There are a lot of things we wonder when we see a car like this 2024 Porsche 911 Turbo S (Vin: WPOAD2A93RS253171) come onto the market. First and foremost, how could you order such a car with thoughtful Paint to Sample color choice of Brewster Green (brewstergrün; nonmetallic UNI; 22B; Porsche) and only log 300 miles. It seems like a travesty to have a car like this and not drive it, but maybe that indicates a flip. Whatever the case, it’s a good problem to have.
Here’s what we know about the color. Brewster Green is a non-metallic dark green, well darker than a British Racing Green. According to sites like Color.RS, Brewster Green may be one of the oldest car paint colors on record having been apparently offered as far back as 1909 on the Ford Model T.
In the Porsche world, Brewster Green also has long-held significance. Ferry Porsche himself had a practice of specifying his company cars painted in one of a select number of green paint colors including Oak Green Metallic, Olive Green, Emerald Green Metallic, and of course Brewster Green. This tradition has been continued by Dr Wolfgang Porsche to this day, with numerous examples in his private collection painted in the same colors his father favored in those very early days of the brand.
Here’s what we know about this car for sale. It’s basically new and currently in inventory at Porsche San Luis Obispo, asking price $329,888. We’re going to give the dealer credit for making sure the Paint to Sample color is listed and searchable both on their site and AutoTrader where we first found it, but are less enthusiastic about the photos – direct sun and looking high in the front. Given we’re looking to show off unique colors and specifications on this site, we just wish dealers of luxury and exotic cars in general spent more time making them look incredible in photography.
Off our rant and back to the car, you can find a full specification for it HERE. Interestingly, given it’s a Turbo S and not a GT3 or the like, this Brewster Green coupe has sport cloth interior that embraces the more sporting side of its S designation. That’s a bold choice for whomever ordered the car given the quickness of the turnover, but hey… so was Brewster Green. We hope a total enthusiast sees the value and snaps it up.
Facebook Marketplace can be an excellent place to treasure hunt for unique specification cars, as evidenced by this 2016 M3 sedan F80 sedan (wildberry; metallic; T09; BMW) painted in BMW Individual Wildberry Metallic (wildberrymetallic; metallic UNI; T09; BMW Individual) paired with Silverstone light grey interior. The car looks modified, though cleanly and minimally so, and well kept. And, for critics of the latest bucktooth BMW M3/4 generation, it’s the better-looking previous generation.
The car has 37,000 miles, making it not exactly unused, but also low mileage for its age. The owner states that he’s installed a GTS style hood, but that he still has the original that can go with the car. And while we’re sure it’s a pain to move or store, we think we’d want it even for the next owner if we purchased this great-looking Bimmer.
We’ve added photos of the car to this post, however you can find even more pictures and video along with the full listing on Facebook Marketplace HERE.
The latest 992.2-generation Porsche 911 just dropped this morning and it’s the Carrera T. Not only that, but some great new T specification equipment was revealed, along with a whole new model – the 911 Carrera T Cabriolet.
Let’s focus on the specification first. We already dug into the color-matched blue graphics and wheels on the Pure White 911 Carrera T Coupe we featured just moments ago (HERE), and this Gentian Blue Metallic (enzianblaumetallic; metallic UNI; W96; Porsche) launch specification Cabriolet appears to adopt many of the same bits minus the blue exterior accents. The same handsome tartan seat surfaces, deviated stitching, colored dials and wooden shift knob carry over, making for a much richer Carrera T experience.
The biggest news is the addition of the 911 Carrera T Cabriolet. No doubt there’s market demand for this new model, but we’ll admit we’re a little perplexed. The heavier Cabriolet doesn’t really lend itself to the lightweight driver’s concept that is the Coupe. It’s more hardcore, and less weekend cruiser for towns with “Palm” in the name – looking at you Palm Beach and Palm Springs retirees. Maybe you want something edgy too though, and we have no doubt the Carrera T Cabriolet fits the bill. We just wish it was a 911 Speedster T.
BEGIN PRESS RELEASE:
The new 911 Carrera T as a coupé or a cabriolet
Exclusively with six-speed manual transmission
Up to 42 kilograms lighter than the 911 Carrera
Available as a cabriolet for the first time
Rear-axle steering as standard and particularly agile tuning
The Porsche 911 Carrera T is about concentrating on the essentials. The focus on agility, lightweight construction and an emotive soundscape, as well as its six-speed manual transmission, make this the ideal Carrera for purists. Equipment packages specially tailored to the Carrera T offer stylish individuality. For the first time, the new version of the Carrera T is also available as a cabriolet.Stuttgart. Porsche is extending the model range of the new 911 with the addition of the light, dynamic 911 Carrera T. Weight-reduction measures, dynamic tuning and a six-speed manual transmission make this a puristic Carrera for superlative driving pleasure. With its lightweight windows, reduced insulation and six-speed manual transmission, the lightest configuration of the new 911 Carrera T, with full bucket seats, weighs just 1,478 kilograms. Equipped like that, the car is more than 40 kg lighter than the current 911 Carrera. For the first time, the 911 Carrera T is also available as a cabriolet.
The ‘T’ stands for Touring, and at Porsche this goes all the way back to the homologation of the 911 T as a touring car in 1968. The first 911 T was produced up to 1973. Since 2017, the 911 Carrera T has been back in the model range, positioned between the Carrera and the Carrera S. Pure driving pleasure, agile handling, emotive sound and a focus on the essentials are the distinguishing features of this rear-wheel drive sports car.
Powertrain: manual transmission and six-cylinder twin-turbo boxer The 911 Carrera T is driven by the 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo boxer engine of the 911 Carrera. It delivers 290 kW (394 PS) and develops torque of up to 450 Nm. A standard six-speed manual transmission transfers the drive power to the rear axle. When shifting down, an intermediate throttle function (auto-blip) can be selected to automatically and specifically compensate speed differences between the engine and the gearbox. With the standard Sport Chrono Package, the Carrera T Coupé sprints to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.7 seconds). Its top speed is 295 km/h (Cabriolet: 293 km/h). In line with its increased power compared to its predecessor, the Carrera has a bigger braking system with an all-round brake disc diameter of 350 millimetres and six-piston fixed callipers at the front. In combination with the reduced interior insulation and the auto-blip function, the standard sports exhaust system makes for a particularly emotive soundscape.
Chassis and tuning: development exclusively for this model As always, the Sport Chrono Package, which includes the Track Precision App, is part of the standard equipment of the 911 Carrera T. Additionally, for the first time Porsche is equipping the model with rear-axle steering as standard in combination with a more direct steering ratio on the front axle, thus significantly optimising handling. Lateral acceleration is generated faster and the steering responds more directly, while stability is simultaneously increased. The tuning of the rear-axle steering was developed specifically for the 911 Carrera T.
The PASM adaptive sports suspension, which is lowered by 10 mm, is also standard and has been given model-specific, sporty tuning to make the Carrera T even better, and even more agile, to drive. The standard rear-axle steering and an aerodynamic balance optimised exclusively for the 911 Carrera T have enabled the anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles to be tuned for neutral handling. The 911 Carrera T has 20/21-inch Carrera S light alloy wheels. The front tyres are 245/35 ZR20 and the rears are 305/30 ZR21.
Exterior and interior Numerous features distinguish the Carrera T from other models in the series. A sticker with the shift pattern logo on each of the triangular rear windows identify it as a manually-shifting and particularly purist representative of the model line. The model designations on the rear are in a contrasting colour, Vanadium Grey. The inlays on the rear lid grille, the upper and lower trim of the exterior mirrors, and the machine-polished light alloy wheels are painted in matching Vanadium Grey Metallic. Another feature of the Carrera T is the aerodynamically optimised spoiler lip taken from the 911 Carrera GTS.
For the Porsche Carrera T, the Legends colour scheme offers the body colours of Shade Green Metallic, Crayon, and Slate Grey Neo, while the Dreams colour scheme comprises Guards Red, Lugano Blue, Gentian Blue Metallic and Cartagena Yellow Metallic. The Shades colour scheme offers a choice of the more muted Jet Black Metallic, GT Silver Metallic and Ice Grey Metallic. Contrasts offers the solid Black and White colours. Further body colours are available via the Paint to Sample and Paint to Sample Plus programmes. The top of the 911 T Cabriolet is optionally available in the colours Black, Red, Blue and Brown.
Sporty and black, with contrasting stitching on request, Porsche has given the interior of the Carrera T an emphatically purist look that’s typical of the T-model. The eye-catching stopwatch in the standard Sport Chrono Package is prominent on the dashboard. A number of special details emphasise the exclusivity of the 911 Carrera T as a manual sports car: the shortened gear lever is topped with an open-pore walnut laminated wood gear knob, which offers a special visual and tactile experience. In front of the gear lever is a badge with the ‘MT’ (Manual Transmission) logo. The shift pattern logo is printed on the passenger side of the dashboard. The list of standard equipment also includes the leather-upholstered and heated GT sports steering wheel, fitted with a mode switch. Alternatively, a Race-Tex steering wheel is also available. The decorative inlays in the dashboard and the centre console are Vanadium Grey, with the door panel inlays being black brushed aluminium.
Befitting the sporty character of its interior, the Carrera T has black, four-way electrically adjustable sports seats with Sport-Tex seat centres as standard. The tartan fabric pattern of the interior is exclusively reserved for the 911 Carrera T. The 911 logo is stitched into the headrests. Customers can order the Adaptive Sports Seats Plus (18-way adjustable) or particularly light full bucket seats as options.
Carrera T packages for exterior and interior The exclusivity of the 911 Carrera T is further enhanced by the Carrera T design packages for the exterior and the interior. These come in the classic Porsche colour Gentian Blue to create a striking colour contrast. On the exterior of the car, the inlays in the rear lid, the Carrera T decals on the front and rear lids and doors, the MT stickers, and the light alloy wheels with a gloss-lathed front face come in this colour. The upper shells of the exterior mirrors are in Black. Contrast stitching in Gentian Blue, instead of the standard black stitching, enhances the interior and the seats also come with Gentian Blue contrast stripes. The same colour also adorns the seat belts, the trim of the centre console and the door panels, as well as the contrast inlays and the stitched 911 logos on the headrests.
Ready for immediate order The new Porsche 911 Carrera T can be ordered now, with prices starting at 141,700 euros including VAT and country-specific equipment. The 911 Carrera T Cabriolet costs 155,800 euros.
The latest updated Porsche 911 of the 992.2 generation has dropped and it’s the Carrera T. And while the biggest news is likely the addition of a Carrera T Cabriolet (more on that in our next post), our focus is always the specification. Yes, this Carrera T is standard launch spec and about as blank canvas a paint as they come – Pure White (purweiß; nonmetallic UNI; Z99; Porsche), it’s the detail work that grabs our attention with the car.
The Carrera T has always been thick on value and driving experience within the 911 range, making it a strong contender for a 911 buyer seeking an entry-level GT car. From a specification standpoint though, it’s always been a bit bland and limited to a few stickers and its own wheel design that didn’t exactly draw attention. And while we’re not here to criticize the idea of a sleeper, the old Carrera T left us wanting a bit more. It seems that designers and product planners at Porsche seemed to agree, as the new car has some great unique and/or color-coded details such as dials, tartan seats, wood shift knoib, deviated stitching and even wheels.
With these changes, the new Carrera T really sets itself apart from the standard Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S. That’s not just important for Carrera T buyers, as it also likely ups the ideas and options for buyers of other 911s as they consider what sort of special wishes to ask of Porsche’s Sonderwunsch department.
Check out the full press release below including details on the Cabriolet, and check our blog for photos of the convertible version as we’re going to make a separate post about it. Regarding the Pure White launch specification coupe, we’ve gone ahead and formatted all available press photos and a few marketing shots dropped on social media channels in order to give you the best mix of images through which to see all these new OEM details. See that gallery at the bottom of this post.
BEGIN PRESS RELEASE:
The new 911 Carrera T as a coupé or a cabriolet
Exclusively with six-speed manual transmission
Up to 42 kilograms lighter than the 911 Carrera
Available as a cabriolet for the first time
Rear-axle steering as standard and particularly agile tuning
The Porsche 911 Carrera T is about concentrating on the essentials. The focus on agility, lightweight construction and an emotive soundscape, as well as its six-speed manual transmission, make this the ideal Carrera for purists. Equipment packages specially tailored to the Carrera T offer stylish individuality. For the first time, the new version of the Carrera T is also available as a cabriolet.Stuttgart. Porsche is extending the model range of the new 911 with the addition of the light, dynamic 911 Carrera T. Weight-reduction measures, dynamic tuning and a six-speed manual transmission make this a puristic Carrera for superlative driving pleasure. With its lightweight windows, reduced insulation and six-speed manual transmission, the lightest configuration of the new 911 Carrera T, with full bucket seats, weighs just 1,478 kilograms. Equipped like that, the car is more than 40 kg lighter than the current 911 Carrera. For the first time, the 911 Carrera T is also available as a cabriolet.
The ‘T’ stands for Touring, and at Porsche this goes all the way back to the homologation of the 911 T as a touring car in 1968. The first 911 T was produced up to 1973. Since 2017, the 911 Carrera T has been back in the model range, positioned between the Carrera and the Carrera S. Pure driving pleasure, agile handling, emotive sound and a focus on the essentials are the distinguishing features of this rear-wheel drive sports car.
Powertrain: manual transmission and six-cylinder twin-turbo boxer The 911 Carrera T is driven by the 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo boxer engine of the 911 Carrera. It delivers 290 kW (394 PS) and develops torque of up to 450 Nm. A standard six-speed manual transmission transfers the drive power to the rear axle. When shifting down, an intermediate throttle function (auto-blip) can be selected to automatically and specifically compensate speed differences between the engine and the gearbox. With the standard Sport Chrono Package, the Carrera T Coupé sprints to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.7 seconds). Its top speed is 295 km/h (Cabriolet: 293 km/h). In line with its increased power compared to its predecessor, the Carrera has a bigger braking system with an all-round brake disc diameter of 350 millimetres and six-piston fixed callipers at the front. In combination with the reduced interior insulation and the auto-blip function, the standard sports exhaust system makes for a particularly emotive soundscape.
Chassis and tuning: development exclusively for this model As always, the Sport Chrono Package, which includes the Track Precision App, is part of the standard equipment of the 911 Carrera T. Additionally, for the first time Porsche is equipping the model with rear-axle steering as standard in combination with a more direct steering ratio on the front axle, thus significantly optimising handling. Lateral acceleration is generated faster and the steering responds more directly, while stability is simultaneously increased. The tuning of the rear-axle steering was developed specifically for the 911 Carrera T.
The PASM adaptive sports suspension, which is lowered by 10 mm, is also standard and has been given model-specific, sporty tuning to make the Carrera T even better, and even more agile, to drive. The standard rear-axle steering and an aerodynamic balance optimised exclusively for the 911 Carrera T have enabled the anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles to be tuned for neutral handling. The 911 Carrera T has 20/21-inch Carrera S light alloy wheels. The front tyres are 245/35 ZR20 and the rears are 305/30 ZR21.
Exterior and interior Numerous features distinguish the Carrera T from other models in the series. A sticker with the shift pattern logo on each of the triangular rear windows identify it as a manually-shifting and particularly purist representative of the model line. The model designations on the rear are in a contrasting colour, Vanadium Grey. The inlays on the rear lid grille, the upper and lower trim of the exterior mirrors, and the machine-polished light alloy wheels are painted in matching Vanadium Grey Metallic. Another feature of the Carrera T is the aerodynamically optimised spoiler lip taken from the 911 Carrera GTS.
For the Porsche Carrera T, the Legends colour scheme offers the body colours of Shade Green Metallic, Crayon, and Slate Grey Neo, while the Dreams colour scheme comprises Guards Red, Lugano Blue, Gentian Blue Metallic and Cartagena Yellow Metallic. The Shades colour scheme offers a choice of the more muted Jet Black Metallic, GT Silver Metallic and Ice Grey Metallic. Contrasts offers the solid Black and White colours. Further body colours are available via the Paint to Sample and Paint to Sample Plus programmes. The top of the 911 T Cabriolet is optionally available in the colours Black, Red, Blue and Brown.
Sporty and black, with contrasting stitching on request, Porsche has given the interior of the Carrera T an emphatically purist look that’s typical of the T-model. The eye-catching stopwatch in the standard Sport Chrono Package is prominent on the dashboard. A number of special details emphasise the exclusivity of the 911 Carrera T as a manual sports car: the shortened gear lever is topped with an open-pore walnut laminated wood gear knob, which offers a special visual and tactile experience. In front of the gear lever is a badge with the ‘MT’ (Manual Transmission) logo. The shift pattern logo is printed on the passenger side of the dashboard. The list of standard equipment also includes the leather-upholstered and heated GT sports steering wheel, fitted with a mode switch. Alternatively, a Race-Tex steering wheel is also available. The decorative inlays in the dashboard and the centre console are Vanadium Grey, with the door panel inlays being black brushed aluminium.
Befitting the sporty character of its interior, the Carrera T has black, four-way electrically adjustable sports seats with Sport-Tex seat centres as standard. The tartan fabric pattern of the interior is exclusively reserved for the 911 Carrera T. The 911 logo is stitched into the headrests. Customers can order the Adaptive Sports Seats Plus (18-way adjustable) or particularly light full bucket seats as options.
Carrera T packages for exterior and interior The exclusivity of the 911 Carrera T is further enhanced by the Carrera T design packages for the exterior and the interior. These come in the classic Porsche colour Gentian Blue to create a striking colour contrast. On the exterior of the car, the inlays in the rear lid, the Carrera T decals on the front and rear lids and doors, the MT stickers, and the light alloy wheels with a gloss-lathed front face come in this colour. The upper shells of the exterior mirrors are in Black. Contrast stitching in Gentian Blue, instead of the standard black stitching, enhances the interior and the seats also come with Gentian Blue contrast stripes. The same colour also adorns the seat belts, the trim of the centre console and the door panels, as well as the contrast inlays and the stitched 911 logos on the headrests.
Ready for immediate order The new Porsche 911 Carrera T can be ordered now, with prices starting at 141,700 euros including VAT and country-specific equipment. The 911 Carrera T Cabriolet costs 155,800 euros.
SUMMARY: BMW named this yellow hue after the iconic Dakar Rally, the ultimate rally raid style endurance race that originally trekked from Paris to Dakar, though presently is now held in Saudi Arabia. Though BMW automobiles has never competed as a factory at Dakar, BMW Motorrad won the motorcycle class of the Dakar Rally six times, including its first victory in 1981 when Hubert Auriol won on the R80 G/S. Though we don’t know for sure, it’s a safe guess that these victories are quite likely the inspiration for the name of this almost buttery shade of yellow BMW used to debut the BMW M3 type E36.
Dakar Yellow (dakargelbii; non-metallic uni; 337; BMW) is considered one of BMW Individual’s most iconic colors, and has been a popular choice through BMW Individual since that E36 era. Worth noting, there is also a color known as Dakar Yellow II, though it shares the same 337 color code with the main difference noted by enthusiasts as simply Dakar Yellow with a UNI clear coat.
Nowadays at the factory tailors, it tends to be more affordable to specify a factory color of the marque in question than it does to cross the badge divide and choose from another carmaker’s palette. Such is definitely the case of Audi where deviation to that level will jump you to another price tier. Given the disparity, cars deviating from the brand tend to be a little more special and a lot more rare. Such is the case for this 2020 Audi R8 V10 (Vin: WUAKBAFX7L7901975) painted Chalk (kreidegrau; non-metallic UNI; M9A / 3H; Porsche).
Maybe it’s the Porsche + Audi association of 1970s Can-Am, or perhaps the Porsche and Audi collaboration on the RS2, but we love the look of an established Porsche color on an Audi offering. Yes, Audi has colors that are close – Siam Beige, Nardo Grey, but Porsche Chalk is its own thing and pairs excellently with an R8 V10 slathered in black optics and carbon fiber componentry like he R8’s signature side blades. Yes, it’s all a but subdued, but the owner thought of that when they went for blue stitching as an accent. It’s an excellent specification.
It’s also now four years old, has logged just over 8,000 miles and is used. Yes, $199,000 is on the higher side of the R8 market, but it looks impeccably maintained and even the facelifted naturally aspirated R8 is now out of production, meaning fewer and fewer new inventory exists. People seeking this car, much less a very special specification such as this, are running out of options.
We found this car for sale over at Southeast Auto Showroom in Palm Beach, FL. Check it out HERE.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Goldfinger, a one-of-one masterpiece
Incorporates some of the most extensively engineered and hand-crafted Bespoke features ever produced
Celebrates sixty years of the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger
References Auric Goldfinger’s 1937 Phantom III Sedanca de Ville
Solid 18-carat gold bar in the shape of a ‘Speedform’ exhibited in centre console
Picnic tables include fictional map of Fort Knox bullion reserve in 22-carat gold inlay
Three-dimensional steel and gold Gallery incorporates isoline map of legendary Furka Pass
Starlight Headliner matches constellation above Furka during filming of scene in 1964
Gold golf club fitted to boot lid, referencing 007 and Auric Goldfinger’s first encounter
Harlequin umbrellas and 007 logo projector reference key film moments
[source: Rolls-Royce]
“At Rolls-Royce, we are dedicated to crafting deeply personal masterpieces that reshape the boundaries of possibility and truly define the essence of luxury. Each creation is a reflection of our commitment to producing extraordinary, unique motor cars that consistently delight and exceed the expectations of our clients. This particular project really invigorated our team of creatives, giving them the freedom to explore the reaches of their imagination. The final creation is a testament to the power of collaboration and the extraordinary ability of our designers, craftspeople, and engineers.” Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
“Witnessing how our Bespoke Collective seized upon the idea of celebrating 60 years of the film has been truly remarkable; this fantastic story has been masterfully explored in Phantom Goldfinger’s exquisite design. The creativity extended far beyond the making of the motor car, as we curated extraordinary experiences for the client and their family, all while staying true to the spirit of the Goldfinger theme. It is this exceptional ability to engage our clients and create lasting impressions that defines us as a true House of Luxury.” Boris Weletzky, Regional Director, United Kingdom, Europe and Central Asia, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
“This is gold, Mr. Bond. All my life, I’ve been in love with its colour, its brilliance, its divine heaviness.” Auric Goldfinger, Auric Enterprises
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has unveiled a one-of-one Phantom Extended that pays homage to the 1964 James Bond film, Goldfinger – one of twelve Rolls-Royce appearances in the 007 film franchise. Revealed in the film’s 60th anniversary year, it takes inspiration from the 1937 Phantom III Sedanca de Ville owned by theeponymous villain, Auric Goldfinger. This story is masterfully explored in Phantom Goldfinger, with exquisite and ingenious Bespoke features linking to the plot and iconography of this enduring film.
Phantom Goldfinger incorporates some of the most extensively engineered Bespoke features applied to a one-of-one motor car in Rolls-Royce history, each linking to the Goldfinger film plot. A total of three years of continuous development was required to bring each of these elegant and playful Bespoke features to life – from a complex sculptural Gallery, inspired by the famous scene filmed on the Furka Pass, to a gold golf putter mounted to the inside of the motor car’s boot, recalling the club used by Auric Goldfinger during his first encounter with James Bond.
2024 PHANTOM EXTENDED ‘GOLDFINGER’: EXTERIOR For the exterior of this contemporary tribute to Goldfinger’s motor car, Rolls-Royce paint specialists precisely matched the exterior yellow hue to the original 1937 Phantom III Sedanca de Ville used in the film. A unique ‘long-side’ two-tone design was developed in which the black finish wraps around the motor car’s generous coachwork as a single, uninterrupted graphic. The 21-inch disc wheels are finished in Black with silver ‘floating’ hubcaps, creating a tone-on-tone effect that recalls the wheel design of the 1937 motor car as seen in the film.
The Spirit of Ecstasy at the prow of Phantom Goldfinger has been given a unique finish, subtly referencing the motion picture’s plot. In the film, the villain Auric Goldfinger was smuggling gold in body panels of his Phantom. As a nod to this concept, sections of the figurine appear to reveal gold underneath, suggesting it is made of solid gold, concealed with a silver coat. Since it is not possible to silver-plate gold, Rolls-Royce specialists used a solid silver Spirit of Ecstasy and skilfully gold-plated it with 18-carat gold to achieve the ‘gold reveal’ effect.
INTERIOR: HIDDEN GOLD In honour of the Goldfinger film, the Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers, and artisans within Rolls-Royce developed several highly complex details and features that incorporate 18- and 24-carat gold. One such feat is the hidden vault created in the centre console between the front seats. The area was re-engineered to house an illuminated solid 18-carat gold bar, shaped as a Phantom ‘Speedform’ – a stylised representation of the motor car’s design in miniature.
The base of the front and rear centre consoles is also lined with an exquisite gold finish, as is the inside of the glovebox. The inner lid of the glovebox is also debossed with Goldfinger’s iconic quote: “This is Gold, Mr. Bond. All my life, I have been in love with its colour, its brilliance, its divine heaviness.”
The air vents and ‘organ stops’ throughout the motor car also have a lustrous gold finish. The speaker frets are given the same finish and inscribed with the film’s title treatment. The treadplates, designed to look like the gold bars that feature Goldfinger, are gold-plated and embossed using the same font developed for the film in 1964. The 24-carat gold-plated VIN plaque is engraved with a specially obtained vehicle identification number, which ends in 007.
FURKA PASS GALLERY The Bespoke artwork installed in Phantom’s Gallery, which runs the full width of the front fascia, is the true centrepiece of the motor car. The three-dimensional design, which was hand-drawn, is a precise yet artistic isoline map that shows the contours of the Furka Pass; in the film 007 is seen on this legendary road, discreetly following Auric Goldfinger to his smelting plant in the Swiss Alps. The stainless steel used to construct the piece was darkened using a method named physical vapour deposition. Contour lines and elevation figures are engraved into the dark substrate, exposing the bright metal beneath. The Furka Pass is cut out from the stainless-steel layer, revealing a gilded surface underneath.
This highly complex feature required a year of painstaking development, in which the Bespoke Collective produced ten complete prototypes to perfect the design. The Bespoke clock surround at the centre of the artwork is inspired by the instantly recognisable ‘gun barrel’ sequence which has been featured in every James Bond film since Dr. No (1962).
FURKA PASS STARLIGHT HEADLINER The motor car pays another subtle tribute to the memorable Furka Pass scene. The marque’s Bespoke Collective designed the Starlight Headliner of Phantom Goldfinger to perfectly reflect the constellations as they were positioned over the Furka Pass on 11 July 1964 – the last day of filming the scene in Switzerland. 719 ‘stars’, which glow with a subtle gold hue, are surrounded by a further eight ‘shooting stars’ – all individually placed by hand.
PICNIC TABLE INLAY: THE MAP TO GOLD RESERVES The Royal Walnut picnic tables are adorned with a 22-carat gold inlay with a depth of only 0.1 mm, which feature a fictional map of Fort Knox, the bullion depository where the United States’ gold reserves are stored. The design, which took six months to finalise and was developed over three prototypes, incorporates key locations including Gold Vault Road, Bullion Boulevard, and the Bullion Depository that Goldfinger plans to attack in ‘Operation Grand Slam’.
INTERIOR COLOURWAY: GOLD STANDARD Phantom Goldfinger is finished in Navy leather and Royal Walnut veneer, selected as an elegant and refined canvas to showcase the gold detailing, inspired by the interior colourway of the original motor car. The seating, which includes reclining Serenity Seating in the rear suite, is subtly elevated with gold stitching, gold-coloured ‘bullets’ to cap the seat piping sections, and headrests that incorporate gold ‘RR’ monograms.
EXQUISITE DETAILS James Bond’s initial encounter with Goldfinger takes place at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, UK, where 007 challenges him to a round of golf. Goldfinger uses a gold putter, which is safely guarded by his henchman, Oddjob. For the 2024 Phantom Goldfinger, the gold-plated putter has been recreated and mounted on the underside of the boot lid. The club is adorned with a specially designed ‘AG’ monogram, inspired by the engraving on the signet ring worn by Goldfinger on-screen.
Later, while alone with Goldfinger’s Phantom III, Bond places a Q Branch-issued tracking device on the motor car, which he uses to follow the villain across Europe. To acknowledge this, the Bespoke Collective developed a device, inspired by the original gadget, that subtly projects the 007 logo onto the carpet of the luggage compartment floor whenever the lid is opened.
During the Stoke Park scene, Bond is nearly caught interfering with the Phantom III by Oddjob, who loads Goldfinger’s golf clubs and a harlequin umbrella into the boot. For the 2024 Phantom Goldfinger, the umbrellas that fit into the motor car’s rear doors have been finished in the same red, blue, green, and yellow colours.
As a finishing touch, the prized British numberplate ‘AU 1’, which graced the Goldfinger Phantom III in the film, has been secured — a reference to the chemical symbol for gold on the periodic table of elements. This will remain with Phantom Goldfinger, which has now been delivered to a significant Rolls-Royce client and collector based in England.
“Bringing Phantom Goldfinger into being was one of the Bespoke Collective’s greatest creative journeys to date. The elegant and whimsical features that reference the film’s most memorable moments are an exquisite demonstration of the power of Bespoke in adding a new chapter to an existing story. It was a privilege to be a part of the creative team that brought this highly sought-after collector’s piece to life.” Nick Rhodes, Bespoke Designer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: AURIC GOLDFINGER AND HIS 1937 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM III Rolls-Royce motor cars have featured in a dozen James Bond films throughout the film franchise’s history. However, the marque’s most enduring and memorable role is in the 007 film, Goldfinger.
The film sees eponymous villain, Auric Goldfinger, driven across Europe by his henchman, Oddjob, in an exquisite 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca de Ville. The coachwork of this imperious motor car holds a secret – it is made from two tonnes of solid 18-carat gold, which Goldfinger is smuggling from England, across the continent and over the challenging Furka Pass into Switzerland. Once safely installed in Auric Enterprises, he uses his alpine smelting plant to disassemble his Rolls-Royce, melting down the body panels into gold bars. With the original coachwork replaced, he returns his motor car to England and repeats this nefarious crossing.
Goldfinger’s ultimate master plan, named ‘Operation Grand Slam’, is far more ambitious; he plans to irradiate the gold stored in the Fort Knox Bullion Depository with an atomic device, rendering it worthless, thereby driving the value of his own reserves into the stratosphere.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION Phantom Extended: NEDCcorr (combined): CO2 emissions: 345 g/km; Fuel consumption: 15.1 ltr/100 km / 18.7 mpg. WLTP (combined): CO2emissions: 362-348 g/km; Fuel consumption: 15.9-15.2 ltr/100 km / 17.7-18.6 mpg. Further information: https://bit.ly/3XtQW7q
ABOUT ROLLS-ROYCE Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a true luxury house, creating the world’s most recognised, revered and desirable handcrafted Bespoke products for its international clientele.
There are over 2,500 people working at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex. This comprises both its global headquarters and Centre of Luxury Manufacturing Excellence – the only place in the world where Rolls-Royce motor cars are designed, engineered and meticulously built by hand. An independent study by the London School of Economics & Political Science confirms that since the company first launched at Goodwood in 2003, it has contributed more than £4 billion to the UK economy and adds more than £500 million in economic value every year.
Fashion designer, Supriya Lele, has created a new bespoke colour, Nīla Blue, inspired by her Indian heritage
Nīla Blue draws its name from the Sanskrit word for “sapphire” and represents a seamless blend of personal history and artisanal craft
To showcase Nīla Blue, Supriya co-created a one-of-one specification, working with Mulliner designers to explore the possibilities of personalisation through bespoke finishes
A Bespoke Bentayga S provides a canvas for Nila Blue exterior paintwork with pinstripes to the 22” sports wheels
Nīla Blue is as an example of how Mulliner can create unique colours from client’s aspirations through bespoke craftsmanship
Nila Blue is available to customers exclusively via the Mulliner Bespoke Studio. Enquiries can be made through Bentley retailers
[source: Bentley]
Crewe, England – Bentley Motors is proud to announce the continuation of its creative collaboration with acclaimed British fashion designer, Supriya Lele, unveiling a new bespoke colour, Nīla Blue, which will be available exclusively to Mulliner customers. Deeply inspired by Lele’s Indian heritage, Nīla Blue draws its name from the Sanskrit word for “sapphire” and represents a seamless blend of personal history and artisanal craft. This distinctive hue, infused with personal and cultural significance, represents the seamless fusion of automotive luxury and high fashion, reflecting the ultimate in craftsmanship, innovation, and personalised expression.
Bentley Mulliner is renowned for its ability to craft virtually any colour imaginable. Whether inspired by the world of fashion, art, or personal memory, Mulliner’s artisans work closely with each client to develop bespoke paints that reflect individual vision and style. Nīla Blue stands as an example of how Mulliner can create something wholly unique, translating a client’s aspirations into a lasting expression of craftsmanship.
Known for her sensual, delicately crafted, and body-celebrating silhouettes, Lele has always been inspired by the colour blue, a shade she frequently uses in her fashion collections. Her connection to the colour is rooted in her Indian heritage and further influenced by William Gass’s 1976 philosophical treatise ‘On Blue,’ which explores the symbolic significance of blue in relation to themes of sex, sleaze, and sadness. This bespoke hue, subtle yet distinctive, echoes the sense of luxurious restraint and enduring elegance that defines both her collections and Mulliner’s design philosophy.
To showcase Nīla Blue, Supriya co-created a one-of-one specification, working with Mulliner designers to explore the possibilities of personalisation through bespoke finishes. A bespoke Bentayga S provides a stunning canvas, to display the uniquely commissioned Nila Blue. The lower brightware has been matched with the rest of the exterior paintwork and using the freshly commissioned blue, a pinstripe has been added to the 22” sports style wheels. A bright Mulliner White accent to the carbon fibre bodykit provides a contrast that is echoed through to the interior. The interior includes a multitude of bespoke features, from the satin black Naim audio speaker grilles to the open pore black stained crown cut walnut veneers, all bordered by the Nila Blue edging. This exclusive edition embodies the bold and elevated confidence that defines Lele’s fashion work, featuring luxurious and experimental fabrication that evolves the fluid silhouettes synonymous with her label.
Supriya Lele, commented: “Creating the colour for Bentley has been an exciting and special experience. Colour plays a key role in both my practice and brand identity. This shade of blue feels distinctive yet subtle, slightly different from the usual. It’s this nuanced difference—the inability to exactly define it—that I love about creativity. I incorporate this subtlety into my work, so collaborating with Bentley to bring this unique color to life using my own references and brand has been truly rewarding.”
David Parker, Chief Commercial Officer at Mulliner, commented: “The Bentley Mulliner Bespoke Studio continues to push the boundaries of what is possible. This collaboration invites customers to explore a world where the only limits are those of the imagination. Nīla Blue is an expression of subtlety and depth, a tone that reflects both Supriya’s artistic vision and Mulliner’s expertise in crafting the finest bespoke finishes. It is a hue that speaks to the discerning tastes of those who appreciate quiet luxury.”
Nila Blue is available to customers exclusively via the Mulliner Bespoke Studio. Enquiries can be made through Bentley retailers.
Yes, we typically search for cars coming onto the market in North America, but when they’re old enough to import easily and exceptionally cool, we tend to look outside the confines of the U.S. and Canada. And when we do, we find cars like this Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 in Almadin Red (almadinrot; metallic UNI; DB 512 / 512U; Mercedes-Benz).
About the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 In General
Homologation cars are always cool, but the W201-based 190E 2.3-16 and later 190E 2.5-16 have been garnering an extra level of enthusiast cult-following. Homologated for Group A, this meant Mercedes had to build 5,000 cars within a year’s time. They did so easily, and the model proved so popular that it continued into 1993, building almost 19,500.
An updated version like this one was shown at the Paris Motor Show in 1988, featuring revised front and rear aprons, larger bumpers, redesigned interior and an upgraded 16-valve engine with its Cosworth-developed head now bumped to 2.5-liters. And while the 2.3-16 had been sold in the USA, the 2.5-16 and other evolutions never made it here.
More information not he model in general can be found HERE and HERE.
Along with the update, several colors were aded including the one you see here – Almadin Red. While this specification isn’t a special paint, it is relatively rare than the much more common silvers. Three shades of silver were offered – Smoke Silver, Astral Silver and Brilliant Silver. Blue-Black was also offered, but Almadin Red was the only vibrant color, which makes it stand out.
About Buying a Vintage Car from Europe
Though importing modern cars from other markets can be incredibly complex and expensive, importation of vehicles older than 25 years for the U.S.A. and 15 years for Canada can be much simpler and rewarding. Nevertheless, there are challenges that you’ll need to consider.
First up will be assessment of the car. Most listing sites like the one linked here tend to feature lower-resolution photos and descriptions typically more akin to what you’d find on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, not the über thorough assessments and histories we’ve come to obsess over on sites such as Bring A Trailer. Finding someone over there to get eyes on the car is definitely a major advantage.
Next up will be arranging exportation from country of origin, shipping, handling at the port of entry, paying duties and getting registered in your home location. These are not easy tasks, but trivial for the more and more companies catering to these services.
We’ve had experience working with one such firm, Orchid Euro. Jamie Orr, owner of Orchid Euro, worked with his team and network to get first hand eyes on in Europe, ground transport to a German port, shipment on a new vehicle transport vessel, handled it at the American port and even helped guide on getting the car titled. Worth noting, Orchid Euro isn’t the only company out there doing these sorts of things, so search them out if you prefer another similar service.
About this Car
Here’s what we know about the car from its listing. Since it’s on AutoScout, it’s not in English so we’ve taken the liberty of having it run through Apple Safari’s translation.
Location: Castelldefels, Italy
Country Version: Spain
Initial Registration: 01/1989
Mileage Logged: 197,000 km, converts to 122,410 miles
Asking Price: €29,000 Euros
Below is the Translated Description. Please note, this is as translated so creates some odd terminology like “roof of crystal”:
Exclusive Mercedes 190 in color ALMANDINE RED. Production data and extras:
Order Location FRANKFURT BRANCH
Interior FABRIC BLACK (071)
Paint 1 ALMADIN RED METALLIC (512U)
Approx. Build Date 1988-11 Code Description 240 OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR 412 ELECTRIC SLIDING ROOF WITH TILTING DEVICE 442 AIRBAG IN STEERING WHEEL 466 CENTRAL LOCKING MECHANISM 506 AUSSENRÜCKSPIEGEL, LINKS UND RECHTS, GEHEZT (FLÜCKLICH VERSTELLBARE AUF DER RECHTEN) 510 MB RADIO EXQUISIT WITH VK, RDS (BECKER) 531 AUTOMATIC ANTENNA 551 ANTI-THEFT/ANTI-BREAK-IN WARNING SYSTEM 583 ELECTRIC WINDOW LIFTERS (FRONT DOORS) 591 HEAT-INSULATING GLASS, ALL-AROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW PANE (SINGLE-SHEET SAFETY GLASS) 600 HEADLAMP WIPER/WASHER 673 HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY 873 SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEATS 876 RÜCKTÜRN-SPACHTEN UND LEUCHTE OBEN HINTERFENSTER
Recién hecha revisión completa en taller Mercedes especializado;
oils and complete filters.
original engine mounts
front suspension towers and new springs.
gas air conditioning
brake fluid
steering shock absorber
caps de resendo dirección.
juntas motor tapa de balancines.
Etc.
Alternator and clutches recently replaced. ITV just last.
Extras Featured equipment selected by the user
– Installation of lava headlights – Heated front seats – Temperature indicator outside – Air conditioning – Front electric lifts – Alloy tires – Metallic paint – Electric lifting sliding roof of crystal
When you think of a car as exclusive as the 2019 Porsche 911 (991.2) Speedster, you probably assume that anyone with the positioning to have had a build slot and the means to pay for the car more than likely would have commissioned their own unique specification… or at least a Paint to Sample finish. Well, if you’d assumed that you’d be wrong as we’ve gotten our hands on the 2019 model catalogue and were intrigued to see there was a standard color palette listed. In as much, it’ the latest in our weekly Color Chart series.
Frankly, we may have even been more surprised that in 2019 there was a product catalogue. Manufacturers have moved increasingly to better and better configurator tools on their websites, allowing you to simulate very specific option configurations and even some Paint to Sample simulations. That’s all remarkable of course, but when manufacturers like Porsche move on from an older generation car like the 991.2, the specifics of those configurations seem to get lost to time… at least those configurators become lost as a reference. In those cases you have to go old school and find a model catalogue, a task that’s getting harder and harder to accomplish given highly complex configurators are a lot cheaper to build and distribute than printed catalogues. Perhaps the happy medium then is the PDF catalogue.
For that we turned to one of our favorite references autocatalogarchive.com. There, amidst their seriously deep collection of Porsche catalogues, we found a 2019 Speedster book. Using that as a reference, we’re able to list the colors offered on the 2019 Speedster. See those below, or go directly to the MY2019 Porsche 991.2 Speedster catalogue HERE.
Colors Offered on the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster Include:
