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

It’ll replace the previous-generation 997 911 Speedster that came out in 2010 and marked the end of its respective 911 generation. To celebrate its life, the Speedster came with its characteristic look, embodied by a shorter windshield, large rear end, unique body kit, new front fascia, and a convertible design with a strange double bubble roof cover at the rear. In typical 911 Speedster tradition, this 991.2-generation Speedster will mark the end of its generation, which will soon be replaced by the 992-generation 911. It’s recommended that performance seekers stick with the 911 GT2 RS. That’s because the last 911 Speedster featured a 3.8-liter flat-six engine from the GTS that made "only" 402 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.

Car Magazine claims it wasn’t the most impressive thing to drive, but luckily the new 911 Speedster should have a more spritely engine provided it gets its power from the current 911 GTS. If that’s the case, expect it to come with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine making 450 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. Being a special edition, it’ll also cost a heck of a lot more than the $120,000 911 GTS. That’s a tradition purists may not be so happy about because it means they can expect to shell out over $200,000 for the sports car. At least it won’t all be for the bragging rights because with 356-unit production run (an ode to the original Porsche 356 Speedster), it’ll hit collector status in no time.

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