Jon Olsson's supercharged Audi R8 V10 for sale
Built for Gumball, kitted out for skiing and with 700hp - we dare you not to find something you like
Plenty may not have heard of Jon Olsson (very good skier, Red Bull athlete, social media influencer type), though many more will be familiar with the Gumball 3000 rally. Set to mark its 25th anniversary in 2024, it’s forged a reputation as a driving tour like no other. There may now be a Gumball 3000 foundation for charitable endeavours, sure, but from the outside looking in the Gumball has always looked like a week-long party with some driving to break that all up. Which could be entertaining.
Standing out is a problem on the Gumball, of course. Because when everyone’s rich and has a supercar covered in rally stickers, how do you make yours grab the attention ahead of everybody else? Here’s where Mr Olsson comes in, because for the 2012 Gumball 3000 between New York and LA, he spent something like $400,000 commissioning this: a twin supercharged, carbon bodied, ski rack-equipped Audi R8 V10. And now you can buy it.
It’s hard to know where to begin, but the roof box seems like the most obvious thing. It’s been a feature of his subsequent builds including an RS6; where it seems perfectly normal on a wagon, to see the box perched on a specially made spoiler and roof does immediately ensure this is an R8 like no other. It’s probably fair to say there are some angle that suit the roofbox better than others. Quite some way to arrive at the slopes, for sure.
That’s really just the start, too, as this R8 has been widebody converted (don’t forget about making an impact) with something called a Razor GTR kit, of which just 10 were ever made. It’s all carbon fibre, incredibly, so should save a chunk of weight as well as prove a nightmare to keep in perfect condition. Then there’s the less obvious (but just as exciting) stuff, like the small matter of 700hp. Though built by PPI Automotive Design in Germany, the 5.2-litre V10 was upgraded by Stertman Autosport in Sweden, adding a pair of superchargers; intake, exhaust and ECU work on top meant almost 200hp more than standard. With more in reserve, presumably, given claims made for this engine online. And a lot of folk are power-crazed. Additionally, there are Ohlins adjustable dampers, forged wheels and bigger brakes than standard. Quite what the ski box does for the handling isn’t quite clear, though this ought to be another superb driving Audi R8. With the old R-Tronic gearbox, yes, but you can’t have everything.
The interior is much like the outside, in that it might not be to all tastes but it’s clear to see where a lot of money has been spent. It’s been entirely retrimmed in black leather and Alcantara with red contrast stitching, which is mostly successful; having Jon Olsson’s personal logo in your new car might feel a bit odd, however. Or the best thing in the world for a superfan. It even comes complete with the ‘remnants’ of a radio used on the event, including the antennas out back. After Olsson, the car was in Sweden for a little while, coming to the UK in 2014. More recently it had a mechanical rejuvenation in 2020. It’d be worth knowing what’s happened since then, and perhaps leave a little in the kitty if another service is due.
The asking price is £95,000; as is so often the case, it’s a fraction of the money originally spent, but still a chunk more than the equivalent standard car might cost. There are standard, presentable, sub-40k R8 V10s available for less than £50k. The Olssonmobile is priced at the same level as low mileage, first gen GTs and later, 610hp V10 Pluses, basically, which are both pretty great. But for making an impact (or taking an R8 skiing), just as it was in 2012, there won’t be anything better.
If I had the money to buy this I'd likely go snowboarding more often than I currently do and honestly would happily take this for a jaunt down to the resort, park it outside the hotel for a few days, dig it out and and drive back to London.
Personally, I don't think the price is ridiculous, it's not like you can't see where the money has been spent and it still (from the pics at least) looks as good as the day it was finished. Plus, you know it works as intended.
Interesting that the exhaust has gone back to 4 tips which is usually a giveaway of a V8 R8.
Its a 50 grand car isnt it really ? cant imagine many who want an R8 are into someone elses personal project car with a roof box, body kit, graphics and what looks like his initials on the headrests ?
You just dont get your money back on modifications, the mechanical stuff would be worth having maybe.
I dont hate it, but I would just buy a standard one really, notice they have dropped under 30 grand again for early V8's, reckon with a bit of haggling 26/27 would be possible.
If I say His name out in every pub and tea shop across the land does that mean I get an automatic invite to a nice roast meal?
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff