Porsche’s ‘Speedster’ nameplate carries serious weight in collector circles. The German sports carmaker doesn’t build Speedster models that often, but when it does, it is worth celebrating. Born from the stripped-down, low-slung 356 Speedster of the 1950s, the formula has always been about making the car lighter, lower, and more driver-focused.
Besides this, some distinctive design cues like the double-bubble rear tonneau cover and steeply raked windshield set the Speedster apart from other 911s. Fast-forward several decades, and that same ethos carried through into the 997-Speedster, built for the 2011 model year. Compared to other Speedster models from other 911 generations, the 997 is by far the rarest, making it one of the most collectible 911s. Porsche only built 356 units of the 997 Speedster as a nod to the 356 lineage, and of those, 100 made it stateside.
This particular Guards Red example, on sale right now hails from a private collection and is a unicorn. It is reportedly one of just two examples globally, finished in Guards Red and the only one delivered to the United States, making it a 1-of-1 in America. The exclusive sport-classic 19-inch black Fuchs wheels and wide-body Carrera 4 shell complement the Guards Red paint, which was a special order $5,500 option. It is worth noting that Porsche only offered two standard colors for the 997 Speedster: Pure Blue or Carrera White.
Inside, this car is equally distinctive from the ‘Speedster’ script on the black sports seats to the deviated stitching and the checker-delete cabin. The extended leather package covers everything from the speaker grilles to the dashboard. It also comes with illuminated door sills and a numbered dash plaque: #320 of 356, signifying this sports car’s exclusivity. Other rare factory options include a factory fire-extinguisher, Bluetooth, and Bose surround sound.
When it comes to performance, the 997 Speedster packs a 3.8-liter flat-six, and while this is no Mezger engine, it still delivers 408 horsepower, making it more potent than the Carrera S of its day. Paired with a 7-speed PDK transmission for lightning-fast shifts, Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes (PCCB), Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), and a limited slip differential, should make for a well rounded package. With just 4,515 miles on the clock, this Guards Red Speedster is as rare as it gets in the Porsche world, and if exclusivity is high up on your list of priorities, this one shouldn’t be missed.
Images Source: GH Vehicles
