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Here is another twist. While coming into work this morning I saw a black 964 wide body Speedster with a slant nose (flachbau). I am assuming this was a conversion. Anyone know anything about it?
Maybe a Strosek like this one? There were a few of those converted.
I have to say I get more confused every year over this debate on wide body provenance - were there factory Wide body speedsters made or not (excluding strosek conversions). And if not how did the brochure below come about?
I own one of the Fred Opert converted 1994 speedsters mentioned in the dupont registry ad above (the black one pictured above). (btw I spoke to the old guy a few years ago where he spoke about my car with affection and it's infamous first owner - and he told me he did 4 1994 speedster conversions).
I know we all like pics so I will post some updated pics after my efforts to return our interior to the post Opert form (look at my older posts for how it was with the 993 console when I got it).
Originally Posted by cobalt
Too bad they didn't make more of these. I am not a fan of the narrow body look speedster.
Very rare Speedster with only one owner from Japan.
The original price in 1993 was 139,000, - DM
It was thus the last time being the Porsche Speedster, because of this model at no Wider Speedster series was more to today launched. The Speedster is one of the Porsche models which has seen a significant increase in prices on the used car market in recent years.
Interesting - and this could be pure coincidence ..... but I have completed extensive research on the Strosek mega wide body speedster since I made that post above. As stated I own the 1994 black Strosek speedster shown above in this thread (and many other pics if you search this site) commissioned by Fred Opert in NJ and converted at Strosek Design GMBH of Munich.
This is a conversation or a question - not a statement, but I wonder if the so called "factory 15" is something different. If you search this site there are people who are adamant that the Porsche factory states that their factory did not ever make 1994 wide body speedsters. Yet there are correctly references to magazines that talk about 15 "factory" 1994 wide body speedsters.
When the word "factory" gets used in the context of the wide body Strosek - we are usually referring to the Strosek factory. Strosek completed a number of factory conversions of brand new never driven speedsters, but there are also some after market Strosek conversions that are not "factory". This seperation is really important - the factory Strosek conversions are completed with an approach that is very different and their factory process was designed with Porsche guidance and input and was subject to a Porsche quality control assessment, not so for any after market conversions (or so Strosek tell me). Strosek and Opert tell me that if you have seen a factory conversion and an after market conversion they tell you that they are very discernible.
Another twist is that all of the Strosek Speedster molds were destroyed in a Factory Fire at their Munich plant (I once had a link to the news story but cannot find it right now). This basically means it is impossible to obtain Strosek factory molded panels - unless someone had inventory, Strosek tell me they kept all inventory that survived the fire and ran out of most of it a long time ago.
Strosek have confirmed to me in writing that there were 15 1994 speedsters converted to mega wide body speedsters at the Strosek "factory". These cars were shipped to the Strosek factory from wherever they were when the base speedster was acquired (in my case shipped back to Germany from the USA for the conversion, then returned to Opert for finishing).
I have tried to keep a track of where the 15 original 1994 factory Strosek speedsters are registered and only 8 of the 15 were converted for the North American market and all of those were commissioned by Fred Opert who is the exlusive north american agent of Strosek (a worker at Opert qualified that 8 number also since I got this info). I got this detail below from Strosek in Germany and traced the VIN numbers. If the VIN is not included below I can assure you it is not a Strosek factory conversion (unless imported from elsewhere since its birth and assuming Stroseks records themselves are good).
VIN....465067- Currently titled in Alaska
465006 - no information available in the USA so I assume it was never brought to America though it was purchased by an American company
465465 - A red model recently sold through exotic motors in August 2014 (listed at $160k)
465225 - Silver- No reports in the usa since 2007 when it seems it was exported, (I cannot confirm its current Location however)
465256 - This vehicle is registered as White, was involved in a serious accident in 2000 and was sold as salvage in 2012 to a gentleman and shipped to the uk
465118 - one owner example last registered with less than 15k miles and titled in ohio
465293 - 2 owner California car with 90k+ miles reported
465403 - my car in black with red detail registered in wa. state (btw mine and one of the other above was bought by the same husband and wife originally as a matching pair)
The 8 above are the only North American factory wide body speedster conversions. As above one of the 8 was exported and is in the UK, one is not traceable from a USA registration perspective so I assume is gone or is a garage queen. The rest are somewhere else on the planet unless they have died since - or were subsequently imported to North America.
I wonder if it is a coincidence that the books that are referenced as evidence of the 1994 factory wide body speedster talk about 15 factory speedster wide body cars - and that is the exact same number of official factory conversions completed by Strosek.
Interesting - and this could be pure coincidence ..... but I have completed extensive research on the Strosek mega wide body speedster since I made that post above. As stated I own the 1994 black Strosek speedster shown above in this thread (and many other pics if you search this site) commissioned by Fred Opert in NJ and converted at Strosek Design GMBH of Munich.
This is a conversation or a question - not a statement, but I wonder if the so called "factory 15" is something different. If you search this site there are people who are adamant that the Porsche factory states that their factory did not ever make 1994 wide body speedsters. Yet there are correctly references to magazines that talk about 15 "factory" 1994 wide body speedsters.
When the word "factory" gets used in the context of the wide body Strosek - we are usually referring to the Strosek factory. Strosek completed a number of factory conversions of brand new never driven speedsters, but there are also some after market Strosek conversions that are not "factory". This seperation is really important - the factory Strosek conversions are completed with an approach that is very different and their factory process was designed with Porsche guidance and input and was subject to a Porsche quality control assessment, not so for any after market conversions (or so Strosek tell me). Strosek and Opert tell me that if you have seen a factory conversion and an after market conversion they tell you that they are very discernible.
Another twist is that all of the Strosek Speedster molds were destroyed in a Factory Fire at their Munich plant (I once had a link to the news story but cannot find it right now). This basically means it is impossible to obtain Strosek factory molded panels - unless someone had inventory, Strosek tell me they kept all inventory that survived the fire and ran out of most of it a long time ago.
Strosek have confirmed to me in writing that there were 15 1994 speedsters converted to mega wide body speedsters at the Strosek "factory". These cars were shipped to the Strosek factory from wherever they were when the base speedster was acquired (in my case shipped back to Germany from the USA for the conversion, then returned to Opert for finishing).
I have tried to keep a track of where the 15 original 1994 factory Strosek speedsters are registered and only 8 of the 15 were converted for the North American market and all of those were commissioned by Fred Opert who is the exlusive north american agent of Strosek (a worker at Opert qualified that 8 number also since I got this info). I got this detail below from Strosek in Germany and traced the VIN numbers. If the VIN is not included below I can assure you it is not a Strosek factory conversion (unless imported from elsewhere since its birth and assuming Stroseks records themselves are good).
VIN....465067- Currently titled in Alaska
465006 - no information available in the USA so I assume it was never brought to America though it was purchased by an American company
465465 - A red model recently sold through exotic motors in August 2014 (listed at $160k)
465225 - Silver- No reports in the usa since 2007 when it seems it was exported, (I cannot confirm its current Location however)
465256 - This vehicle is registered as White, was involved in a serious accident in 2000 and was sold as salvage in 2012 to a gentleman and shipped to the uk
465118 - one owner example last registered with less than 15k miles and titled in ohio
465293 - 2 owner California car with 90k+ miles reported
465403 - my car in black with red detail registered in wa. state (btw mine and one of the other above was bought by the same husband and wife originally as a matching pair)
The 8 above are the only North American factory wide body speedster conversions. As above one of the 8 was exported and is in the UK, one is not traceable from a USA registration perspective so I assume is gone or is a garage queen. The rest are somewhere else on the planet unless they have died since - or were subsequently imported to North America.
I wonder if it is a coincidence that the books that are referenced as evidence of the 1994 factory wide body speedster talk about 15 factory speedster wide body cars - and that is the exact same number of official factory conversions completed by Strosek.
The Mystery grows :-)
... really no mystery - i can tell you and have prove in hands that there were Speedster widebodys built at Werk1 - Porsche "Sonderwunsch" departement. Some talk of 8 some of 15 - Any car has a special code - so it is easy to verify if ex. factory or "recreation".
And that fact has nothing to do with Strosek! I´m pretty sure Porsche did not like what he was doing to their cars ...
pictured car is definately a real factory Speedster widebody :
OK - so then a special wishes car, no mystery then. That is great.
And your proof in hands is that you have one of these wide bodies, and proof it was a special wishes car not Ex factory modoification?
Would you post pictures of the code label from the frank of this car.
Originally Posted by TL-Register
... really no mystery - i can tell you and have prove in hands that there were Speedster widebodys built at Werk1 - Porsche "Sonderwunsch" departement. Some talk of 8 some of 15 - Any car has a special code - so it is easy to verify if ex. factory or "recreation".
And that fact has nothing to do with Strosek! I´m pretty sure Porsche did not like what he was doing to their cars ...
pictured car is definately a real factory Speedster widebody :
Factory 1994 Porsche 911 Speedster. This is a great driver with something of a checkered past, the details are a bit tough to come by but this is what I have been able to piece together. This speedster was delivered new in Southern California and was stolen in 95, the car was recovered about a month later with the original motor missing. The car was put back together and the color was changed from the special order Violet Blue Metallic to the Dark Blue pictured. I've been told that this is one of only 7 Speedsters delivered with a tiptronic gearbox.
Obviously, the car has turbo bodywork. I have been unable to determine if these were fitted at the factory, at the dealership prior to delivery, or after the car was recovered. A very few Speedsters were delivered from the factory through Werks 1 with Turbo bodywork. Apparently the cars were pulled off the line at the very end of production and converted. Only Werks 1 can confirm if this was done as it does not show up on the COA. To date, I have been unable to get an answer from the good people in Germany. If anyone can assist with this, it would be greatly appreciated. Buyers should be aware that I can not confirm this one way or the other.
Cosmetically, the car shows well as a driver but for a car of this caliber, it will need to be painted. There are an assortment of flaws and the original Violet is the only shade this car should ever be finished in. I would enjoy it now with an eye to restoring it to its factory hue down the road. Mechanically, everything functions as expected and the car gets an absolute ton of attention. Old time Porsche guys all have a story about the Speedster that got away. Perfect examples of these are trading for $200,000 and rapidly appreciating, we have tried to price this appropriately given its condition.
A local viewing is welcome and encouraged with appointment. We are happy to assist in delivering the car for a PPI to any of the local air-cooled specialist. We will assist buyers worldwide with shipping and freight logistics.
Interesting read, a couple of sites said that 20 were made and one saying 14 of them in RHD which seemed odd! Anyhow I trust rennlisters more, so how many were made in RHD out of the 15?
I've seen this car. It's Riviera Blue (or a very similar shade, could have even been Maritime) and has the Strosek side skirts, but the standard Porsche headlights.
06-05-2014, 06:41 PM
