Porsche's First Supercar

When American importer Max Hoffman needed a more affordable car to compete with the new wave of British roadsters, Porsche drew on an earlier export special, the America Roadster (only 16 were built) to create the 356 Speedster - a no-frills, basic sports car with fewer creature comforts but plenty of performance.  Porsche intended the car as a limited-production, low-price leader, but the public soon associated the name 'Porsche' with the little bathtub-shaped Speedster and demand soared.  Racers soon appreciated its lower weight and exceptional handling.

The Carrera was a complex, high-output, high-revving engine with four gear-driven overhead cams, twin plug ignition, a roller bearing crankshaft and dry sump lubrication, revving to 8000 rpm, even higher in racing versions.  Carrera engines would propel Porsche racers well into the 1960s, including Formula 1 and Formula 2 cars and the 904.