Special editions - page 12

Porsche’s turbocharged models have evolved significantly since the introduction of the first 911 Turbo in 1974. Now, five decades later, Porsche is commemorating the 50th anniversary of its iconic model with the unveiling of the limited-edition "911 Turbo 50 Years" at Monterey Car Week. This special model pays homage to the original 930 Turbo, a model that revolutionized the sports car market by integrating turbocharging technology from race cars into a road-legal vehicle. This new anniversary model pays homage to this legacy while incorporating modern styling and performance enhancements.

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.

The Porsche 993 Speedster is a unicorn in the truest sense. I always like to note how Porsche has a 911 variant for everyone. Between the numerous powertrain, transmission, and body styles, there are well over 30 different iterations of the iconic, German sports car. There is even an off-road variant that pays homage to the 1984 Porsche 953 Dakar rally car. But by far, one of the more unique and desirable variants of the Porsche 911 is the Speedster, which at its core, is a lightweight, bare-bones variant of the 911.

The Porsche 911 carries one of the most iconic and recognizable designs in the automotive world. The combination of simplicity, clever engineering, performance, and relative attainability has solidified it as the ultimate, daily-drivable sports car. Classic 911s, in particular, have a fanatic cult following. They are also some of the most popular platforms to be reimagined, which is why Porsche themselves have been playing catch up. Companies like Kalmar are taking the classic, air-cooled 911 formula and infusing it with modern tech while keeping the aesthetics and overall feel as close to the original form as possible.

Porsche has unveiled a one-off 911 GT3 RS that pays tribute to the legendary Joseph (Jo) Siffert. The Swiss racing driver was renowned for his exceptional talent and charismatic personality. Born in Fribourg in 1936, Siffert’s passion for speed began early, with motorcycle racing before transitioning to cars. His career spanned Formula One, sports car racing, and various other motorsports disciplines.

RUF was the first company to reimagine Porsche sports cars and it all started back in 1939. What started as Auto Ruf service garage, eventually became the first manufacturer to repair and restore Porsche sports cars, and eventually build Porsche-inspired, high-performance automobiles, under the RUF brand. The Pfaffenhausen-based company still makes Porsche-inspired models, but everything is now made in-house. Moreover, RUF is also a manufacturer of performance parts for Porsche models like the 911 and 718. One of Porsche’s most desired models from the 21st century is the Carrera GT, and it didn’t take long for RUF to come up with its own, mid-engine variant of a Porsche-based model. The RUF CTR3 is what we got, and here’s why it is the best way to get the Porsche Carrera GT experience (and more) at a fraction of the price.

Currently, only two carmakers produce boxer engines – Porsche and Subaru. Normally, when you hear a six-cylinder boxer engine, the first to come to mind is the German automaker, famous for being the last brand to put an air-cooled engine in a high-performance sports car. Subaru is still sticking to flat-four engines for its models, but back in the golden era of Japanese sports cars, it introduced a six-cylinder boxer engine that could rival what Porsche had. The EG33 was the only flat-six Subaru engine to feature in a two-door coupe. It also served as a basis for future Subaru flat-six engines. In 2020, Subaru produced its last flat-six engine, but before that happened Subaru almost redefined the GT segment altogether, with a Porsche-sounding Subaru, powered by a flat-six.

All Porsche 911s may adhere to a similar philosophy, but each one has its set of unique features. A well-known Porsche aficionado, Magnus Walker, based in Los Angeles has made it his life’s mission to collect all model years of the Porsche 911 from 1964 to 1973, along with other sports car models of the German brand. He’s not limited to Porsche sports cars, but it is the focal point in his car collection, with over 40 models, which feature his own unique twist. As a true Porsche purist, Magnus has a soft spot for air-cooled 911s, and he started out with one of the first Porsche 930 Turbos, sold in the United States. But if you are wondering what Magnus Walker’s daily driver is, you might be surprised. It turns out, that what the famous Porsche enthusiast drives, is something even he didn’t think he would fall in love with – a modern-day 2014 Porsche 991 Turbo S, which has an interesting story behind it.

The CXX Package is like an off-the-menu package offered by Porsche to their most exclusive customers. YouTuber TJ Hunt gives us a glimpse of what this package entails in his latest video. Driving along the scenic coastal stretches of Big Sur a.k.a Highway 1, he introduces the viewers to his 1-of-1 (991.1) Porsche 911 GT3 RS with the CXX Package, a gift from his wife Sabria. If you are starting your research on Porsche’s CXX package, be prepared to go down a deep rabbit hole of information, rumors, and first-hand accounts on forums like Rennlist or Reddit, since Porsche officially hasn’t released any information on this custom package.

Porsche has no shortage of iconic race cars that have dominated in motorsports, and one very race 911 model is about to be the main star at the upcoming, Monterey Auction (August 14 and 15). We are referring to the only mid-engine Porsche 911 in existence – the GT1. The low-slung supercar was developed by Porsche for endurance racing like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What’s special about this particular 911 GT1 is that, unlike, most cars that were used in endurance racing, this mid-engine Porsche was kept in surprisingly good condition, even after scoring many racing wins. The Porsche race car was freshly listed (on July 16, 2024) on Broad Arrow Auctions, and judging by the car’s estimated value, this 911 GT1 has the potential to become one of the most expensive Porsches ever sold, at an auction.

Action cam company, GoPro recently released some thrilling footage of veteran driver Jeff Zwart taking on the spectacular Pikes Peak. This brutal 12.7-mile course features 156 blind turns and climbs to a staggering 14,115 feet. It’s a place where racing legends like Michelle Mouton and Booby Unser have pushed their limits. Jeff isn’t just another rally driver; he’s also a renowned director and photographer. His work includes several well-known automotive commercials and movies like "The Art of Racing in the Rain." He’s also a true motorsport champion, having secured eight class championships and earning a place in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Hall of Fame. He’s a winner of both the U.S. Pro Rally Championship and the Baja 1000.