just how rare?

[juanbenae]

i have posted a flier in the classified about a 356 speedster i have spotted for sale in the east bay of nor cal. the badge on the back says "356 d" and "speedster". is this a rare beast? a few more details are in the add in the classified.

[id10t]

According to the many experts on 356talk, there is no Speedster D. One lister insisted on calling his Convt' D a Speedster D, and almost got tarred and feathered. I've seen one pic in a book where you could clearly see the "speedster d" script on the drivers side front fender...

Could it be a Conv't D with a speedster script added? The 'Ds are rare (just over 1000 made IIRC). Can you post pics, etc.?

[juanbenae]

its got the low speester top and front window. i will get some pics and come back in a bit.

[juanbenae]

here they are. i mis-remembered, its not a D. it is an old one though with the single grill?

[atlporsche]

I think that's an A....I could be wrong...

the headlights that sit forward on the front fenders as opposed to 911 style where the trim ring is flush with the fender arc typically says A...esp. speedsters.

sjd

[sundaypunch]

If it's real, that would be a '58 type A Speedster. The last year for them. It would also be a very, very valuable car.

One of the 356 guys can chime in to let you know how to verify it's real. If they want $90k it probably is. At $20k you've got a replica.

[das908kind]

Based on the what little I can see of the wheels, it looks like it has VW drums on it, a hallmark of Intermechanica and other Speedster replicas. The steel rims used on "A" model 356s, as well as the very early VWs, have slightly different oval vents, and fit a 5-bolt pattern. The wheels on this car appear to be the ones that fit a 4-bolt pattern.

The next most obvious tell-tale sign would be to look inside the car (assuming who are able to get up close and "personal"), and look at the gear shifter. If you find a a hand brake leaver between the two seats, a big chunky center tunnel, and a short, straight leaver from a super-bug, then you know it was built on a beetle platform and is not the real McKoy.

[Sweetheart912]

I tend to think it is a replicar-the interior stuff pointed out is the dead giveaway, but looking at the pictures it has many what I think are tell tale items: The front fenderwell looks "fat" on the trailing edge; black wipers; non-Aero mirror;flat looking rocker deco; snaps on the top & shape of the rear window; moreover the panels fit so incredibly well it actually looks "funny" to me. It's hard to tell from pics, so let us know.

[real550A]

the badge on the back says "356 d"

Where is the badge that says this?

[Wayne 962]

Just feel the inside lip of the fenders to see if it's fiberglass or steel - I can tell within a 1/2 second that way...

-Wayne

[GSpreeman]

That has to be a replica. There is no Speedster D, everything everyone above said plus, the front fenders where the headlights meet the body is awfully flat looking. Something odd about it.

[Zeke]

This is a very silly and unscientific observation, but the replicas I see with the top up have a baggy top like that. Otherwise, like Wayne says, there is no substitute for thin metal around the wheel openings. FG is thick and is not cold.

[914Ghost]

The wheels are a giveaway at 100 feet.
Ever seen a 4 lug 356?
God, I hope not.