Porsche special models · 1989–2019
Porsche 911 Speedster: Every Generation & Numbers
By CarWhere Research · Updated
The Porsche 911 Speedster is a low-windshield, two-seat open 911 that Porsche has built in small runs since 1989: 2,103 wide-body G-model cars plus a narrow-body export run, 930 964s plus 15 wide-body cars, two 993 one-offs, 356 997s and 1,948 991s with a 510 PS engine.
The Speedster idea dates to the 356 of 1954, a stripped, low-screen roadster that US importer Max Hoffmann asked for and that sold for $2,995. Porsche brought the name to the 911 at the end of the G-model's run, after showing a Speedster Clubsport concept at the 1987 Frankfurt show. The 1989 car had a shortened, raked windshield, a manual top hidden under a body-color plastic hump, and was offered both in wide turbo-look form and in a slim body for export markets.
Every later version has been rare. The 964 Speedster of 1993 went back to the narrow body and RS-style bucket seats, with only 15 wide-body cars. The 993 never had a production Speedster; just two were built, one for Ferdinand Alexander Porsche and one for Jerry Seinfeld. The 997 Speedster of 2010 was a 356-car run for the 25th anniversary of Porsche Exclusive. The 991 Speedster of 2019 combined a 510 PS GT3-derived engine with a six-speed manual and a 1,948-car limit honoring the 1948 356 'No. 1' Roadster.
911 Speedster history, year by year
- 1954 — The 356 Speedster debuts, built at US importer Max Hoffmann's request and priced at $2,995 in the US.[1]
- 1987 — Porsche shows the 911 Speedster Clubsport concept at the Frankfurt IAA.[1]
- 1988–1989 — The G-model 911 Carrera Speedster arrives as the last word of the second 911 generation, priced from 110,000 marks in Germany.[1],[2]
- Feb 1993 — The 964 Carrera Speedster launches at 131,500 marks, without air conditioning or power windows and at first without an airbag.[1]
- Dec 1995 — A green 993 Speedster built by Porsche's Exclusive department is given to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche for his 60th birthday on December 11, 1995.[1],[3]
- Oct 2001 — The second and final 993 Speedster, converted from a wide-body manual Carrera 4S for Jerry Seinfeld, ships to the US.[3]
- Oct 2010 — The 997 Speedster premieres at the Paris Motor Show, limited to 356 cars; German sales start in December 2010.[1]
- 2019 — Series production of the 991 Speedster begins in Zuffenhausen from mid-2019, limited to 1,948 cars.[4]
- Apr 2020 — A 991 Speedster Heritage Design that was the final 991 to pass down the Zuffenhausen production line is auctioned online for COVID-19 relief.[5]
How many 911 Speedsters were made?
| Model / variant | Years | Units | What the figure counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-model — Turbo-look (wide body) | 1989 | 2,103[2] | delivered |
| G-model — Narrow body (export) | 1989 | 171[2] | delivered |
| 964 — Carrera 2 Cabriolet basis | 1993 | 930[6] | total built (plus 15 turbo-look wide-body cars) |
| 964 — Turbo-look wide body | 1993 | 15[6],[7] | total built |
| 993 | 1995 & 2000 | 2[3],[7] | total built (factory one-offs) |
| 997 | 2010 | 356[3],[7],[8] | limited to 356 units |
| 991 | 2019 | 1,948[3],[4] | exactly 1,948 units |
| G-model Speedster (alternate Porsche count) | 1988–1989 | 2,103 total, incl. 161 narrow-body[1],[2] | Porsche's 2019 Speedster press kit gives 2,103 G-model Speedsters in total, 161 of them narrow-body. Porsche's 911 generation history instead lists 2,103 wide-body plus 171 narrow-body cars (shown in the dataset rows). Both are Porsche figures. |
Road-car totals for every Porsche model: Porsche production numbers.
Porsche 911 Speedster specs
| G-model (1989) basis | 231 PS 911 Carrera 3.2, wide turbo-look body or slim export body; shortened windshield, manual top under a plastic hump[1] |
|---|---|
| 964 (1993) basis | Carrera 2 Cabriolet; RS bucket seats painted body color; revised manual top[1],[6] |
| 993 one-offs | 1995: green, Carrera body, Tiptronic S, 17-in wheels; 2000–2001: silver, wide-body Carrera 4S, manual, 18-in wheels[1],[3] |
| 997 (2010) engine | 3.8 L flat-six, 300 kW (408 PS)[1] |
| 997 body | Windshield 60 mm lower, rear body 44 mm wider, double-bubble tonneau[1] |
| 991 (2019) engine | 4.0 L naturally aspirated flat-six from the 911 GT3, 375 kW (510 PS) at 8,400 rpm, 470 Nm[1] |
| 991 transmission | Six-speed GT manual with auto-blip (only gearbox offered)[1] |
| 991 weight & performance | 1,465 kg; 0–100 km/h in 4.0 s; 310 km/h top speed[1] |
| Launch prices (Germany) | G-model from 110,000 marks; 964 131,500 marks; 997 from €201,682[1] |
What made the 911 Speedster significant
- The Speedster line traces back to the US market: the 356 America Roadster and the 1954 356 Speedster were built for American buyers.[1]
- Only two genuine 993 Speedsters exist, making it one of the rarest factory 911s.[3],[7]
- The 997 Speedster marked the 25th anniversary of Porsche Exclusive in 2011.[1],[7]
- The 991 Speedster was developed from the 911 R and 911 GT3, and its 1,948-unit limit honors the 1948 356 'No. 1' Roadster.[1]
What to check before you buy a 911 Speedster
- Confirm it left the factory as a Speedster. Owners have converted Cabriolets, so check the VIN, the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity or build records, and the original window sticker before trusting the windshield and hump.
- Check the body against the records: G-model cars came in wide turbo-look and slim export bodies, and only 15 964 Speedsters were built with the wide body, so a wide-body 964 needs strong documentation.[2],[6]
- Work the manual top and the plastic or composite rear cover several times. These are Speedster-specific parts, so check fit, latches and fabric condition.[1]
- On a 991 Speedster, verify the optional Heritage Design package (cognac and black interior, gold details, white front 'spears', vintage-style decals) against the build data, since it carries a premium.[4]
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a specialist who knows the generation, including paint-depth readings and a check for accident repair.
911 Speedster market context: dated sale results
This was a charity sale for COVID-19 relief, with the car carrying unique provenance as the final 991 built; Porsche Cars North America matched the $500,000 winning bid. It is not a guide to typical 991 Speedster values.
| Date | Sale | Car | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22, 2020 | RM Sotheby's online, A Porsche with Purpose (charity sale) | 2019 911 Speedster Heritage Design, serial 1897/1948, final 991 built (VIN WP0CF2A92KS172803) | $550,000 incl. premium ($500,000 hammer)[5],[9] |
See exactly how this 911 Speedster left the factory.
For US-market cars with a 17-character VIN, the CarWhere build sheet decodes the VIN into its factory record: paint, interior, option codes and equipment as built. $9.99, and the free availability check shows whether build data exists before you pay.
Porsche 911 Speedster FAQ
How many Porsche 911 Speedsters were made?
By Porsche's figures, there were 2,103 wide-body G-model cars plus a narrow-body export run (171 or 161, depending on the Porsche source), 930 964 Speedsters plus 15 wide-body cars, two 993 one-offs, 356 997 Speedsters and 1,948 991 Speedsters.
Was there a 993 Speedster?
Not as a production model. Porsche Exclusive built exactly two: a green Tiptronic car for Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, finished for his 60th birthday in 1995, and a silver wide-body manual car for Jerry Seinfeld that shipped in 2001.
How much horsepower does the 2019 911 Speedster have?
Its 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six, derived from the 911 GT3, produces 375 kW (510 PS) at 8,400 rpm and 470 Nm. It comes only with a six-speed manual. Porsche quotes 0–100 km/h in 4.0 seconds and a 310 km/h top speed.
Why were 1,948 991 Speedsters built?
The number honors the 356 'No. 1' Roadster of 1948, the first Porsche sports car. Production began in Zuffenhausen in mid-2019.
What did the last 991 Speedster sell for?
The final 991 built, a Speedster Heritage Design, sold in RM Sotheby's online charity auction on April 22, 2020. The hammer price was $500,000 ($550,000 with premium), and Porsche Cars North America matched the winning bid for COVID-19 relief.
Related Porsche specials and race cars
Porsche history, specs and production research
Sources
Dates, production counts, specifications and results on this page come from the sources below. Where sources disagree, the page says so or uses Porsche's own figure.
- The new Porsche 911 Speedster Press Kit — Porsche Newsroom
- Seven generations of the 911, part 2: the G-model — Porsche Newsroom
- There can only be two — Porsche Newsroom
- New 911 Speedster goes into production — Porsche Newsroom
- $1 Million Benefit for United Way COVID-19 Relief as Porsche Cars North America Matches $500,000 Winning Bid in Auction of Final Porsche 911 (991) — Porsche Newsroom
- The type 964: a new start with this 911 (part 3) — Porsche Newsroom
- Porsche Exclusive makes nearly all dreams come true — Porsche Newsroom
- The 997: Technology offensive, new design and great variety for the 911 (part 6) — Porsche Newsroom
- 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster 'Heritage Design' | A Porsche with Purpose | RM Sotheby's — RM Sotheby's
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