The Speedster is one of the purest forms of the 911 and the nameplate actually dates back to the early ‘50s when Porsche sold the likes of the 550 and 356 Speedsters. While the Speedster body style is all about open-top motoring, it does have a few stand-out elements that set it apart from Cabriolets and Targa models. The Speedster is known for its stripped-down design and lightweight body, often featuring a smaller windshield, no rear seats, a distinctive double-hump on the rear deck lid, and a tonneau cover instead of a full roof.

Elevating A 996 Cabriolet’s Appeal: The Easy Way

While the 911 would eventually embrace this format, it is worth noting that not all generations of the 911 offered this extremely desirable body style. Split between the air-cooled and water-cooled variety, even on the models that did offer the Speedster (930, 964, 997, 991.2), they had a limited production run, making them that rare and collectible. The 993 generation though is becoming increasingly popular for Speedster conversions.

Now that you have a little context, let’s talk about this white example seen here, which going by the controversial fried-egg headlights, is a 996 Porsche 911 (I honestly can’t see what the fuss is all about). If you own a 996 Cabriolet, there exists a rather simple after-market solution that can almost instantly transform your ride from just another 911 Cab to Speedster royalty.

Enter the DCT Speedster humps. Available either in composite FRP ($1,649) or carbon fiber ($3,149), the kit consists of two panels that clamp onto each other at the center. The installation process is pretty straightforward, as you’ll find in the video below.

It is worth noting that they only ship with primer applied. You will need to prep it for paint and color-match it to your ride. While the concept is great in theory, the execution could have been a bit better. I only wish there was a better way to hide that very obvious line, where you can see the break between this panel and the bodywork. This is not a problem if you own a darker car. Also, on a real Speedster, you have a windscreen that isn’t as tall.

But in the end, I suppose this is the best of both worlds. You can have the Speedster humps in place for the summer, and can easily switch back to Cab mode through the rest of the year because let’s just say that putting a rag-top on a traditional Speedster or Spyder is far from easy. But in the end, for a model that is often ridiculed and the most unloved 911, this owner has instantly added value with this rather affordable mod.

Okay, the term value may be stretching it, considering average prices for 996 Cabriolets sold over the past five years hovering around $25,000,according to Classic.com. Most authentic Speedsters cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Perhaps, adding visual flair or curb-side appeal would be more ideal with this 996 Speedster.

GALLERY