1971 Pilgrim Speedster
Highly Desirable Recreation of the Porsche Legend
Here’s your chance to drive a Porsche Speedster without having to mortgage your life… forever… to achieve it! It offers up the essence of the original in a package you can use and enjoy without fear or trepidation.
This example is believed to have undergone its transformation from donor to Speedster in around 2005/2006. It was anecdotally reported to have been built by Pilgrim themselves for one of their directors.
Key facts
· Lovely summer cruiser
· Powered by a 1600cc VW Engine
· Reputed first owner was the director of Pilgrim
· 9,400 miles
· 1641cc
· Blue
· Cream Leather interior
· Right-hand drive
· Petrol
Vehicle Overview
This Pilgrim Speedster is based on a Beetle donor car dating from 1971. As such, the recorded first registered date and number of former owners considers the history of the donor as well as the current, dramatically transformed car. This example is believed to have undergone its transformation from donor to Speedster in around 2005/2006. It was anecdotally reported to have been built by Pilgrim themselves for one of their directors. The new gauge set was fitted at that point, meaning that the current odometer reading of c.9,400 miles equates to the distance covered since the Speedster transformation.
The current owner has lovingly looked after this car for the last 18 years. She acquired it in October 2007 at around 200 indicated miles. Since then, the car has been driven in the UK and made several trips to France, clocking up some incredible memories and causing a lot of head-turning and waves here and on the Continent. It is such a special car – reliable, gorgeous, head-turning.
Exterior
The original Speedster adopted the American Roadster aesthetic with a low, cut down windscreen and correspondingly low roofline created by a basic folding rain-cover style hood. By association, then, this is what you get with the Pilgrim Speedster. It’s a highly evocative and charming design and reassuringly familiar to many.
The car is a bright Aquamarine Blue. It is in very sound condition overall with the blue paintwork catching and reflecting the light from the numerous compound curves. On close inspection there are some surface imperfections to the paint in places, but you need to be close by to notice these.
The Pilgrim version of the Speedster is noted for the level of authenticity it delivers: period cues include the teardrop-shaped rear lights, Porsche crest and chromed bonnet trim, gold Speedster and Porsche script badges and full length, waist-level chrome rubbing strips.
As is often the case with recreations, a little variation in panel gaps is noted. This is particularly evident at the leading edges of bonnet and rear engine cover. The fabric hood is finished in contrasting dark blue and is in very good condition. Nevertheless, the car, as with a lot of sports cars, would rather not be driven in the rain! The rear screen is clear, un-fogged and uncracked. The fit of the hood may be improved by reshaping or adjusting the underlying hoops.
The 15-inch steel wheels are finished with deeply chromed and domed hub caps. These are shod in a matching set of Pirelli P3000 period style tyres in 175/65 configuration. These still have plenty of tread depth remaining. The wheels come with Porsche badge tyre valve caps.
Interior
The 356 Speedster’s cabin is minimal but well presented and nicely trimmed in magnolia-hued leather. The seats are stitched into vertical pleats and ample under-thigh padding makes for a comfortable ride however long the journey. Door cards and stitched dashboard top roll are dressed in matching hide. Seats and windows function electrically.
Controls and instrumentation are easily operated and clearly Volkswagen-derived. A trio of delightful Porsche 356 replica gauges are fitted to the body-coloured fascia panel and feature bright chromed bezels. These sit behind a three-spoke alloy and black leather Mota-Lita steering wheel.
A lever next to the handbrake allows for heating to be projected into the footwells on cooler days.
The carpets are finished in dark blue and are edge bound for added durability and luxury. A surprisingly large, carpeted luggage shelf is located behind the seats. In the rear bulkhead a hatch provides access to the battery. Additional, soft-bag storage is available in the nose compartment too, if required. Easily enough space in the car to drive off on holiday with cases in tow.
Mechanical
The rear engine cover lifts to provide access to the 1641cc twin-port VW engine. This breathes through twin carburettors with individual, top mounted free-flow air filters. This enlarged version of the erstwhile 1600 Beetle unit is believed to produce around 90bhp and delivers its power to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission.
The engine bay presents lots of highly polished chromed and alloy components, contrasting strongly with the black inner panels, hoses and ancillaries. The underside of the car is well presented and free from leaks or deformations. There is some minor surface corrosion in places but nothing of consequence. The car has always been garaged throughout its ownership.
History highlights
There is a small archive of paperwork included with the Speedster: V5 registration document, plus some MOTs (not legally required for a vehicle with Historic Vehicle status, but I had them done to be sure the car was serviced). Latest MOT expires end May 2025. The car is taxed (“Historic Vehicle” status = free). A few invoices are present. The most recent dates from May 2024 and relates to the last MoT and a couple of associated repairs. A second relates to a service and MoT from 2019. There are also two invoices from the car’s time in France in 2012. These relate to electrical work for the alternator and starter motor. Two keys are also included.
ENQUIRIES / INFORMATION:
For any questions, please contact me (Sharon) by email.
Viewing possible at weekends (contact me to arrange directly on 07776 227 611).