One of the untold stories of the early sports car era is that most of the world’s high-end models were coming straight out of a Europe but selling only in America. Not that the Europeans didn’t love their sports cars as much as anyone else, but America was the better market for these expensive toys, and the Porsche 356 line was absolutely huge in the states for a few years.

The Porsche 356 was in production from 1948 until 1965 and remains one of the Porsche’s most popular models. The most popular from the 356 era was the 1956 model – the Type 1 (T1) 356A Speedster roadster.

Realistically, there weren’t that many changes in the 1956 model from previous years – just a few nips, tucks and improvements. However, it was the culmination of the entire genre built into one car that really made a lasting impression on any and everyone who owned a 1956 Porsche Speedster.

From the first appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in 1949, it was clear that Ferdinand Porsche's model 356 was going to be a game-changer in terms of automobiles. With a sleek almost Beetle-like body, aluminum fastback coachwork, a pressed-steel chassis, and the powerful engine behind the rear axle of the automobile, the 356 was unique in every aspect.

For the first few years in America, the Porsche 356 was doing extremely well. However, after Austin-Healey and Triumph started selling equally impressive cars for a lot less money, the 356 was taking a hit. By 1954, Porsche’s numbers were dwindling and the company needed a new model boasting more features to justify the price tag and to get people interested in the line again.

The Speedster 356 appeared on the scene that year and started to turn heads due to its sporty look, powerful engine and competitive cost. The open-top convertible model was also something that Americans loved, especially the California market.

There was also the James Dean and Steve McQueen factor happening with auto sales at the time. Practically everyone embraced the racing culture, and the 1956 Porsche 356 Speedster was suitable for racing in every way, including its easy-to-handle 4-speed transmission, wide wheelbase, removable windscreen, and improved steering features.

The 1956 model did extremely well in America, selling over 1,000 cars. In comparison to today’s numbers, selling only over a thousand vehicles doesn’t seem like a tall order. But for the time, it was absolutely huge. Sales numbers would dramatically drop after the Convertible D was released in 1958 and Porsche would never regain the magic of its 56 model.

Like a lot of cars at the time, Porsche had different engine options. Buyers could choose from a 4-cylinder pushrod style, or a dual overhead camshaft model. Both were powerful for the time, but not the most powerful on the market. Any model of the 356 Speedster could be purchased at the time for around $3000.