1958 Porsche 356 Speedster

Steer through history with the 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster! This classic, which made a cameo in the original Top Gun film, captured the hearts of collectors and enthusiasts alike with its sleek design and unmatched speed. As Berkley One Classics celebrates the big 5-0, we’re hosting an exciting virtual car show for collectors and enthusiasts alike. We’ll share our love of classic cars by spotlighting 50 cars for 50 years that have been chosen and beloved by our employees. Each will showcase the evolution of design and engineering and provide a nostalgic journey through auto and pop culture history. Read on as Frances Brodeur, Vice President, Sales & Underwriting Executive at Berkley One, tells us why she loves the 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster.

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The Car:

Feel the need… the need for speed! The 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster is a classic. What started as a relatively affordable, lightweight, focused sports car to take racing on the weekends evolved into an automotive icon. Speedsters are purchased and used today by collectors, enthusiasts, restorers, hot-rodders, and drivers. Their quality has been proven to stand the test of time.

The Collector:

Anyone who’s seen the original Top Gun film will immediately recognize this car. It’s sleek, beautiful, and as iconic as the movie. It’s great to note that the car in the film is actually a replica! It was built specially for the movie production. According to gearjunkie.com, since it is produced by Intermeccanica, it’s even easier than one might expect to buy a replica to match the movie, and more options are available including an “eRoadster.”

The Love:

Although the character of Maverick (played by Tom Cruise) was the star of the 1987 film, his love interest, Charlie, and her Speedster were always inspiring to me. Charlie was a woman in a man’s world who worked as an instructor at the elite Top Gun (the nickname for the U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program). Not only did she exude class, intelligence, and wit, but she also rolled around in the coolest car ever. She was someone I wanted to be growing up in the 80’s!

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Contributed by Frances Brodeur

Photo: Garage Kept Motors

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This car feature is part of our 50 Cars for 50 Years campaign in honor of Berkley One Classics celebrating 50 year of insuring collectors and their vehicles. See the other cars we love here.

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Berkley One Classics is a Berkley Company who recognizes that classic cars are unique and require insurance that’s equally distinctive. Let us help you protect your beloved vehicle so you can enjoy it for years to come. Learn more here.