Porsche Speedster: The “Purist Convertible” Lineage, Model Years, and Why It Matters

What makes a Speedster different from a regular Porsche Cabriolet?

A typical Porsche Cabriolet is designed as a full-time convertible: a taller windshield, more complete weather sealing, and a roof system intended for frequent up/down use.

A Speedster, historically, is the opposite:

• Lower windshield for a more “in the car” feel
• Simplified, lighter-looking roof (often manually operated and more minimalist)
• Tonneau / double-hump rear cover to emphasize the two-seat, roadster-like silhouette
• A stronger focus on style + purity rather than practicality

This “special designation” signals a car that prioritizes design heritage and driving sensation—and that’s why Porsche tends to build Speedsters in limited numbers.

The Speedster catalog: model years and production numbers

1) Porsche 356 Speedster (mid-1950s)

Model years / era: 1954–1958 (produced across those years)
Production: 4,854 Speedsters (all 356 Speedster years combined)
Cooling: Air-cooled flat-four

The original 356 Speedster was built around a simple idea: create a lighter-feeling, more affordable open Porsche—especially suited to the U.S. sports-car scene. It became a defining early Porsche shape: low screen, clean lines, and a stripped-back attitude that still influences Porsche’s “heritage” models today.

Most desirable 356 Speedster years:
Collectors often prize the later cars (notably 356A-era Speedsters) because the model matured mechanically and cosmetically while keeping the pure Speedster profile. Market desirability can vary by engine specification, originality, and racing provenance, but as a theme: later, more developed 356 Speedsters tend to command the most attention.

2) Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Speedster (1989)

Model year: 1989 (single-year run)
Production: Sources vary; commonly cited totals include 2,065 (PCA), 2,104 (some references), and other tallies depending on counting method/market definitions
Cooling: Air-cooled flat-six (classic 911 era)

After the 356, Porsche didn’t produce a Speedster again for decades—until the late 1980s, when the brand revived the concept on the classic 911 platform. The 1989 3.2 Speedster is a poster child for the formula:

• chopped windscreen
• double-hump rear cover
• a look that instantly reads “special model” from 20 feet away

Why 1989 is highly desirable:
It’s the first 911 Speedster, it’s air-cooled, it’s single-year, and it carries a late-classic-911 charm that has become increasingly prized among enthusiasts. Add in the iconic 1980s shape and the Speedster styling, and you have a model that consistently sits high in the desirability conversation.

3) Porsche 911 Speedster (964) (1993–1994)

Model years: 1993–1994
Production: 936 units
Cooling: Air-cooled flat-six

The 964 Speedster is often described as a more “modern classic” take on the theme: still air-cooled, still compact, but with a more contemporary chassis feel than the late-1980s G-body car.

A key reason the 964 Speedster stands out is its sheer rarity. Porsche reportedly planned a larger run but ended up building far fewer—making it one of the scarcest production 911 Speedsters.

Most desirable years:
Because the run spans 1993–1994 and the total is small, desirability tends to be more about specification (color, options, provenance) than “one year is always better.” The broader point is that the 964 Speedster is prized because it’s an air-cooled, low-production Speedster in the sweet spot of 911 evolution.

4) Porsche 911 Speedster (997) (2011)

Model year: 2011 Production: commonly cited as 356 units (Porsche’s homage number), though some references list 361
Cooling: Water-cooled flat-six (997 generation)

This Speedster marked a major shift: it brought Speedster style into the water-cooled era. The 997 Speedster leaned hard into exclusivity, with production deliberately tiny and the design cues exaggerated in a modern way—especially the rear deck profile and the overall stance.

Why it’s desirable:

• extremely limited build
• modern usability compared to earlier Speedsters
• and a strong “collector edition” identity inside the 911 family

For many enthusiasts, the 997 Speedster is the bridge between classic Speedster purity and modern Porsche performance refinement.

5) Porsche 911 Speedster (991) (2019)

Model year / production start: 2019 (limited series from mid-2019 production)
Production: 1,948 units (a heritage reference to 1948)
Cooling: Water-cooled flat-six

The 991 Speedster is the most recent widely recognized production Speedster, and Porsche made its intent very clear: this car was a heritage celebration, with production capped at 1,948 units as a symbolic nod to Porsche’s early history.

Compared to the ultra-rare 997 Speedster, the 991’s production number is “larger” but still low in broader 911 terms—enough to feel special while letting more enthusiasts participate.

Why it’s desirable:
It combines modern performance and engineering with unmistakable Speedster identity, and the limited production figure is officially anchored to Porsche heritage—an ingredient collectors tend to value.

Air-cooled vs. water-cooled: the Speedster split

A clean way to understand the Speedster family is by cooling era:

Air-cooled Speedsters

• 356 Speedster (air-cooled flat-four)
• 911 3.2 Speedster (1989) (air-cooled flat-six era)
• 964 Speedster (1993–1994) (air-cooled flat-six)

These are often considered the most “classic” Speedsters because they combine open-air simplicity with the mechanical character of Porsche’s air-cooled engines.

Water-cooled Speedsters

• 997 Speedster (2011)
• 991 Speedster (2019)

These offer the Speedster design language with modern drivability, refinement, and performance—often making them more usable while still collectible.

Which Speedster years are “most desirable”?

Desirability depends on what a buyer values, but a few broad truths hold:

• The original 356 Speedster is the purest expression of the idea and carries foundational Porsche mythology.
• 1989 (911 3.2 Speedster) is prized for being the first 911 Speedster, air-cooled, and iconic in shape.
• 1993–1994 (964 Speedster) is coveted because it’s extremely low production among production 911 Speedsters.
• 2011 (997 Speedster) is a modern-era rarity with a “built to collect” identity.
• 2019 (991 Speedster) is desirable because it’s the most recent major Speedster series and has an official, heritage-based limited run.

The Speedster idea in one sentence

A Porsche Speedster is Porsche’s way of saying: strip the convertible back to its most iconic shape, make it rarer, and make it feel like a purposeful open sports car—not just a roofless version of the coupe.