BSC is world-famous for quality, hand-made,
high performance 356 Speedster replicas. All cars profit from years of
racing experience and race-proven technology. The BSC Speedster has been
sold into Japan, Asia, and Europe for over 15 years. Cars have been reviewed
and praised by major magazines like Motor Trend, Auto Build, Car and Driver,
Road and Track, VW and Porsche kit car, and Motor Press.
All agree and rave about the high quality craftsmanship and the amazing
performance of the BSC vehicles.
BSC
Speedsters are carefully crafted replicas of the original Le Mans winning
Porsche 356. The 356 was originally designed in 1948 by Ferdinand Porsche’s son Ferry as an out-and-out racer. The
first car used a tubular chassis, later replaced by unitized pan and body
construction. The body was designed by Irwin Komenda who had contributed
substantially to the design of the revolutionary rear-engined Auto Union
Grand Prix racers, which beat Mercedes Benz to the 1938 World Championship.
That victory made the Porsche name and won the right to design and build
the Volkswagen – the “People’s Car” which shared
many of its principles and parts with the 356.
In 1953 Max Hoffman began importing the 356 to the USA.
The cars cost more than a Cadillac and, faced with slow sales, Hoffman convinced
Ferry Porsche to design and build a stripped-down version of the Cabriolet
convertible, which would retail under $3,000.00. At that price Hoffman was
sure he could sell the car in quantity, especially to the post-war generation
of youthful cruisers. Porsche agreed. Split windscreens became curved and
in 1955 the first 356A models were released with a street price in the US
of $ 2,950.00.
Numerous subtle differences in the
shape of the body and features of the car were introduced together with
1600cc engine options. Somehow the 1500 GS Type 547 Carrera motor developed
for racing found its way into the 356 production line.
The 356A captured the spirit of the ‘50s. Hoffman sold 4100 cars during
the next four years until Speedster production ended in 1959 when it was
replaced by the 356B cabriolet.
The first 356 cabriolet appeared in 1949.
During the next 22 years of production the car changed from mid-engine to
rear and there were many subtle changes to design and construction. But
the overall design and instantly recognizable shape of the car remained
the same. It became and remained a timeless classic.
The new 356A Speedster was a true roadster
because the soft-top retracted into the body leaving a smooth unbroken design-line.
Previous Porsche convertibles had all been cabriolets where the top was
stored slightly raised from the body.
