Porsche 356 Speedster Sanction Lost

The Porsche 356 Carrera Zagato Speedster is a unique piece of automotive history, born from a one-off collaboration between Porsche and the legendary Italian coachbuilder, Zagato. Ordered by Ferdinand Porsche for the renowned French driver Claude Storez, this car was constructed in Milan in 1957 as a bespoke project. After achieving four wins and numerous notable finishes, tragedy struck in 1959 when Storez’s Porsche-Zagato was destroyed in a racing accident, vanishing from the public eye thereafter. Fast forward to the 60th anniversary of Porsche’s founding, and American collector Herb Wetanson, a longtime admirer of Zagato’s craft, approached the coachbuilder with a request to re-create Storez’s iconic Porsche-Zagato. Utilizing the photometric process, Zagato meticulously studied the few surviving images of the original car to ensure every detail was faithfully resurrected. The result was a modern re-creation, dubbed the “Sanction Lost,” a nod to the fact that the original car was never recovered after the crash. Built on a 1960 Porsche 356 B, this Speedster retains the essence of its predecessor while benefiting from advanced manufacturing techniques. The body, carefully crafted by Zagato, mirrors the original’s aerodynamic enhancements, including the signature red tailfins and the iconic single-piece curved windshield. The Carrera engine, supplied by renowned specialist Peter Iversen, ensures that the car performs as admirably as it looks. The interior features classic red leather upholstery and a rubber mat floorpan, completing the retro aesthetic that is true to the original. The car’s Bianco Gardenia paint with red highlights on the tailfins is a direct tribute to the design of Storez’s original Speedster. Only nine examples of this limited series were produced, each a testament to the legacy of the Porsche-Zagato collaboration. The Porsche 356 Carrera Zagato Speedster “Sanction Lost” not only revives a forgotten chapter of racing history but also serves as a poignant reminder of the car’s tragic past. To complete the trilogy, in 2025 Zagato unveiled the GTL.