The first Porsche sports car was approved for road use in Germany in 1948. Porsches found their way to America quickly — by 1950, an importer had two in New York City. But that early model — the legendary 356 — didn’t sell well in the U.S. It was pricey (imagine that) and handled exceptionally well by post-war standards, but was underpowered for the American market at 59 horsepower.
So, Porsche developed its first car with American consumers in mind. The 1953 Porsche 356 America Roadster had more power (a neck-snapping 70 horses). Porsche also lightened it with an aluminum body and Spartan accommodations like a folding fabric roof.
The company built just 16. But the model made Porsche’s reputation in America. 70 years later, Stuttgart has decided to honor it with an anniversary edition.
Red, White (Sometimes Gray), and Blue
The 2022 Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet America Edition comes only in Azure Blue, with stripes in white and Guards Red low on the body sides. In case you somehow miss the point of the red, white, and blue, Porsche scripted “America” right onto the stripes. They also hand-painted the RS Spyder wheels white with red trim. Satin Black frames the windshield — a touch Porsche says it won’t use on other 911s this year.
Porsche loyalists know a special edition gets a special price. These start at $184,920, plus a mandatory $1,450 destination fee.
Inside, Uncle Sam’s Porsche gets black leather upholstery double-stitched in Guards Red and Pebble Grey (it looks almost white). Designers embossed the “America” script into the armrests and included illuminated sill plates to honor the 1953 model. Even the key is unique — painted Azure Blue and presented in a leather pouch embossed with that same “America” script.
For just $7,510 (remember that note about Porsche’s being pricey?) Porsche will add more decoration to the cabin, with red-and-almost-white stitching on the floor mats and shifter boot, a red logo on the seats, and a red 12 o’clock mark on the steering wheel.
No Performance Upgrades
Sadly, Porsche didn’t add 11 horsepower for this anniversary. In mechanical terms, the new America Edition is a standard 911 GTS. That means a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six making 473 horsepower. It comes only in rear-wheel-drive with a 7-speed manual transmission. The enhanced Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system is standard, as is the Sport Chrono Package with its performance modes and dash-mounted stopwatch.
Porsche plans to build just 115 of the America Edition. 100 will come stateside, and 15 will be sold in Canada, presumably for sale to expatriates.
