Rare Car Archive

Makes › Porsche Germany › 356 › 356 America Roadster (Type 540) · Rare production · 1952–1953

Porsche
356 America Roadster (Type 540)

Aluminium-bodied lightweight roadster built for the US market.

Porsche 356 America Roadster (Type 540) (Wikimedia Commons: Porsche 356 America Roadster)
Porsche 356 America Roadster (Type 540) (Wikimedia Commons: Porsche 356 America Roadster)
Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
21Built (Gläser)Independently researched
16SurvivingIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
10SurvivingIndependently researched
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
21 Built (Gläser)
Years
1952–1953
Engine
Rear-mounted flat-four (1500 Super) · 1,488 cc / 1.5 LFactory: 1,488 cc
Power
52.2 kW / 71 PSFactory: 70 hp · converted
Top speed
180 km/hFactory: 112 mph · converted
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
10 (independently researched)

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The America Roadster was the first Porsche conceived specifically for the US market, a lightweight aluminium-bodied open car that preceded the Speedster. Only 16 were built and around ten survive.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityUltra Rare 16 · Surviving1,2

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionaluminium-bodied Type 540 America Roadsters built (10 known to survive) 161,2Strongest evidence Surviving examples Independently researched
Total model productionAmerica Roadsters of the type built by Gläser, per Porsche Newsroom ('only 21 models of the type were built by Gläser'); the 16 figure counts aluminium-bodied cars only 213 Factory production Independently researched
Total model production10 of 16 known to survive per Stuttcars (citing RM Sotheby's) 104 Surviving examples Independently researched
Why more than one figure?

16 counts aluminium-bodied cars (Stuttcars citing RM Sotheby's); 21 is Porsche's count of the type built by Gläser.

16 counts aluminium-bodied cars (Stuttcars citing RM Sotheby's); 21 is Porsche's count of the type built by Gläser.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

US importer Max Hoffman pushed for a light, competition-minded Porsche for American buyers, and the Type 540 America Roadster was built in 1952 and 1953 with hand-made aluminium bodies by Heuer-Gläser. Power came from the 70 hp 1500 Super flat-four with a four-speed gearbox. Owners raced them in events such as the Sebring 12 Hours and SCCA hill climbs.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 356 America Roadster (Type 540).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutRear-mounted flat-four (1500 Super)4 Independently researched
Displacement 1,488 cc / 1.5 LFactory: 1,488 cc4 Independently researched
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratio8.2:14 Independently researched
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 52.2 kW / 71 PSFactory: 70 hp · converted4 Independently researched
Power at 5,000 rpm4 Independently researched
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxFour-speed manual4 Independently researched
Gears41 Independently researched
Driven wheelsRWD4 Independently researched

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionHand-made aluminium body by Heuer-Gläser4 Independently researched
WheelbaseNot yet verified
Length 3,850 mmFactory: 3,850 mm4 Independently researched
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 600 kgFactory: 600 kg3Source says only "600 kg" and that the car lost around 60 kg against the regular 356 convertible; weight type (dry or kerb) is not specified.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 180 km/hFactory: 112 mph · converted3Porsche Newsroom ("Porsche for Dummies") states the 600 kg / 70 hp combination was enough for 112 mph.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Genuine cars have hand-built aluminium bodies by Heuer-Gläser, split flat-glass windscreens and removable weather protection, and should carry a 1500 Super engine matching the chassis records.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    One of 16 Porsche 356 America Roadsters Heads to Auction Level B Stuttcars (text from RM Sotheby's) · 2026-07-15
    • one of just 16 aluminum-bodied Type 540 America Roadsters ever built
    • paired with a four-speed transmission
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    One of 16 Porsche 356 America Roadsters Heads to Auction – Stuttcars Level B
    • 16 aluminium-bodied Type 540 America Roadsters built (10 known to survive)
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  3. 3
    Porsche for Dummies – Part 1 Level B Porsche Newsroom · 2015-02-20
    • only 21 models of the type were built by Gläser
    • combination of 600 kg and 70 hp
    • combination of 600 kg and 70 hp ... output of 112 mph
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  4. 4
    Porsche 356 America Roadster (1952) Level B Stuttcars · 2015-04-24
    • 10 known to survive
    • 70-horsepower 1500 Super flat-four
    • 1488 cc / 90.8 in³
    • compression 8.2:1
    • 52.2 kw / 70 bhp @ 5000 rpm
    • four-speed gearbox
    • Rear Engine / RWD
    • Heuer-Gläser built the hand-crafted aluminum bodies
    • length 3850 mm / 151.6 in
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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