1989 Porsche Speedster

This Speedster comes to us with very little in the way of history or service records. We know that it has been laid up and inactive for a considerable amount of time and will need some basic recommissioning before it gets any serious road use.

The odometer currently reads 13,681 miles.

The car’s online MoT history tells us that the mileage was recorded as being 10,411 miles in June 2006.

This car does not have a current MoT certificate (its age means that it doesn’t require one) however, it did undertake a ‘pre-MoT’ check at an independent testing station next to Bonhams|Cars Online in January 2024 and only two small issues were raised: no windscreen washer fluid, and the left-hand indicator, although functioning, doesn’t stay flashing if not manually held in place and doesn’t automatically turn off when the steering wheel turns past the ‘return’ point. 

Neither of these faults strikes us as being either serious or difficult to rectify.

When the car arrived at out HQ it was rather grubby and the paint and plastics were a little faded in places. Without expending too much time or energy, our in-house car detailer demonstrated that it would be really quite simple to get most of the car’s aesthetic issues sorted out with some decent cleaning products and a professional machine polish.

The bodywork is devoid of any dinks, dents, bangs, crumples, creases, ripples or folds that we can discern.

The panels are smooth and even, the shut-lines and panel gaps are crisp and consistent.

The doors close with all the Teutonic weight and precision famously built in to them by Porsche’s engineers when the car left the factory in 1989.

The wheels are pretty good, too, although there are a few scuffs to be seen on the n/s/r and o/s/f wheels. The matching Bridgestone tyres look decent but are likely to be rather long in the tooth.

The red paintwork has shown its potential to recapture a fair bit of its former glory but there are one or two issues to consider here and there.

The paint has bubbled and lifted in sundry places on the red ‘Speedster’ cowling used to conceal the stowed fabric hood.

There’s some bubbling to be seen at both ends of the bodywork along adjacent to the front bumper and a spot of blistering on the offside of the ‘frunk’ lid. 

There is a pimply finish to the paint above the n/s/r wheel arch, some swirly scratches in various places, scuffs at the base on each side of the n/s/r wheel arch, and further scuffs on the leading edges of the doors and on the front and rear valances.

The side indicator light on the offside is loose and needs re-attaching.

The black fabric hood is really pretty good and seems free of any damage that we can see, save for the fact that the stitching has come loose around the top and bottom of the rear screen.

The badging at the rear has suffered somewhat, and the ‘Speedster’ script has now been abbreviated to read ‘dste’.

The inside of the car was in much the same state as its exterior counterpart when we first clapped eyes upon it. In other words, it looked a bit forlorn and shabby. 

Once again, our detailer set to work with some cleaning products and leather feed, doing just enough to show that the black leather upholstery is actually in good condition and just needs a bit of time, effort and TLC to get back to its best.  

The seats are as supportive, comfortable and well-made as we’ve come to expect of 911s of this vintage and just have a few creases and scuffs here and there to attest to their age.

The roof lining is decent, as are the door cards, carpets and mats, although a section of carpet is loose and hanging down in the driver’s footwell.

The sun visors are rather floppy and ineffectual, particularly on the driver’s side.

The steering wheel, gear lever, instruments, dials and controls all look good to us.

The engine bay looks dry and tidy, from what we can see. It’s a 911 so, clearly, we can’t see very much.

The undersides look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity and nothing we’ve seen has prompted us to tut or raise an eyebrow. Clearly, you’ll want to reach your own opinion.

This car comes with a recent, clear HPI report, a spec sheet, a few old tax discs and a V5. 

Yes, it will need a little light recommissioning and the application of some elbow grease, but we think this is a really very decent example of an extremely rare and undeniably beautiful 911 Speedster.

You’ll be doing well to ever see another example, let alone get the chance to own one. 

We like it a lot.

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £100,000 - £125,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.