Our team is extremely proud to present an exceptionally rare and highly bespoke modern air-cooled reinterpretation, a 1997 Porsche 911 Speedster (993) Reimagined by Gunther Werks. Handbuilt in  Huntington Beach, in Southern California, a region that enjoys a thriving Porsche restomod scene, this particular example is one of just 25 units built worldwide and is dubbed Mystique, and is finished in Amethyst Metallic over a bespoke purple and black leather interior. The Speedster bodystyle represents the most radical open-top expression of Gunther Werks’ carbon-intensive 993 program. Showing just 1,041 miles and offered on consignment from Graham Rahal Performance, this stunning example combines concours-level craftsmanship with an uncompromising mechanical focus, delivering one of the purest analog driving experiences available today.

The Gunther Werks 993 Speedster occupies a unique space in the modern Porsche collector landscape. Starting with an original 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera, Gunther Werks completely re-engineered the car using contemporary materials, motorsport-grade engineering, and obsessive attention to detail, while preserving the emotional core of the air-cooled era. This distinction is especially significant given that Porsche never produced a factory 993 Speedster during the model’s original production run, making any open-top 993 inherently rare, and positioning the Gunther Werks Speedster as a modern realization of a configuration Porsche enthusiasts long speculated about but never officially received.

Unlike factory Speedsters of the past, this is not a cosmetic exercise. It is a ground-up transformation that pushes the 993 platform well beyond anything Porsche itself ever produced. At the heart of this Speedster is a Rothsport Racing-built 4.0-liter naturally aspirated air-cooled flat-six, making 435 horsepower, 335 pound-feet of torque, revving to 7,800 rpm. Power is delivered through a rebuilt Getrag G50 six-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels, with no ABS, traction control, or electronic intervention. The result is a deeply mechanical, three-pedal high-engagement driving experience that places the driver fully at the center of the car’s performance.

Nearly every exterior body panel is constructed from carbon fiber, dramatically reducing weight to approximately 2,500 pounds while improving rigidity. Despite being an open-top Speedster, extensive structural reinforcements, including roll hoops with usable storage behind, rear bracing, and reinforced sills, result in torsional stiffness that exceeds that of a stock 993 coupe. A unique wrap-around Speedster windscreen sourced from a 964, inspired by earlier Porsche Speedster designs, completes the low-slung profile and reinforces the car’s minimalist, driver-focused intent. Other design highlights include Fuchs-style wheels and a distinctive ductail spoiler with a carbon lip.

 

Inside, the cabin is fully bespoke with incredible attention to detail, featuring carbon fiber seats, custom leather upholstery, and subtle integrated modern conveniences while staying old-school with the traditional five-pod analog instrument cluster. This particular example’s Amethyst Metallic exterior, a modern interpretation of Porsche’s classic PTS palette, further accentuates the car's widebody stance and distinguishes it within the already limited 25-car production run. The brightwork seen both inside and outside, including for the shifter and on the aluminium mirrors, serves as a great contrast.

With its extremely limited production, race-bred 4.0-liter engine, extensive carbon construction, and the historical significance of filling a gap Porsche itself never addressed during the 993 era, the Gunther Werks 993 Speedster, like the one seen here, represents one of the most desirable modern air-cooled commissions ever produced. It represents the pinnacle of what is possible when contemporary engineering is applied to one of Porsche’s most iconic platforms, without diluting the purity that defines the 911 legacy.