- Porsche and auction house RM Sotheby’s are auctioning a unique Porsche 911 to aid COVID-19 relief efforts.
- The car in question, a 911 Speedster, is the final model built from the previous generation of the 911.
- A special-edition chronograph accompanies the car, along with an all-inclusive tour of Porsche’s development center in Germany.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Among enthusiasts and just about everyone else, the gold standard of a sports car has long been the Porsche 911. In terms of comfort, sportiness, response, and daily usability, you really can’t beat it.
And for those in the market for one, there’s a special, one-of-a-kind 911 up for sale. The car, along with a matching watch and a VIP tour of Porsche’s development center in Germany, will be auctioned off through RM Sotheby’s to aid coronavirus relief efforts.
Scroll down to learn more about it.
The Porsche 911 is currently in its eighth generation.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby’s
Many cars have shortened signifiers for different generations, and the eighth-gen 911 is also known as the “992.”
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby’s
But Porsche and auction house RM Sotheby’s decided to send off the seventh-generation “991” Porsche 911 with a little something special:
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby’s
An auction to benefit COVID-19 relief.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby’s
Source: RM Sotheby’s
The two won't auction just any 911, though.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
It's the last 991-gen Porsche 911 ever to roll off of Porsche's production line.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
It also happens to be a 911 Speedster.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
There are about two dozen variations of the 911 to suit individual needs.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
That means keeping track of them all can sometimes be a little challenging.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
But the 911 Speedster variant is exceptional, even as 911s come.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
Only 1,948 units were built.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
The number wasn't just random — it signified Porsche's 70th anniversary of building sports cars in 2018.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
The Speedster uses a modified Carrera 4 body, but with the chassis and engine from the track- and performance-focused GT3.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
These are all good things, if you're keeping track.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
That also means the car has a godly, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine that puts out 500 horsepower.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
And has a heaven-reaching 9,000-rpm redline.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
All of that is hooked up to a six-speed manual transmission that Porsche's own GT department developed.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
From the outside, the 911 Speedster captures the aesthetics of the vintage Porsche 356 Speedsters of decades past.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
There's a two-tone paint job, classically styled wheels, uniquely shaped wing mirrors, and a lower and steeply raked windshield.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
It's perfection on four wheels.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
The 911 Speedster being auctioned has never been registered.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
It only shows 20 delivery miles on the odometer.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
There's also an accompanying letter of authenticity from Porsche that confirms that it's the very last 991 911 to exit the serial production line.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
The car was finished in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen in December.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
But that's not all.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
Along with the car, the winner of the auction will also receive a bespoke Porsche Design 911 Speedster Heritage Design Chronograph.
Foto: Porsche Design 911 Speedster Heritage Design Chronograph. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
It has a leather strap that's made from the same brown leather found inside the car.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
The winding rotor matches the wheels.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
The watch was made in Switzerland and has the chassis number of the last 991 911 to match.
Foto: Porsche Design 911 Speedster Heritage Design Chronograph. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
In an effort to stick to social distancing, the auction will be held online.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
You don't even need to put pants on to bid for this thing.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
Upon placing the winning bet at the auction, the winner and a guest are invited on a behind-the-scenes personal tour of the Porsche AG Weissach development center.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
They're also invited to experience Porsche's own test track for themselves.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
They'll also receive a special book that illustrates the assembly and completion of the car they've just won.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
There will be photographs and an original sketch by the Speedster design team.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
The auction, hosted by RM Sotheby's, will take place over the course of a week.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
It started on April 15.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
It will close at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 22.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
The Speedster is being offered without reserve.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
That means it will sell to the highest bidder, no matter the price.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
All proceeds will be donated to United Way Worldwide's COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund, the auction listing notes.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
Source: United Way Worldwide's COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund
For those interested, this 911 has been built for US road-safety standards.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
The winning bidder must have US residency.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
While there's no auction estimate, a "normal" 911 Speedster starts at $274,500.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
Predictably, it's only going to go up from there.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
Since the money will go toward a good cause and everything.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
And also because Porsche fanatics tend to like exclusive, special editions.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
Call it bragging rights.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's
You can find the link to the auction below.
Foto: The Porsche 911 Speedster. Source: Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America/RM Sotheby's