There was a gap in the history of the 911 Speedster model. There was no Speedster for the fourth generation, except for two one-offs. Designer Luca Trazzi decided to fill that gap and built the fourth-generation Speedster. He had to do it. It was his dream car. An avid Speedster collector, Trazzi went to the Porsche factory with a project book already filled with sketches. He knew exactly what he wanted.
Porsche has been offering Speedster variants of the 911 since 1954. A two-seater configuration, a raised rear deck, a shortened windshield, and driving characteristics to satisfy purists. That's what the exclusive Speedsters are all about.
With the fourth generation of the 911, the Type 993, being the only one without a Speedster, Luca Trazzi, Porsche enthusiast, designer and Speedster collector, decided to create his own. What came out of the Porsche Sonderwunsch study is something based entirely on his requests. The car is on display at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.
“I looked around but couldn't find the car of my dreams. So I decided to build it myself,” Trazzi explained the move. But he wasn't the first to say it. The Verona-born, Milan-based designer actually quoted Ferdinand Porsche saying the same thing in 1948, when he built the 356 No. 1 Roadster.
Photo: Porsche
Trazzi, however, had to be patient. It took him more than three years to build his one-off. The work began from scratch, starting with a 1994 911 Carrea Cabriolet Type 993.
Luca Trazzi knew exactly what he wanted from the beginning
Luca Trazii was in love with the Porsche Speedster series since he was a child. It was a poster car for the young Italian boy. This explains his commitment to building a dream car of his own. He recalls that he had to work very hard to be able to afford his first Porsche. It was a 1955 Speedster 1600 Super.
From that moment on, his Speedster-mania was unleashed. There was no turning back. This is exactly what drove him to design the 911 Speedster that Porsche had never built before with the help of automotive designers. It was a new experience for the Sonderwunsch team, too. After all, it was their first factory one-off built for a customer.
When he was invited to the factory for a discussion, Luca Trazzi already had his project book full of drafts and sketches. He knew exactly what he wanted.
Photo: Porsche
That was the first of many factory visits. He was there when his Speedster was dipped in cathodic dip paint in the factory paint shop before being hand-painted. It was the customer who named the specially designed yellow paint Otto Yellow. Otto is the name of his four-legged companion.
Trazzi redesigned the bodywork for the car's rear decklid, which also features black, conical exterior mirrors, mimicking the classic 1960s design. But it features the four-point daytime running lights found on today's Porsche models. Meanwhile, the design of the turn signals, taillights and taillight strip has been reinterpreted.
The one-off model is equipped with 18-inch light-alloy wheels in Turbo design, finished in black and with a thin stripe in contrasting yellow. Black leather with yellow decorative stitching creates a sporty atmosphere on board, which is confirmed by the carbon-fiber elements on the dashboard, center console, handbrake, gear lever and seat backrests. The headrests feature an embroidered Speedster logo.
For the first time in a Porsche 911 Type 993, the carbon door sills are illuminated. The Porsche team used Otto Yellow light for the illumination. The car was equipped with Porsche Classic Communication Management (PCCM), adapted to match the retro atmosphere of the two-seater.
The 911 Carrera RS Type 993 was also the donor of the engine
The powertrain of the 911 Carrera RS Type 993 also enhances the exclusive Speedster. The model is powered by what was the most powerful air-cooled six-cylinder Porsche boxer engine of its time.
Photo: Porsche
The 3.8-liter unit generates approximately 296 horsepower (300 metric horsepower) and 262 pound-feet (355 Newton meters) of torque. A six-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels for a 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) run in 4.7 seconds. The speedometer needle reaches a top speed of 173 mph (278 km/h).
Porsche is keeping the specifications of this one-off a secret for now. The new Speedster also received the steering and braking system of the Carrera RS.
One thing is for sure: designer Luca Trazzi will surely enjoy his creation, the only one in the world. It is obvious that no one can buy one. But for the right amount of money, Porsche will build one even if it takes three years to complete.