The Type 540, a largely unknown model, was paramount to Porsche’s success in America. Max Hoffman, an Austrian ex-patriate and foreign car importer in New York, had been importing Porsche cars beginning in 1950, just two years after the fledgling company had started producing vehicles. 

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Hoffman and Von Neumann Make Waves 

As the post-war sports car trend blossomed, Hoffman recognized the performance potential of the Porsche and used his influence and expertise of the American market to urge Porsche to create a more competitive model - a car that could be driven to a race, win, and drive home. Porsche responded with a run of 17 cars known as the Type 540 “America Roadster.” This model featured a more powerful engine, a lightweight aluminum body, and the ability to strip away the windshield, bumpers, and top in order to save weight at the track.  

The America Roadster was an immediate hit, making a name for Porsche at races around the country. The racing wins translated to sales and proved to Porsche that the American market would be crucial to their success. The America Roadster was followed by the well-known Speedster, an evolution of the production race car idea, as well as the leaderboard-topping Type 550 Spyder, making Porsche a household name. 

Left: Max Hoffman and Ferry Porsche meet in New York City. Right: Max Hoffman's dealership. Images: Porsche

Chassis No. 12336 

This America Roadster, Chassis No. 12336, the ninth of the 17 cars built, was ordered by Hoffman for California dealer John von Neumann. In August of 1952, it was delivered to its first owner, John Crean. Crean, an avid racer in Southern California, also loaned the car to John von Neumann’s stepdaughter, Josie. Josie von Neumann and John Crean would go on to have a successful race season with this car in 1952 and 1953. Crean was known to push the car to its limit and blew the engine multiple times, eventually swearing off racing, and selling the car.  

Left: America Roadster No. 12336 races at Torrey Pines. Right: Josie Von Neumann. Images: Road Scholars

The Porsche was then purchased by a well-known hot-rodder turned sports car racer in southern California, Jack McAfee. McAfee became well known for his success with Porsches, touting their unique handling characteristics compared to larger, more powerful cars that typically dominated. McAfee later sold the car, beginning a new chapter of its story. 

No. 12336 passed through the hands of several enthusiasts and collectors throughout the decades, even traveling to Japan before returning to the United States when it was purchased by Dr. Bill Jackson. One of the premiere Porsche collectors in the United States, Dr. Jackson, a careful steward, owned the car for thirteen years. As his health began to decline, he eventually made the decision to sell the car to its current owners, prolific Porsche collectors, the Ingram family.  

Bob Ingram, his wife Jeanie, and their sons Cam and Rory, owned the car for several years before restoring the car to its original configuration in 2018. No. 12336 underwent many changes over its lifetime, although it miraculously retained its original bodywork and mechanical components, impressive for a car raced in period. Cam Ingram’s Porsche-focused restoration shop, Road Scholars, performed a frame-off complete restoration being mindful of preserving the original craftsmanship from Porsche and the coachbuilder. It was presented at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance where it took third in class.  

Left: America Roadster No. 12336 under restoration. Right: No. 12336 awarded at Pebble Beach Concours. Images: Road Scholars

In 2023, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Porsche and to recognize the impact of the famed sports car brand in the U.S., the Hagerty Drivers Foundation (HDF) added this America Roadster to the National Historic Vehicle Register. This means that the car, the brand and the legacy of sports car racing in the U.S. will be recorded in perpetuity in the Library of Congress.  

Complementing the work to record the history of this important car owned by the Ingram family and restored by Road Scholars, the Hagerty Drivers Foundation has produced this documentary, chronicling the history of Type 540, its impact on automotive culture, and bringing the story to life. Featuring an in-depth look at the car and the early days of Porsche, the documentary explores how Hoffman, von Neumann and the U.S. market were instrumental in building Porsche’s legacy. Cam Ingram, owner and restorer, as well as Chip Perry, owner of the very last America Roadster, were interviewed at Road Scholars to tell the nuanced story of the America Roadster, its impact on the company and American automotive history! 

The Hagerty Drivers Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, exists to ensure the future of car culture. One of the ways we do that is documenting the important history of the automobile in America and stories like this one on the Type 540.  Please check out our website and follow us on social media to learn more about our many efforts and consider a donation to support future projects like this.