One of a Kind Porsche 356 Speedster Ice Racer Finds New Home
Is the stock Porsche 356 Speedster a little too common for you? This GP Ice Racer with extensive racing history may be what you are looking for.
When speaking of the iconic Porsche 356 Speedster most folks tend to think of sun-drenched drives down the Pacific Coast Highway. Perhaps the image of James Dean comes to mind. For some, maybe it is seeing the Speedster on the lawn at a high-end Concours d’Elegance. However, this Speedster conjures up completely different images.
This is a 1956 356A Speedster ice racer. The last couple of years it has competed in the GP Ice Race in Zell am See, Austria. A town that is well-known by Porsche enthusiasts. However, the history of this 356 ice racer is a lot more extensive than just the last couple years. That is probably why it recently sold for big numbers on the Italian auction site, GetYourClassic. The final sale price was not disclosed, but the auction site had an estimate on it of over $300,000.
This Speedster was originally sold by legendary Porsche dealer Max Hoffman. Referring to Hoffman as simply a dealer does not at all do justice to the contributions he made to Porsche. However, the fact that this car was sold thru the Hoffman dealership certainly adds to its provenance. The car eventually found its way to Florida and from 1972 through 1978 competed in about 50 SCCA races.
Modifications to make the car competitive included disc brakes, race seats and so on. Later, the car was imported to Germany and it was converted back to original specifications. In 1981 the car competed at Monza as well as the Nürburgring. Official FIA papers were included with the sale.
The car is black, but it was sold with a custom green and yellow wrap. The car also features a roll bar, yellow-lens headlights, custom brush guards, racing seat and period-appropriate rims wrapped in all-terrain tires.
If you are a member of the “I never drive my Porsche in the snow” crowd some of the images here may disturb you. However, for the folks that understand that a Porsche is made to be driven this car should warm your heart. Want to tow a skier along behind your Porsche? Well, then this is the car for you.
This car embodies what a Porsche sports car is. It is 65-years old and it has been raced on tracks, and in snow and ice. It has been modified and had parts changed over the years, but it is still going strong.
If you missed out on the sale of this car, it may be a very long wait until you see another pop up on the market. However, perhaps it can serve as inspiration for future projects. On a much smaller budget, you can pick up a 986-generation Boxster. Throw a green and yellow wrap on it. Then with a few other modifications, that could make an enjoyable little ice racer.
It may not ever be worth $300,000 but the amount of fun you could have versus dollars spent would be high. Not only that, but you would be carrying on the tradition that was started with the 356 Speedster.
Photos: Andreas Selter Photography
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