While the 911 GT1's reincarnation is otherworldly, here's how Tuthill's GT One stacks up against the OG Strassenversion from the late 90s
The Tuthill GT One recently made a grand entrance at the 2024 Monterey Car Week, turning heads and leaving everyone drooling. The GT One isn’t just some run-of-the-mill 911 with a fresh coat of paint and a wide body; it’s a reimagined masterpiece, channeling the spirit of Porsche’s legendary 911 GT1 race car with a modern twist.
The hype train had already left the station, thanks to a leaked photo of the prototype at the Los Angeles International Airport, prior to car week, and the GT One did not disappoint. Under the hood, it’s packing a 4.0-liter flat-six, both in forced induction and naturally aspirated flavors, pushing out over 500-600 horsepower. That’s enough to make your hair stand on end. The carbon fiber body, inspired by the iconic 911 GT1, looks absolutely stunning, thanks to the designer’s modern touches. And with only 22 of these supercars being made, you know it will be a collector’s dream.
Now, let’s rewind a bit to the car that started it all: the Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion. This homologation special hit the scene back in 1997, and it was basically a road-legal version of Porsche’s 911 GT1 race car. Sure, there were a couple of examples with those classic 993 headlights, but the real deal was those Strassenversion cars had a more futuristic look with 996-style lights. Its 3.2-liter twin-turbo flat-six was rated at 536 horses from the factory and was placed behind the seats, making it the first mid-engined 911. Only 21 of these unicorns ever saw the light of day, making them insanely rare and valuable.
So, here’s the burning question: would you rather have the timeless classic, the 911 GT1 Strassenversion, or the modern reimagining, the Tuthill GT One? Let’s dive deeper into these two automotive legends and see how they stack up.
Key differences: Tuthill GT One vs. Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion
Inside is where you can find some drastic differences between the GT One and the GT1 Strassenversion, because the former is more advanced and posh looking
Just based on exterior design, the Tuthill GT One is not only more upmarket than the original 911 GT1 Strassenversion but also modern, especially on the inside. So, for starters, the Tuthill GT One is the clear winner in terms of design and overall appeal—it shows the 25+ year age gap between the OG 911 GT1 and its custom-made avatar.
Tuthill’s basically cherry-picked the best parts of the iconic 911 GT1 race cars and turned them into a street-legal supercar that’s ready to rock. Think of it as a perfect blend of ’90s nostalgia and cutting-edge tech, wrapped in a body that’s as beautiful as it is functional.
It’s the first mid-engined 911 ever made. The rear part of its chassis is derived from the 962 race car
On the other hand, the 911 GT1 Strassenversion, although dated by design and technology, is the street-going version of the GT1 racecar, which took the overall victory at the 1998, 24 Hours of Le Mans, among several other wins. It rocked those fried-egg-shaped 996 911-style headlights, and the body was seriously wide, with crazy aero bits and massive air intakes only seen in race cars.
On the inside, the original 911 GT1 Strassenversion was inspired by the older 993 and 964 911 interiors. The sleek, rounded steering wheel with the five-gauge instrumentation behind it is quite old-school touches. Comparatively, the Tuthill GT One’s interior feels refreshingly new, all thanks to the fully digital instrumentation like the 992.2 911 models.
Performance: Tuthill GT One vs. Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion
When it comes to the Tuthill GT One’s heart, you’ve got two killer options. First up, there’s a high-revving 4.0-liter flat-six that’s basically a symphony of power. It screams all the way to 11,000 RPM, just like the one Tuthill built for their 911K, and pumps out over 500 horsepower. Or, if you’re feeling a little wilder, you can opt for the "forced induction" version, which packs a 600-plus horsepower punch. For now, Tuthill’s keeping the exact details under wraps, but we’re betting it’s a turbocharged beast. And to top it all off, you get to choose between a slick manual gearbox or a lightning-fast dual-clutch.
Meanwhile, back in the late ’90s, the Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion was tearing up the streets with its 3.2-liter twin-turbo flat-six. This race-bred Porsche churned out 536 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, rocketing to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds and topping out at a mind-blowing 191 mph. It was a true race car for the road, and unlike the GT One, it only came with a six-speed manual gearbox. No fancy paddle shifters here, just pure, unadulterated driving engagement.