The day dawned bright and clear with little sign of any clouds, a typical Highveld winter’s day. After an early morning meeting for coffee, the small group consisting of two owner/drivers, a journalist (myself), a photographer and support crew, headed north-west from Johannesburg. The convoy included a 1958 356A Speedster 1.6-litre, a (then) new 1997 Boxster 2.5-litre and our support pick-up that served as the photographer’s vehicle.
The route took us out towards Pelindaba (South Africa’s main nuclear research centre), near the Hartbeespoort Dam, along winding roads with rocky outcrops on either side which kept the driver’s attention fully focused on the road. With the Boxster leading the way and the Speedster close on its tail, our 6-cylinder 4×4 support vehicle brought up the rear at an ever-increasing distance.
While losing a bit of ground on pull-away, the Speedster otherwise sat very close to the Boxster’s tail through the twisty bits, and the ride in the older car was exhilarating on all fronts. The then 40-year old unrestored Speedster, stuck to the tarmac like glue, providing an extremely firm ride with good seat support. In fact, the Speedster’s roadholding seemed even greater as the speeds rose, crouching low into the corners. The driver of the Boxster tried to give the older car the slip through the tight sections of country road, only to find the Speedster still right on his tail!
| Year | Model | Engine | Output | Production | Price |
| 1958 | 356A Speedster | 1582 cc | 60 bhp | 2910 units | DM 11,500 |
| 1997 | Boxster | 2480 cc | 204 bhp | 55,705 units | DM 78,000 |
With a suitable spot selected, we offloaded some camera gear along with those of us not needed for the rolling photo shoot. Repeated tours up and down this stretch of road with a photographer hanging precariously out of the back of the pick-up must have left some passing motorists somewhat alarmed, but that is the way it is done. Then came the static shots, which saw our intrepid snapper standing atop a ladder in a farmer’s cabbage field. Fortunately, the farmer was nowhere to be found, and no damage was done.
Parked side by side, it was amazing to see the difference in actual size between these two classics. With a rich race pedigree to draw from, added to the design aids, advanced production processes and advanced technology of today’s car manufacturers, the resultant Boxster was a stunningly brave exercise. The Boxster, then, was a genuine attempt by Porsche to recapture the imagination of the sports car market, offering a blend of performance, handling, comfort and safety.
Written by: Glen Smale
Images by: Virtual Motorpix/Glen Smale
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