Intermeccanica 356 Speedster Replica History

After Opel ended parts supply for the Indra and the family relocated to Santa Ana, California in 1975, Intermeccanica partnered with Tony Baumgartner to produce replicas of the Porsche 356 Speedster — a car Frank Reisner had always admired. The first replica came together in 1976 and the cars sold strongly.

Approximately 600 Speedster replicas were produced through the partnership before Frank Reisner departed and started a new line — the Roadster RS — based on the later 356 Convertible D. The California Speedsters used VW running gear on a steel chassis and were among the first high-quality 356 replicas on the market, helping establish Intermeccanica's second chapter as a replica builder.