Collector - page 36

The Gunther Works GWR where the R stands for race is the highly anticipated reimagining of the Porsche 911 (993), which is all set to make its global debut on August 16, 2024. After seven years of development, this model signifies a significant evolution in the Gunther Works lineup, incorporating insights from previous offerings like the 400R, Speedster, and Turbo models, to deliver a vehicle that excels in mechanical, aerodynamic, and powertrain advancements.

In 1977, Porsche gave us the 928 – a more luxurious take on the German sports cars. Just two years later, at the 1979 Frankfurt Motor Show, the audience saw a Porsche 928 Targa. However, it wasn’t Porsche that made it. Sure. The German carmaker made the donor car required for the conversion, but the Porsche 928 Targa was conceived by Rainer Buchmann. The Porsche 928 was more of a comfortable cruiser that could double as a sports car, instead of the 911’s all-out performance car characteristics.

There are car collectors and then there is Torben Østergaard-Nielsen. The Danish billionaire and shipping magnate has been collecting cars since the early 90s and owns a private collection of 200+ rare and exotic cars. He is also the founder of the Selected Car Group, Denmark’s largest luxury car leasing and sales organization. As luxury cars are taxed at 150% in Denmark, leasing them is a more popular option than buying them. This makes his enterprise a highly lucrative one, which is evident in his company’s success.

A Porsche 911 that bears an uncanny resemblance to the rare 993 GT1 has sent shockwaves through the automotive world. Spotted at Los Angeles airport, the car’s identity remains shrouded in mystery. Is it a one-off Porsche project or a custom build by a tuning house? Speculation is rife, with names like Singer, Ruf, MP Gemballa, RML, and Unofficial Machines tossed into the mix. However, the most compelling evidence points towards Tuthill Porsche, a British firm renowned for its work on classic 911s.

There is an adage ’’Boys never grow up, their toys just get bigger". I am not sure who said it originally, but after discovering this truly unique slot racing track, I can see how it could be true. A 1:32 scale replica of the Le Mans circuit as seen in the 1971 Steve McQueen film with the same name. This incredibly detailed two-lane track comes with miniature vegetation, pit stops, buildings, crew, and advertising from real companies that sponsored the teams that took part in the event back in the day. The best part is the entire structure is housed within a replica Porsche 917K body, with its iconic Gulf-Racing livery.

This is a 1994 Porsche 993 reinterpreted by the world-renowned restomod brand Kreinzel. Now live on the SBX Cars auction platform owned by renowned YouTuber Supercar Blondie, this 993 Targa is a one-of-one creation, with just 223 miles at the time of writing this article. I say one-off because it has some truly unique traits you won’t find on a standard 993 Targa that Porsche made back in the day.

Porsche sports cars are some of the most replicated and reimagined on the planet. The German carmaker’s road-going models have always benefitted from the brand’s racing know-how, especially when it comes to the German brand’s most iconic model - the Porsche 911. That said, the 911 wasn’t always the most favored model by the company. At one point in time, Porsche wasn’t convinced an air-cooled, rear-engine sports car was the way forward. This train of thought spawned the Porsche 928. Instead of the 911’s rear-engine layout, the 928 featured a water-cooled V-8 engine in the front. The 928 was also bigger and more of a grand tourer than an all-out sports car.

We’re just a few days away from the Monterey Car Week and I have my radar on a few cars this year. One that caught my attention is this 1985 Porsche 959 (Vorserie), being auctioned off by RM Sotheby’s. Now the 959 is already pretty rare and special, but this particulate example was owned by the great, Dr.Ferdinand Piëch, Ferdinand Porsche’s grandson, who headed the Volkswagen Group for close to twenty years. Pïech of course was a key figure not just in Porsche motorsports but was also instrumental in reshaping the Volkswagen group along with bringing several noteworthy brands like Bugatti, Bentley, and Lamborghini under the VW umbrella. For those unaware, Porsche built several prototypes of the 959. Dubbed “V5KOM” or V5, this example is one of just five surviving Vorserie (V-Series) prototypes.

As a Porsche enthusiast and model car collector, I find the Luminex ArtCar Lamp to make for an interesting proposition. You may have seen this on your TikTok or Instagram feeds and I think it would make even the staunchest "function over form" folks reconsider their priorities. Made from stainless steel, it features a very detailed 1:18 scale model (my favorite size) of the iconic Porsche 911 2.7 RS with its Fuchs wheels and Carrera livery, courtesy of Norev. But this one is mounted vertically.

Monterey Car Week is almost upon us and Southern California is once again crawling with some automotive heavyweights and exotics. But an Instagram post by Comedian, Spike Feresten, sent me down a rabbit hole of mystery. Spotted on a transport trailer at the Los Angeles International Airport was a shape that undeniably screams: " 911 GT1 Strassenversion,” (street-version in German) that ultra-rare, race-bred unicorn from the 1990s. Born as a homologation special for the famed GT1 class, Porsche famously took on the McLaren F1 and Mercedes CLK GTR.

As a fan of both Mercedes and Porsche, I can’t help but feel a bit giddy when talking about this 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E (W124). I’m particularly fond of this era of Mercs for their tank-like build quality and frankly, nothing resonates better with that Yakuza mafia look that you get a boxy Mercedes from the 1990s. When it comes to the over-engineered W124, you’ve got the luxury and sophistication of Mercedes combined with the raw performance chops of Porsche. This particular car is a highly modified example that showcases the craftsmanship of Auto Fashion Factory (AFF), a premier automotive tuning shop based in Tokyo, Japan.

When Porsche slaps the RSR (Renn Sport Rennen) designation on a 911, you know it means business. These are the most hardcore, racing variants of the rear-engine sports car and their sole purpose is to race at the highest level of competition possible. The original Porsche 911 RSR was an evolution of the already-iconic, Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS. Lighter, faster, and more aerodynamically busy, the Porsche 911 RSR was developed for the 1973, but actually, saw racing in late 1972. In February, 1973, the original 911 RSR won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.