How One Ultra-Rare Porsche 356 Survived the Ages

Among the flavors of Porsche's past, there was once an open-top variant that exuded timeless style on the street and dominated on racetracks around the globe. The now-iconic Porsche 356 Speedster was a low-production model, with around 4,000 units produced, but an even smaller batch was fitted with racing-derived four-cam engines. Much more exotic than the typical pushrod-spec motors, a mere 100 of these Carrera Speedster models were produced.

But one olive-grey 356 Carrera Speedster has survived the time thanks to an enthusiastic father-son duo. Rob Edwards and his father Ben are no strangers to Porsches, being longtime Porschephile owners and caretakers of a rare Porsche 356. Theirs is chassis 81129, a 1955 Pre-A Carrera Speedster, equipped with a rare racing-derived four-cam engine, of which merely 1700 were produced in total.

The car has had a storied past, having been stored away for years in a huge collection of cars that were salvaged on their way to the crusher, before being purchased by the Edwards duo after hearing whispers of its location. After becoming part of the Edwards collection in 2009, the duo embarked on a six-year restoration process with local expert Romolo and masterful mechanics Jeff Adams and Matt Rosati from Speedsport Tuning. The car was stripped down to its bare metal, revealing injuries sustained during its racing days, including twisting damage to the passenger side door hinges and cowl.

Despite these challenges, 81129 has emerged as a stunning example of Porsche's past, with its unique Stone Grey color and upgraded interior. Today, it resides with Rob and Ben Edwards, where it participates in concours events and road rallies, usually with fellow 356s. The duo relishes their time behind the wheel of 81129, which remains highly desirable due to its rarity and deep motorsports legacy.