Daily Slideshow: An Ode to the 356 - The 911 Speedster
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the very first automobile built under the Porsche brand, this 911 Speedster pays tribute to the car that started it all.
The History Behind it
Having celebrated 70 years since the very first Porsche, the company decided to celebrate the original 356 with a tribute. This 911 Speedster is a throwback in style to the lightweight Porsche racecar in more ways than one. 70 years on, Porsche display their brilliance in performance with this concept.
Throwback to Early Porsches
Every small detail in the design of this special 911 is an ode in some way to Porsche's early racing history. The silver and white livery, the central fuel cap on the hood, the classic Talbot-shape side mirrors, as well as the translucent X shape on the headlight covers are all reminiscent of the old days of racing.
Beautifully Done
In addition to this 911 Speedster looking like a direct descendant of the 356, there are plenty of cool functional features integrated into the design of the concept. The cabin is protected by a carbon fiber decklid. The streamliners behind the two seats are inspired by the '88 Speedster. And to top it all off, the plexiglass wind deflector reads "70 years of Porsche."
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Barebones
As with the original, this Speedster concept is free of any 'unnecessary' creature comforts. No radio, A/C, navigation, or other luxury features characteristic of the lightweight philosophy that propelled the early Porsche racers to the heights of motorsport. This 911 Speedster also features a lightweight tonneau cover to protect the carbon fiber bucket seats and brown leather.
But High-Performance
While Porsche has incorporated numerous elements into this concept to pay tribute to their glorious past, the car is surely a great reminder of what they have evolved into today. The 911 Speedster concept shows off the best of Porsche's performance and lightweight technology, proving the old formula is still the recipe for success.
Modern Power
And of course, in contrast to the early Porsches, the new 911 is capable of producing over 500 HP and is equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. Automotive technology has come a long way since the original 356 Roadster that produced 35 HP from a 1.1-liter flat 4-cylinder engine.
Silhouette
Even the side profile resembles that of the original. 70 years since it all began, Porsche looks to blaze new trails in tech and performance but never losing sight of the rich history and what has gotten them to where they are.
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Porsche DNA
What is fascinating with Porsche is that unlike virtually every other auto manufacturer, they have been able to closely hang on to their original design DNA. Whether in styling, or engineering, the same philosophy of 'evolution over revolution' has continued to prevail. It's easy to see that the Porsches of today are very much from the same family as those built 70 years ago.
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