- A rare Gunther Werks Speedster is being auctioned in August at Mecum’s Monterey sale.
- The 993-based car has widebody carbon panels and a 4.0-liter flat-six making 430 hp.
- It’s covered just 108 miles and has had a full recent check and service by Gunther Werks.
Gunther Werks’ creations rarely do subtle. They’re definitely not cars for fans of the OEM look, but judging by the seven-figure prices achieved by some of the shop’s cars on the used market, this bright blue Speedster is going to change hands for the kind of money that even Porsche bosses will find shocking.
Heading to Mecum’s Monterey auction in August, this deep blue Gunther Werks Speedster known as Blue Phoenix is one of just 25 examples transformed by the California-based Porsche specialists. It’s based on a 993, the final air-cooled generation of 911 that Porsche sold in the 1990s, though you really have to look pretty hard to find much evidence of the donor.
Related: Talos’s New 911 Costs $1.13 Million, And That’s Before You Hand Over The Porsche
The odometer shows only 108 miles (174 km) since completion, meaning this Speedster remains barely broken in. Underneath the fat bodywork sits a comprehensively re-engineered Porsche that artfully fuses classic and modern design and performance characteristics.
Mecum
Power comes from a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six developed with Rothsport Racing and breathing through individual throttle bodies. It channels 430 hp (436 PS) and 330 lb-ft (447 Nm) of torque to the gigantic three-piece rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential.
That might sound almost tame compared to modern turbocharged supercars, and it does look mild next to the insane 840 hp (862 PS) the final GW Speedster kicks out with the help of two turbos. But in a car weighing just 2,600 lbs (1,180 kg), 430 hp is probably spot-on.
Carbon-Heavy Diet
Mecum
Gunther Werks also reinforced the 911‘s chassis extensively to compensate for removing the roof. Carbon fiber body panels help keep weight under control and totally change the stance and style, while upgraded suspension, JRZ coilovers, Brembo brakes, and a front axle lift system bring modern usability and dynamics to the game.
And don’t for a second think that GW ran out of ideas when it got to the interior. There’s a carbon steering wheel and carbon seats, a simply beautiful aluminum gear shifter and custom door cards and door pulls. Even the frunk gets a carbon makeover, and if you run out of space in there, there are two more storage areas under each side of the tonneau headrests.
Are you a GW fan, or do you prefer the more OEM look of Singer’s reimagined 911s? Drop a comment and let us know. You can take a look at the full auction listing here.
