Four months after introducing the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept, Porsche is bringing a second serving to the Paris Motor Show with the 911 Speedster Concept II. The new version of the 911 Speedster Concept is different compared to its predecessor in one fundamental way: it will be produced as a special edition model that’s limited to just 1,948 units. Porsche has yet to announce pricing details for the special edition soft-top roadster, but it did say that production of the 911 Speedster starts in the first half of 2019.

The concept study, presented during the 70th birthday of the sports car manufacturer, will be produced as a limited special edition: Porsche has decided to start producing the purist Porsche 911 Speedster in the first half of 2019. Exactly 1,948 units of the open-top two-seater will be built. The number reminisces the Porsche 356 “Number 1” that received its operating license on June, 8 back in 1948.

Those of us who ached to see a production version of the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept can now rest easy. Porsche heard the calls, and it responded in kind. The stunning 911 Speedster Concept II is represents a special edition model that Porsche will built in limited quantities - just 1,984 units to be exact.

Happy dance notwithstanding, the “new” 911 Speedster Concept does share a few qualities with the previous concept. It’s presented as a 70th anniversary model for Porsche, celebrating the year 1948 when the Porsche 356 “Number 1” secured its operating license. A lot has happened since that time. Porsche has grown to become one of the most respected automakers in the world, a status that the German automaker earned over 70 years of developing some of the most iconic models in the history of the business.

The 911 Speedster is a fitting tribute to that history. Its body is based on the current-generation 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet while a number of other parts and equipment, including the chassis, the rear-mounted, naturally aspirated flat-six engine, and the six-speed manual transmission are all taken from the 911 GT3. The six-cylinder engine, in particular, produces more than 500 horsepower, which is to say this special edition model is a proper GT model.

According to Porsche, the production model will be the first model to be offered with new Heritage Design Packages, an exclusive accessory line created by Porsche Exclusive that allows next-level personalization for the 911. The 911 Speedster’s guinea pig status shouldn’t be taken as a slight, either. There’s a lot of detail in this special edition model that’s already worth its status. Remember the pair of “Talbot”-shaped mirrors in the original concept from a few months ago? They’re included in the production version. The same goes for the tinted day-time running lights and the black-chrome and platinum fuel tank cap that you can find in the center of the hood. While we’re at it, the 911 Speedster Concept II also comes with a carbon fiber bonnet, shortened window frames with their lowered cowl top panels, and double-bubble cover behind the seats. A lightweight Tonneau cover acts as the special edition model’s roof, fit by Tenax buttons.

Porsche hasn’t announced pricing details for the production model, but don’t kid yourselves into thinking that the 911 Speedster is going to be “affordable.” It probably won’t, owing to the fact that it’s a special edition model that’s limited to less than 2,000 units. Whatever it ends up costing, you’re going to need to break the bank if you have any chance of securing one of the 1,948 units that Porsche is allotting for the model.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Porsche 911 Speedster concept.

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Porsche 911 Speedster.

Read our full review of the 1955-1958 Porsche 356a Speedster

Read our full review of the 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster

Read our full review on the 1994 Porsche 964 Speedster.

Read our full review of the 2010 Porsche 911 Speedster