Custom Cars - page 24

The Gunther Werks Speedster is a rolling piece of art, a loving homage to the 1995 993 Speedster. The 993 generation Speedster is undoubtedly one of the rarest cars from the German brand ever. It is so rare that very few people are even aware of its existence. The company only made 1 prototype, which was given as a gift to Ferdinand Alexander ’Butzi’ Porsche on his 60th birthday. A couple of years later a dear friend of the automaker, a certain Mr. Jerry Seinfeld, requested that his 1998 993 S Cabriolet be converted into a Speedster. The company happily complied with his request, and his car became the first and only 993 Speedster Conversion.

Jeremy Snow, who runs the ‘Electric Supercar channel’ on YouTube is all about, as you may have guessed from the name, EVs. Because Elon is taking his time with delivering the Roadster (seven years and counting), Jeremy built one for himself. He has previously also built a Hummer H1 EV. One of his latest project cars taking the EV route is a 2014 Porsche Cayman, which will soon be dubbed the GT-E.

U.K.-based Tuthill unveils the GT One, a carbon fiber supercar inspired by the iconic Porsche 911 GT1. Porsche created the 911 GT1 Straßenversion (Street Version) as the homologated variant of their GT1 Class racecar back in the late ’90s. Only 22 examples of the GT One are planned to be made. Tuthill Porsche, a legendary name in Porsche restorations and rally racing, is branching out to create their custom projects and collaborations with another well-known brand associated with Porsche - Singer Automotive.

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.

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.

If you’re a Porsche purist, few names evoke as much nostalgia and admiration as the Slantnose. Originally introduced in the 1980s, the Slantnose, or “Flachbau,” (flat nose in German) was a radical departure from the traditional 911 design, featuring a distinctive sloped front end. Inspired by the 935 race cars, a dominant force in motorsports at the time, Porsche produced three generations of the 911 Turbo Slantnose, with a total of 948 units built. Fast forward to more recent times, and U.K.-based digital designer, Khyzl Saleem, a.k.a Kyza has reimagined the modern 992 generation 911 GT3 as a Slantnose, blending retro charm with contemporary aesthetics.

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.

Magnus Walker is one of the most renowned figures in the Porsche collector’s world. His obsession with the German brand began at a very young age when he went to the 1977 Earl’s Court Motor Show with his dad. His first love was a white Porsche 930 with the iconic red, white, and blue Martini livery. He still considers the silhouette of the Porsche 930 to be one of the most iconic in history. Over the years, his passion for the brand has manifested in a sizeable collection of vintage and some modern Porsches. His collection, which is 30 - 40 cars strong at any given time, is housed in his 20,000 square feet warehouse in L.A.’s Art district.

As the name suggests, RSR Project is the culmination of a group of enthusiastic folks who are very fond of the 1973 Porsche 911 Rennsport Rennwagen (RSR) race car, a legend that defined Porsche’s motorsport prowess. Founded in 2017 by Richard Schickman based out of New York, the company’s mission is to work closely with their clients and transform air-cooled 911s into razor-sharp classic sports cars with a modern twist. Their latest creation, a 1986 example bathed in the iconic Gulf Oil livery, is a masterclass in restomod execution. The aesthetic isn’t just for show, it’s a reminder of Porsche’s motorsports dominance.

In a world where Porsche customization often leans towards subtle refinements, the Indecent 005 stands as a bold outlier. While the air-cooled 911 has become synonymous with wide-body kits and retro-inspired builds, most notably exemplified by the cult following of RWB Porsche transformations, the newer generations have largely escaped such radical alterations. Founded by Akira Nakai, RWB, short for Rauh-Welt Begriff, is a Japanese Porsche tuning company renowned for its wildly aggressive and handcrafted wide-body kits. While they have worked on some newer models, their core clientele and aesthetic appeal lie in the timeless design of older air-cooled 911s.

Porsche has proven, on numerous occasions, that the 911 is one of the most versatile platforms. Since its introduction, in 1964, there have been countless variants of the German, rear-engine sports car, including all-terrain variants bred for rallying. Porsche offers a 911 for every taste and need, and with the 992 generation, it also brought out the 911 Dakar – a true, off-road sports car by Porsche that pays homage to the classic Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Paris-Dakar 4x4 (953) from 1984. But a US-based company has also undertaken the task of reimagining the rally-bred Porsche 911.