Presented by Mecum Auctions – Throw a thesaurus at any 911 and it will give you a hint of its abilities. If you need to interrupt a conversation about GT2 vs Turbo S, mention a Speedster. Porsche has only bestowed the name on five models since 1948, and it evokes notions of 2 seats and no compromises. As a fitting end to the 991-series, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur reserved the final 1,948 bodies from the assembly line.
Knowing full well that even the base-model Carrera would be adopting turbos, they planned a naturally-aspirated Grand Finale. The 4-liter from the GT3 RS was blessed with individual throttle bodies. Unrestricted by a long plenum, the injector pressure was bumped 25% for instant response and clean running. The exhaust system is also unique, tuned to evoke the best notes from Porsche’s past. Nothing about the powertrain could be adopted for mass-production, so a Speedster is the only way you can experience it.
Like the engine, almost nothing else is shared with production cars. The long decklid was sculpted to keep the cockpit free of turbulence, and the windshield was cut down by 50mm. This might seem inconsequential, but because it has to support the car in a roll-over, engineers reinforced every seam in the body to tune out cowl flex. If you want an electric differential and PDK transmission go somewhere else. This car has a six-speed and a locking rear that are fed 502 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel steering is tuned specifically for this car, moving the Z-axis closer to the center of mass.
Speaking of weight, a manual cloth top is folded under the deck lid, and it is just one of many ways Porsche achieved 3,320 lbs at the curb. This example was ordered with every possible option from Weissach seats to a speedometer that reaches 225 mph. What truly sets it apart is Signal Yellow. This bright deviation from the “approved colors” is a throwback to the 70s. It added nearly $13,000 to the invoice and it would look great in any collection. Safety laws make it very unlikely that the Speedster will ever return, so don’t miss this opportunity.
This vehicle will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions’ Glendale 2021 event (March 18-20).
