Hi Everyone! Have you ever wonders about the differences between a 356 Speedster and a Cabriolet? In this video, we delve into some of the major differences between the two and you'll get enough info to impress your friends at the next Coffee and Cars!
Hi Franny, We have a 1959 Convertible D. I see you have Colorado plates could you please let me know if there are any places in Colorado that are experts at repairing these cars. It has spent 42 years in Seattle so the battery box has some rust and needs a restoration. Car will be moving to Colorado in a year or so.
In High School ( 1970) my metal shop teacher had an interesting side business. He had a brother stationed in Germany who would buy really clean 356 Porsches and ship them to my teacher in Seattle, Washington. The cars were resold at a tidy profit. As the best student wrench at my school, I was entrusted to do some minor mechanical repairs and take the cars home for the weekend..My favorite was a 1965 356C cabriolet, white, black top, 50,000 miles and like new. Back in Germany the mechanics specialized in particular models and went to the Porsche factory for training. I was told that only one person had ever worked on the 356C prior to my turn. I had owned, restored, and repaired many european cars at that time, but the Porsche was unlike anything I had ever seen or driven. The build quality was far beyond my experience. So tight, solid. And responsive. The brakes were fantastic. A simple elegance permeated the car, and every control, door, switch, etc functioned in a solid and beautiful way. Driving it reminded of flying a small airplane. I was soon to own a 1956 356 A coupe and a 1961 356B coupe. Of the hundreds of cars , mostly european, that I have owned, the 356 Porsches are the most special to me.
Here I am with virtually no chance of ever owning one of these great cars and I still love your video. You have a special way of presenting information. Thank you for sharing.
Fun video. owned/traded a few during the late 60's and 70's...if only i never sold them...fun fun cars....I remember changing out the rings in my alley the night before track day...(scca). My last one went to pay for the first baby...back when we were poor! Thanks for the walk down memory lane!
Thank you for this very wonderful and instructive video . I love the way you talk about these iconic cars.Knowlegde and passion .Great job.Have been a porsche lover for the past 30 years and I didn't know these facts.
My God! I sense a disruption in the fabric of time and space! Two gorgeous classic Porsches in the driveway….parked on the street behind this knowledgeable woman? Two more white Porsches! I loved this video…it’s 0730 and I have an inexplicable desire to eat a gallon of Vanilla Bean ice cream!!
This has to be the best Speedster reference video ever put together. Very well done, so much great information. I live in Denver and have a 55 Speedster replica that I LOVE, it's about as close to perfect except parking brake and a few other small details. I am afraid to go to any Cars & Coffee with it because I might make real owners upset with me but I would love a chance to see real ones and meet people like you. How do I find out where you hang out in Colorado? I could leave the replica at home and drive one of my other cars if replicas are not welcome. - Matt
Hi Matt, Don't be intimidated by the purest :) The only time the original folks get upset is at an actual car show and contests. We just haven't been out to shows (obviously 2020, but..) in a while. The scene has changed a bit. At this point it may have to be next season...
I like both. But if I were to pick the one I LIKE more it would be the Speedster. However, if I were going to BUY one, I'd buy the Cabriolet. Why? I would just prefer driving the more comfortable car. Actually, I'd probably buy a replica just because I'd want to drive it and not be so concerned about damaging a very expensive original. Great video. Thanks for posting.
When I got my first car, a 1960 T-5 Roadster I decided to sit in the space where a seat set in the more civilized Porsches. I had to yell for my younger brother to pull me out. The Roadster weighed 1,940 pounds. The Speedster was 1,809 something. I’ve seen a Speedster with glass windows but with a leather strap to pull them up and then hook ‘em like this car. I used to have a option price list but it disappeared in a move. Most options were less than $100. IIRC, black paint was $82.
Thank you ladies, another informative video. (I love the way you roll your Rs as in car etc). Anyway, in case I'm not here over the next few weeks. Happy motoring, and a very merry Xmas. John UK.
Thanks for this comparison. I do like the Cabriolet better (like my creature comforts) but the chrome character strip along the side of the Speedster is a very pretty touch.
Super interesting! They're both amazing. I'll take a Cabriolet, please. :) 10:30 About Speedster pricing, NADA website has MSRP for a '55 Speedster as $2,995 and $3,495 for the 'Super' version. The $2,000 mentioned would only buy an MG TF.
Amazing is the price difference, this 1954 Speedster on the right was sold in the US for $3,000, in Europe for $6,000 whereas the Porsche Cabriolet was sold in 1958 for $10,000
Parabéns pelo vídeo! São dois veículos fantásticos, esse agora é meu projeto! Até 2021 terei um Porsche 356 speedster. Congratulations on the video! They are two fantastic vehicles, this is now my project! By 2021 I will have a Porsche 356 speedster.
Could the cabriolet have a back seat, too? Tbh I fell in love with the speedster but that name, Cabriolet.... ohhhhh... We were almost empty-nesters and decided to have one more. I’ll need a third seat. Thank you so much for the video!
If you wanted to split the difference between a Speedster and a Cabriolet, in 1959 you got a Convertible D. And from '60 to mid '62, you got a Roadster, now with the B body. The Speedster ended production after '58, the Roadster after '62. The Cabriolet was produce for the entire 356 run, A, B, and C.
I really enjoy your channel, thank you for the great automotive programming. A tough choice to decide on a preference between the Speedster and the Cabriolet! You referenced the rear engine lid as the 'boot'. I believe the term refers to the rear storage area (or trunk) of a car; so a 356 has a front boot :) Besides the Speedster being the stripped down Porsche for the weekend racer, it was also Max Hoffman's intent to use this entry-level model to compete or draw in customers from the British sports car market, Austin Healey, MG, Triumph, etc. With a base price of just under $3000, the Speedster was still more expensive then most British marques. Still it was much closer in pricing to the Brits than other Porsche models and had the reliability that most British sports cars did not.
Not sure that you are accurate on the Speedster price and the points about the handbrake and radio. Some Speedsters did have factory radios. Great video though!
Mmm mmm, sí. Yo también estaría todo el día en tu garage si fuera tu vecino. ¿Sabes que "colorado" significa lo mismo que "rojo", ie "red"?. Saludos...
There is an easy way to tell. If the A pillar is body colored it is a Cab. Roadsters, Convertible Ds and Speedsters all have chrome windshield frames. The Speedsters is rounded and the rest are more squared off in the corners. The Convertible D is not a convertible, but really more like an "A" Roadster... Confused?? I think that is the way Porsche intended ;) Oh, as if that isn't enough the "American Roadster" (1952) is neither... It is adorable though, but pre-dates the Speedster...
@@HeidiandFranny, Thanks for the clarification. I think you are right, Porsche always seems to make it confusing. I have a 1979 SC and no one from Porsche ever explained what SC stands for.
Lol. The thee fifty six club in Denver would never say it the way you recommend, but I have heard it the way you mention too. It doesn’t matter. Just love the car.
My God! I sense a disruption in the fabric of time and space! Two gorgeous classic Porsches in the driveway….parked on the street behind this knowledgeable woman? Two more white Porsches! I loved this video…it’s 0730 and I have an inexplicable desire to eat a gallon of Vanilla Bean ice cream!!
Hi Everyone! Have you ever wonders about the differences between a 356 Speedster and a Cabriolet? In this video, we delve into some of the major differences between the two and you'll get enough info to impress your friends at the next Coffee and Cars!
Hi Franny, We have a 1959 Convertible D. I see you have Colorado plates could you please let me know if there are any places in Colorado that are experts at repairing these cars. It has spent 42 years in Seattle so the battery box has some rust and needs a restoration. Car will be moving to Colorado in a year or so.
What a great comparison video. Interesting tidbits Franny. Great job and thank you for taking the time to create and share this video.
In High School ( 1970) my metal shop teacher had an interesting side business. He had a brother stationed in Germany who would buy really clean 356 Porsches and ship them to my teacher in Seattle, Washington. The cars were resold at a tidy profit. As the best student wrench at my school, I was entrusted to do some minor mechanical repairs and take the cars home for the weekend..My favorite was a 1965 356C cabriolet, white, black top, 50,000 miles and like new. Back in Germany the mechanics specialized in particular models and went to the Porsche factory for training. I was told that only one person had ever worked on the 356C prior to my turn. I had owned, restored, and repaired many european cars at that time, but the Porsche was unlike anything I had ever seen or driven. The build quality was far beyond my experience. So tight, solid. And responsive. The brakes were fantastic. A simple elegance permeated the car, and every control, door, switch, etc functioned in a solid and beautiful way. Driving it reminded of flying a small airplane. I was soon to own a 1956 356 A coupe and a 1961 356B coupe. Of the hundreds of cars , mostly european, that I have owned, the 356 Porsches are the most special to me.
Interesting. Our 356 is from Seattle.
The world according to Garth... a wonderful world !
Here I am with virtually no chance of ever owning one of these great cars and I still love your video. You have a special way of presenting information. Thank you for sharing.
Get a low mileage old Boxster S. I absolutely love mine and it doesn't break the bank. And it goes like hell!!
I love your enthusiasm, knowledge and presentation style! Thank you for your efforts.
Would love to buy coffee and ask you a lot of car questions. You are so smart on these beautiful cars
It is amazing watching how similar old Porsche cars and VW Beetle are
We have some other videos for you then. th-cam.com/video/kqp113I4a88/w-d-xo.html and also this. th-cam.com/video/_s-hCQagFDs/w-d-xo.html
1957 Porsche 356 Speedster driven by Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours was the 1st time I seen this car.
So cool...love your channel.
Thanks! Yup, Doc Holiday, Top Gun, Wimbledon. You see it in movies a bit. So different in a sea of SUVs...
@@HeidiandFranny Doc Hollywood
First time in a while I enjoyed watching a video on TH-cam
Fun video. owned/traded a few during the late 60's and 70's...if only i never sold them...fun fun cars....I remember changing out the rings in my alley the night before track day...(scca). My last one went to pay for the first baby...back when we were poor! Thanks for the walk down memory lane!
Thanks for posting this. Learned somethings. Thought I knew it all. ☺️
I love waking up to a new Heidi and Franny vid! Absolutely love these cars!
Thank you for this very wonderful and instructive video . I love the way you talk about these iconic cars.Knowlegde and passion .Great job.Have been a porsche lover for the past 30 years and I didn't know these facts.
Excellent comparison! One is no better than the other - different purposes. Both fantastic!
Wow so cool. Not sure what is cooler. The cars, or the passion and knowledge this lady has for all things PORSCHE. Nicely done kid......
I was curious the type of car that was featured on Justin Beiber’s Christmas song MV. So it’s him brought me here. Very detailed comparison. Love it.
Thanks for the comparison, I'm into VW vintage rally racing and in addition love the 356, all models and trim. Thanks, Heidi.
Great video. Just what I was looking for. You know your stuff.
Beautiful cars! Another fun and informative video.
Although both cars are great, I'd take the Speedster cause it just looks both sporty and cute. Like the perfect classic car.
My God! I sense a disruption in the fabric of time and space! Two gorgeous classic Porsches in the driveway….parked on the street behind this knowledgeable woman? Two more white Porsches! I loved this video…it’s 0730 and I have an inexplicable desire to eat a gallon of Vanilla Bean ice cream!!
Thank you from Indonesia
Thank you for your vlog Franny from the UK
great video! I was curious what the differences were! Thanks!
great review, thanks so much
I would be happy with either of these. Good presentation, thanks for posting.
Great info. Both fantastic cars. Nice camera work Heidi. Thanks.
Both cars are wonderful. And your videos are the best!
Excellent Presentation Skills, very impressed!
Thanks so much!
This has to be the best Speedster reference video ever put together. Very well done, so much great information. I live in Denver and have a 55 Speedster replica that I LOVE, it's about as close to perfect except parking brake and a few other small details. I am afraid to go to any Cars & Coffee with it because I might make real owners upset with me but I would love a chance to see real ones and meet people like you. How do I find out where you hang out in Colorado? I could leave the replica at home and drive one of my other cars if replicas are not welcome. - Matt
Hi Matt, Don't be intimidated by the purest :) The only time the original folks get upset is at an actual car show and contests. We just haven't been out to shows (obviously 2020, but..) in a while. The scene has changed a bit. At this point it may have to be next season...
Heidi and Franny's Garage thanks!!!
Hi Franny!! Nice cars!!
This is awesome is a similar reference comparing the Roadster to either the Cabrio or speedster?
this was super helpful
Wonderful video! Best regards from Brazil!
I like both. But if I were to pick the one I LIKE more it would be the Speedster. However, if I were going to BUY one, I'd buy the Cabriolet. Why? I would just prefer driving the more comfortable car. Actually, I'd probably buy a replica just because I'd want to drive it and not be so concerned about damaging a very expensive original. Great video. Thanks for posting.
When I got my first car, a 1960 T-5 Roadster I decided to sit in the space where a seat set in the more civilized Porsches. I had to yell for my younger brother to pull me out. The Roadster weighed 1,940 pounds. The Speedster was 1,809 something. I’ve seen a Speedster with glass windows but with a leather strap to pull them up and then hook ‘em like this car. I used to have a option price list but it disappeared in a move. Most options were less than $100. IIRC, black paint was $82.
Thank you ladies, another informative video. (I love the way you roll your Rs as in car etc). Anyway, in case I'm not here over the next few weeks. Happy motoring, and a very merry Xmas. John UK.
Thanks John!! Happy Holidays!!
Thank you for making this video! I love both cars!!!
Don't have to watch, although I will lol, but the cab all the way 👍😀
Cab built more for everyday use.
Great video 👍
Thank you once again for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks for this comparison. I do like the Cabriolet better (like my creature comforts) but the chrome character strip along the side of the Speedster is a very pretty touch.
Great video! cheers!
wow what a nice video, great comparison 👌
Great video. I learned a lot. Thank you!
Both lovely cars. I do like to live on the spartan side of life, though, so between the two I'd have the speedster.
As usual very informative..
Nice review. I take either one if anyone wants to donate his/her car to a good home!
Lol
Super interesting! They're both amazing. I'll take a Cabriolet, please. :)
10:30 About Speedster pricing, NADA website has MSRP for a '55 Speedster as
$2,995 and $3,495 for the 'Super' version. The $2,000 mentioned would only buy an MG TF.
That roof quite smart ...
... whats the best swap for 356 ? .. Boxter engine ? Maybe 914 ?
I love your channel keep it up
Amazing is the price difference, this 1954 Speedster on the right was sold in the US for $3,000, in Europe for $6,000 whereas the Porsche Cabriolet was sold in 1958 for $10,000
I wish we were neighbor , I'd be over your House every day!!
Both beautiful cars!
Parabéns pelo vídeo! São dois veículos fantásticos, esse agora é meu projeto! Até 2021 terei um Porsche 356 speedster.
Congratulations on the video! They are two fantastic vehicles, this is now my project! By 2021 I will have a Porsche 356 speedster.
Did you make it ?
Could the cabriolet have a back seat, too? Tbh I fell in love with the speedster but that name, Cabriolet.... ohhhhh...
We were almost empty-nesters and decided to have one more. I’ll need a third seat.
Thank you so much for the video!
The removeable windows on the speedster, were they tight enough to keep out the rain water? Brilliant video btw very educational. Thankyou!
Well.... Sort of... The windshield usually isn't the issue... Usually the side curtains are big leakers as is the top over that windshield.
I think they were to keep "most" of the water out. Many European sports cars of the time had removable side curtain windows. Some were more of cloth.
Franny, what has appened with Zooey, can you tell me ?
Those drums are huge. My 69 single cab drums look like cookie tins haha
aren't those serious!
Fun fact speedster headlights are compatible with VW first generation Beetles and Buses!
How you keep them so clean ? You don't have polution there ?
If you wanted to split the difference between a Speedster and a Cabriolet, in 1959 you got a Convertible D. And from '60 to mid '62, you got a Roadster, now with the B body. The Speedster ended production after '58, the Roadster after '62. The Cabriolet was produce for the entire 356 run, A, B, and C.
By the way, I had a '60 B Roadster. 1600S. Sold it a few decades too soon.
Thanks
Great vid, can the roof hold the speed on the Speedster since it is not as strong as the cab?
Probably not... Think of it as more of a rain umbrella ;)
@@HeidiandFranny Thx for the answer. And also, did some Speedsters come with a tarp that not only protected the cab, but also protected the 2nd seat?
well done !
Nice video
I really enjoy your channel, thank you for the great automotive programming. A tough choice to decide on a preference between the Speedster and the Cabriolet! You referenced the rear engine lid as the 'boot'. I believe the term refers to the rear storage area (or trunk) of a car; so a 356 has a front boot :)
Besides the Speedster being the stripped down Porsche for the weekend racer, it was also Max Hoffman's intent to use this entry-level model to compete or draw in customers from the British sports car market, Austin Healey, MG, Triumph, etc. With a base price of just under $3000, the Speedster was still more expensive then most British marques. Still it was much closer in pricing to the Brits than other Porsche models and had the reliability that most British sports cars did not.
Hi Doug. I did not know that. Heidi
Love them!
How about a comparison between a 356 cabriolet and a Karmann Ghia convertible?
We did a compare between the 356 Cab and a Beetle... Pretty close to the Ghia...
Why not raise both tops to demonstrate the procedure and to see the difference in the look?
HELLO GIRLS I'M FROM BRAZIL THANKS FOR YOUR REVIEWS I LOVE IT THANKS A LOT!!!
Porsche 356b convertible Maisto clássicos comentários 111
I think the million miles-356 by Petrolicious on YT may interest you.
We are familiar with that channel.
Dreaming of a Convertible D
We just had one in our most recent virtual coffee and cars.
How fast it can accelerate to 100 km/h?
*Edit:* found it: 12 seconds for Speedster versus 23 seconds for Cabriolet.
Not sure that you are accurate on the Speedster price and the points about the handbrake and radio. Some Speedsters did have factory radios. Great video though!
You are watching a video from several years ago, so if the price is not correct, you should probably check out the current market rates.
I’m talking about the price when new. Hoffman famously marketed these at $2995.
The cab seems more livable for day to day driving.
I heard the speedsters were made light so they can ship them over seas for less
No. Max just wanted them to be cheap. And to race. But mostly cheap.
Mmm mmm, sí. Yo también estaría todo el día en tu garage si fuera tu vecino. ¿Sabes que "colorado" significa lo mismo que "rojo", ie "red"?. Saludos...
Where's Heidi?
Filming
Speedster porsche
I think your speedster is a 1956 model with a 1955 Engine.
It's a '55 with a B engine. The owner has sourced a complete '55 engine and will be installing that when it is rebuilt.
I always thought what you are calling a cabriole is actual call a roadster by Porsche.
There is an easy way to tell. If the A pillar is body colored it is a Cab. Roadsters, Convertible Ds and Speedsters all have chrome windshield frames. The Speedsters is rounded and the rest are more squared off in the corners. The Convertible D is not a convertible, but really more like an "A" Roadster... Confused?? I think that is the way Porsche intended ;) Oh, as if that isn't enough the "American Roadster" (1952) is neither... It is adorable though, but pre-dates the Speedster...
@@HeidiandFranny, Thanks for the clarification. I think you are right, Porsche always seems to make it confusing. I have a 1979 SC and no one from Porsche ever explained what SC stands for.
@@JMNMotorsports Super Carrera I believe...
Three fifty-six? Nope. Three Five Six.
Lol. The thee fifty six club in Denver would never say it the way you recommend, but I have heard it the way you mention too. It doesn’t matter. Just love the car.
My God! I sense a disruption in the fabric of time and space! Two gorgeous classic Porsches in the driveway….parked on the street behind this knowledgeable woman? Two more white Porsches! I loved this video…it’s 0730 and I have an inexplicable desire to eat a gallon of Vanilla Bean ice cream!!