1995 Porsche

While the 993-generation of Porsche’s 911 was effectively the end of the road for Stuttgart’s beloved air-cooled powerplants, it also laid the foundation for an entire secondary industry devoted to building custom air-cooled Porsches. Some of these firms have grown to become among the most popular shops in the world, with legions of adoring fans at car events and across social media alike.

It is Gunther Werks of Huntington Beach, California, however, that brings the 993 into the realm of truly extraordinary. As described by Gunther Werks themselves, the company’s “Remastered” 911s are envisioned as the car Porsche would be building today—had the automaker not stopped building the 993 in 1998.

It all begins with an awe-inspiring amount of carbon fiber, which Gunther Werks has superbly woven into the chassis. Numerous exterior body panels, along with many of the internals, have been swapped for the lightweight composite. Underpinning this carbon fiber exoskeleton, Gunther Werks has developed a formidable suspension setup which combines bespoke DGR computer-controlled active coilover suspension, custom suspension arms with revised geometry, uprated anti-roll bars, lightweight uprights, a front strut brace, and a cutting-edge hydraulic front lift system.

Next, Porsche’s standard 3.6-liter flat-six cylinder is shipped to Rothsport Road and Race in Sherwood, Oregon, where the mill is stripped down and rebuilt to 4.0 liters of displacement with no moving parts left untouched. The Speedster engine features an extensive list of forged internals and race-spec equipment including a two-stage MoTec engine management system, individual throttle bodies, Mahle pistons, and coil-over-plug ignition, along with a billet crankshaft, rods, and barrels. These endeavors are rewarded with horsepower numbers north of 430 while also generating over 330 pound-feet of torque. Transferring all that might to the road is the 993’s standard Getrag G50 six-speed transaxle, which has of course been extensively enhanced with stronger internals, a single mass mid-weight flywheel, and uprated single-plate clutch.

Gunther Werks’ efforts came to fruition in 2020 when pro driver Randy Pobst piloted a closed example to a lap time of 1:30.99 around Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, California—about two-tenths of a second behind a McLaren P1.

FOR THOSE THAT FAVOR THE OPEN AIR

Having created one of the most exceptional analogue driving experiences available on either road or track, Gunther Werks chose to heighten its product even further by developing an open-air model paying homage to one of Porsche’s most hallowed creations: the Speedster. While taking styling cues from Stuttgart’s legendary drop-top, namely via its shortened windscreen and lack of side windows, the result is unmistakably Gunther.

Whereas removing a car’s roof generally compromises its structural rigidity, Gunther Werks claims their extensive use of modern carbon fiber integration techniques results in a convertible chassis twice as stiff as the standard coupe, but with no added weight penalty. The firm contends their Speedster is stronger, lighter, and hence faster, than the closed examples.

With a 993-generation 911 Cabriolet selected as a starting point, Gunther Werks’ strengthening process begins with adding the same revamped carbon components as the coupes but with additional enhancements, namely via upgrades to the space previously occupied by the rear seats. These measures, including a carbon fiber windshield frame and cowl with aluminum reinforcements, along with a new roll cage and roll hoop seamlessly integrated as support for the tonneau cover, not only enhance occupant safety but contribute to further strengthening the chassis.

With legendary open-air styling cues, enabling its occupants to receive the 4.0-liter engine’s roar unabated, the Gunther Werks Speedster boosts the driving experience by an order of magnitude.