Porsche 911 (930) Speedster 1989
The history of Porsche Speedster models begins in the USA.
Speedster variants have been part of Porsche's company history since 1952. They combine open-roof driving pleasure with particularly pronounced driving dynamics. The 356 America Roadster is considered the ancestor of all Speedsters. Thanks to its low weight (160 kg less than the 356 Coupé), it achieved an impressive top speed of 180 km/h with its 70 hp four-cylinder boxer engine. The doors had loose inset windows and the emergency roof and light bucket seats also contributed to the low weight. US importer Max Hoffman wanted an affordable Porsche with limited equipment that cost less than $3,000. It became the first Porsche named Speedster and combined the sheet steel bodywork of the convertible with a flat windscreen, a limited interior and a soft top for emergencies. Hollywood icon and amateur racing driver James Dean was and has been the most famous owner of the 356 speedster. Incidentally, he crashed in a Porsche 550 and not a 356 as is often assumed.
It was not until late 1988 that a Speedster variant entered the 911 model range as the last in the now discontinued G-series. The most open of all 911s was made based on the 231bhp 911 Carrera with a wide turbo look. Only 161 examples with narrow bodywork were made. A total of 2,103 G-series Speedsters were built with the shortened windscreen, manual soft top and modified side windows. Not only was the bodywork of the WTL (Werks Turbo Look) copied from the 930 Turbo, but also the entire (lowered and reinforced) suspension and braking system are from this superfast version. This makes the 930 Speedster the ultimate driver's car and, thanks to its low weight of just 1189kg, barely slower than the Turbo in the sprint. The 930 Speedsters were still built by hand in ‘Work 2’. They are the last Porsches produced from this hall where previously the 356 models were also produced.
A real Speedster variant of the 964 was also produced and was even available with an automatic transmission. Only 930 units were produced. Only in 2010 came the successor in the 997 (only 2 of the 993 were made to order), which however left little of the so-called ‘leichtbau’ concept and its simplicity. With PDK, and many luxury options, the car already came in at 1540kg, but was exclusive with only 356 examples. Finally, the 991 is the last Speedster version to date (1948 units), which is again almost 100kg lighter with a GT3 engine and manual gearbox.
The Speedster we are offering is one of the 930 series. Like most Speedsters, it was delivered new in the USA on 7 January 1989 in South Carolina and brought to Europe by a German collector in 2007. In Germany, the Speedster was fitted with EU bumpers, an odometer and EU lights. The classic colour combination of Indischrot with black leather sports seats looks great on it. The current owner already owned a Speedster once and bought it during the Corona period from another German collector. The Speedster, like most, has driven very few kilometres and is in very good condition. Both the paint, roof, upholstery, rims are all very clean and also the bottom and (leak-free) engine still have the original wax. This speedster is equipped with air conditioning and cruise control. That makes it just a bit more useful for a nice holiday trip. The American Speedsters were standard equipped with catalytic converter, which made a 14hp difference compared to the EU versions. To compensate for the slightly lesser pulling power, the 4th and 5th gears were shortened (the so-called 50.01 gearbox), making the pulling power equivalent. In addition, this Speedster seems to have been fitted with metal catalytic converter, a frequently done modification, which provides a 10hp power increase. With this, performance is just at EU levels.
Along with the Turbo, the 930 Speedster is surely the most ultimate G-series you can buy. Its spartan character, which includes hand-operated windows, makes it extra fun and its low weight and low seat make for a surprising driving experience. The combination of the rock-solid 3.2 engine with the smooth-shifting G-50 gearbox (fitted with a light-acting hydraulic clutch from 1987 onwards) provide appropriate comfort and plenty of pace. It is no longer a bargain, but very good value and with the limited production number, it remains a sought-after collector's item.
This 930 Speedster is factory equipped with:
018 - Extended steering wheel hub
158 - Blaupunkt Remo radio (replaced by Blaupunkt Bremen with DAB)
220 - Limited slip differential 40%
243 - Shortened gear lever
286 - Intensive window cleaning
288 - Headlamp washers
340 - Right seat heating
383/387 - Sports seats with electric height adjustment
419 - Faded rear seats
454 - Cruise control
494 - Amplifier
533 - Alarm system
559 - Air conditioning
975 - Luggage compartment lined with velour
Blaupunkt Bremen radio with DAB and Bluetooth for phone (Modern Classic)
This 930 Speedster is in very good condition. The car is partly 1st paint and a few parts have been painted for cosmetic reasons given the little extra paint thickness. The bottom, engine and suspension still have the original wax and no leaks are visible. Otherwise, the car is fully matching and drives as it should. The roof is still fresh and has no cracks or damage. The service history is not complete, but the service booklet is present and partially stamped. The car was serviced in the first week of December 2024 by Porsche Gelderland and had a service there as well. Like almost all imported cars from outside the EU, the standard date of first admission as part 1 is 1 July. This particular Speedster was therefore admitted on 7 January 1989!
The main points of the recent service history are:
07-01-1989 - 10mi - Porsche Charleston California
07-07-1990 - 4,218mi - Porsche Charleston California
04-01-1996 - 12,601mi - Porsche Charleston California
24-09-2015 - 60,601km - Porsche Niederrhein
21-11-2019 - 61,454km - Maintenance
26-04-2022 - 63,312km - Sportscar repair Porsche Specialist
04-12-2024 - 65,520km - Porsche Centrum Gelderland
- Three keys
- Various booklets, manuals, brochure, price list and service booklet
The owner owns several Porsches and is a regular customer of Porsche Gelderland. He had a (narrow) 911 Speedster in the past and was able to buy 1 again about 3 years ago. He did not hesitate when he had looked at the car at the German collector. Meanwhile, he has set his sights on another Porsche and therefore wants to sell this Speedster through The Collectables.
Seller - Oscar
Seller type - Private
Location - Baarn / Heteren
Chassis number - WP0ZZ91ZKS173655
Registration number - P-986-KT
First registration - 07-01-1989
Mileage - 65,477
Demonstrable - Plausible
Warranty - No
VAT/Margin car - Margin
Bodywork - 2-door
Engine - Atmospheric 3.2-litre Boxer 218hp
Drive system - Rear-wheel drive with limited slip
Transmission - 5-speed manual transmission
Exterior - Indian red
Interior - Black (sport)
Upholstery - Leather
Smoking car - No
Owners - 1 owner in the Netherlands, as far as known 2 in Germany, before that unknown
Tyres - Conti SportContact N2 coding, 205-50-16 and 245-45-16, DOT 2015, >5mm
The description of this Collectable has been compiled with the utmost care, based on information provided by and validated by the seller. The Collectables performs a (pre)selection based on the information provided and consults public sources for any irregularities. However, bidders should ascertain for themselves the accuracy of the description and can, if they wish, conduct (or have conducted) personal research. All Collectables on our platform can be subjected to any possible inspection, examination or valuation in advance by buyers, of course in consultation with the seller. Consult our General Terms and Conditions for more details.
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