1989 Porsche 911 Speedster

Porsche built 2,104 examples of the new Speedster between January and September of 1989, and of that total, just 823 were delivered to the United States. The Speedster, option number M503, was the last version based on the outgoing K-program chassis. The company offered the new Speedster in both slantnose and turbo-body variants in Germany, but only the turbo-look was sold in the United States.

The Porsche 911 Speedster was shaped by the company's styling department, then under the direction of Tony Lapine. They had a cut-down windshield, a minimal 'emergency' single-layer fabric top, and a twin-humped fiberglass tonneau that covered the area where the occasional rear seats would have lived. The design team eliminated the front quarter windows, and the new side windows were manually operated. They had a reduced height and wide-body turbo-look flares. In 1989, a new front spoiler with integrated fog lamps was introduced. The windshield, which was more sharply slanted than that of the standard Carrera, could be removed with hand tools.

Powering the Speedster was a rear-mounted, air-cooled SOHC flat-six (Type 930/25) of 3,164-cubic centimeter displacement. With the help of a Bosch LE-Jetronic fuel injection system, produced 215 horsepower at 5900 RPM. Power was sent to the rear wheels via a Type G50 fully synchronized five-speed manual transaxle. Oil-fed chain tensioners, which were introduced on the Carrera-series engines, helped to make this a very robust and long-lived powerplant. All four corners were power-assisted and ventilated disc brakes, measuring 11.8-inches in the front and 12.1 in the rear.

This particular example left the factory on June 16th of 1989. The car was ordered in Code G1 Guards Red with a black folding top and Black partial leather seats. It was delivered with stabilizer bars and anodized Fuchs alloy wheels. Security locks for the wheels were standard equipment, as were integrated fog lights, rock-chip protection for the rear fenders, a four-speaker audio package, and a pair of heated and electrically adjustable outside rearview mirrors. Additional options included a raised hub sport steering wheel, a Blaupunkt Reno SQR46 AM/FM/Cassette stereo system, a shorter gearshift lever, cruise control, a security system, air conditioning, and black velour carpeting in the front trunk compartment.

In 1989, the Speedster sold for $65,480. With the additional equipment, the cost on this car was $69,707. After delivery charges, the final price was $70,272.

This 911 Speedster is in virtually as-new condition, having been driven less than 400 miles, and was, until recently titled, still on its original MSO. When new, the car was delivered to Jim Ellis Porsche, of Atlanta, Georgia, where it was kept as a showroom display for several years before being sold. The car was sold on August 21, 1992, for $85,000, plus taxes and fees, resulting in this Speedster costing $95,812.10 'out the door.' It had only 43 miles at the time.

Until recently, the car has remained in the possession of the same owner. The car has a collapsible spare, a jack, owner's manual, original window sticker, two sets of key, and tools.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014