What: 2017 Porsche Macan S Color: Paint to Sample Mexico Blue (mexicoblau; non-metallic UNI; 336; Porsche) VIN: WP1AB2A59HLB12308 Mileage: 89,059 miles Price: $24,995 CarFax:Link Window Sticker: N/A Location: Unique Motors, Seattle, WA Listing:Link
Fortune favors the bold, and with this Tailored Driver, you’ll need to be just that. Paint to Sample Mexico Blue on a higher mileage Macan S, with airbag-deployment history and, to top it all off, a Canadian export, the low price tag is certainly justified. But if you’re equal parts brave and extroverted, this sub-$25,000 Macan S could be the best Tailored Driver value we’ve shared since starting this journey.
What: 1991 Porsche 911 DLS “Oppenheimer Commission” by Singer Color: Brilliant Blue Metallic (sonicblue; metallic Uni; 896; Mercedes-Benz) VIN: WP0ZZZ96ZMS406828 Mileage: 120 km, 75 miles from completion by Singer in 2023 Price: Sealed Bid CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Chobham, England Listing:Link
Another Singer DLS has hit the market, this time in a sealed bid sale with RM Sotheby’s. Built as a left hand drive yet UK registered. So, while it’s based in the UK, its age and configuration make it fairly easy to certify and register in other markets like the U.S.A.
“The Oppenheimer Commission” was named for the Oppenheimer Blue diamond and not for the nuclear physicist. Said diamond is a 14.62-carat rock that is the largest fancy vivid blue diamond classified by the Geological Institute of America ever sold at auction.
While light weighting and performance was the main mission of the DLS, opulence befitting a gargantuan blue diamond also sort of fits cars costing more than seven figures to build. And, opulent Oppenheimer is, utilizing Mercedes-Benz Brilliant Blue Metallic contrasted with a generous amount of clear carbon fiber coated with navy tint gloss lacquer around the exterior and also throughout the cabin. This is particularly elegant in the blue lettering and striping on the car, subtly contrasting in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sort of way with the Brilliant Blue paint.
Oppenheimer also sports several one-off features Singer hadn’t tried before constructing it. For instance, the underbody of the car was fitted with underbody protection film. The smoked DLS-specification taillights aren’t one-ff, but they are seldomly seen and reportedly an $18,000 option.
Inside, the primary leather color is Cream, contrasted with Navy Blue Alcantara that is color-matched to the blue carbon fiber throughout. The car’s carbon bucket seats also get offset navy blue stripes in leather, while the shift knob is maple.
Singer only built 70 examples of the DLS. Now combine this one owner car’s odometer showing not much more than delivery miles and the opportunity should be obvious. Granted, that the price will be high should also be obvious. Even still, if you want to skip the line then Oppenheimer may be worth watching.
Broad Arrow is well known for offering modern classic supercars to discerning collectors around the world, and the ultra-rare Porsche 911 TAG Turbo and RUF CTR Anniversary in this epic Hagerty and Broad Arrow film, bring that reputation to life.
This is the first time the stunning Mint Green (mintgrün; non-metallic UNI; 22R; Porsche) pair have been together on film, providing a rare chance to see, hear and experience both cars being driven as intended, as Hagerty’s Henry Catchpole puts them through their paces. In this exhilarating test, he tackles the picturesque Anglesey Circuit, capturing the raw nature, and sounds, of both cars while revealing their unique personalities.
Both cars impressed Catchpole with their unique character and exceptional performance on track. The RUF he described as “utterly extreme” and a “proper wild child” with its 710hp engine powering just the rear wheels. The TAG Turbo seemed to steel his heart. Expecting a car ruled by its engine, he noted how well-engineered the car is, concluding it felt like “one of the very best 911s” in history, and yet perfectly useable day-to-day.
The 2023 RUF CTR Anniversary is one of only 50 limited production models, and is a brand-new car finished in PTS Mint Green over a Black Alcantara interior. Offered with very low mileage and a digital copy of its original build sheet, it has been optioned with front axle lift, foldable Kevlar carbon bucket seats, lightweight door option, and harness crossbar in Alcantara. Powered by a 710-horsepower flat-six twin-turbo engine paired with a seven-speed manual gearbox, it is capable of 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds with a 224-mph top speed.
Alois Ruf is rightly proud of this very special car, saying; “The first automobile that was completely conceived and manufactured by us marks a very special chapter in our company’s history, a 30th birthday celebration of the Yellowbird.”
The 1988 Porsche 911 TAG Turbo, consigned to Broad Arrow Private Sales, is one of only 11 built by Lanzante and this particular example was completed in 2020. Custom finished in Mint Green over Black leather with Blue/Green tartan cloth, it is offered with less than 300 miles since completion. Power comes from a 1.5-litre TAG Turbo “TTE P01” V6 Formula One engine developed by Porsche and rebuilt by Cosworth, which revs to 10,250rpm via a custom Porsche 993 six-speed gearbox and has a claimed top speed of 200 mph. The engine in this car was raced by four-time Formula One World Champion Alain Prost at the 1986 German Grand Prix and the 1987 Hungarian and Japanese Grands Prix.
Dean Lanzante said of his Porsche TAG Turbo creation: “It’s a car that celebrates history, the history between two amazing brands. But it will remain extremely rare because it has to be. We couldn’t get any more engines from McLaren, so this is it. There will never be another car like it.”
Broad Arrow VP of Sales for EMEA, Joe Twyman, provided driver support on the day and is behind the wheel of the second car throughout the film. Joe is a highly experienced driver in his own right having raced many important cars at events around the world. Speaking of his time with both cars, Twyman said: “While both are finished in the same colour, the cars themselves are very different. Both are extremely powerful but encourage the driver to get the best from them. They are also beautifully built, and exceptionally well developed and compliant both on track and on the road. The film will provide a real insight into the cars and will be both a joy to watch for any enthusiast while also providing an unrivalled level of insight for any potential buyer.”
Interested buyers should note the RUF CTR Anniversary has recently been sold, proving the ability of the Broad Arrow team to find the right buyer for specialist cars, swiftly.
The Porsche 911 TAG Turbo will be available to view on the Broad Arrow stand at the Retromobile show taking place in Paris on 5–9 February. Members of the Broad Arrow team will be on hand to show the car in detail to any interested buyers.
The story of Porsche and McLaren International – how the Porsche TAG Turbo was created McLaren’s Ron Dennis approached Porsche in early 1981 to build a turbocharged Formula One engine and was initially told it would not be possible. Later, Porsche agreed to design a new 1.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, funded by Techniques d’Avant Garde Group S.A. (TAG), for McLaren.
The TAG-Porsche powered McLaren MP4/2s triumphed at 12 of the 16 Grands Prix in 1984, taking the Constructors’ Championship and giving Niki Lauda the Drivers’ Championship. 1985 brought a further six wins, a second consecutive Constructors’ Championship and Prost achieved his first Drivers’ Championship with five wins. Prost won the Drivers’ title again in 1986 with Porsche’s 1.5-litre TTE (TAG Turbo Engines) V6, now producing 910 horsepower in race trim and 990hp for qualifying. For 1987, Prost partnered with Stefan Johansson, and while the season wasn’t as successful as in the past, the Frenchman still managed three wins.
In March 1987 the TAG V6 was installed in a Porsche 911 Turbo. This unique car remains in the McLaren International collection and, aside from a surprise appearance at the 2012 McLaren Employee Motorshow, this special car has remained under wraps. What was gifted to McLaren by Porsche at the conclusion of their partnership appeared to be a lightly modified Grand Prix White 911 Turbo with RUF five-spoke Speedline wheels and a RUF front valance. Yet this valance hid two large radiators, and out back, two massive intercoolers were fitted underneath a relatively stock looking Turbo tail with a subtle ram-air scoop at the trailing edge.
Over the years, many of those aware of the car’s existence had made direct overtures to McLaren to acquire it, including Dean Lanzante, yet the answer was always no. Lanzante was persistent and persuaded the company to provide a 1.5-litre TAG Turbo intending to produce a second Formula One-powered Porsche Type 930. In the end, Lanzante and his team embarked on constructing 11 TAG-powered 930s—a car for each pilot in each year a McLaren MP4 was powered by a Porsche TTE engine.
The engine was extensively re-engineered by Cosworth and features new pistons, connecting rods, valves, valve springs, modern turbochargers, an updated cooling system, oil heat exchangers, and an Inconel exhaust with titanium tailpipes. The engine itself is an incredible 286 pounds lighter than the 3.3-litre air-cooled flat six it replaces. A Cosworth ECU and a bespoke Raychem motorsport-grade wiring loom manage the engine, paired with a six-speed H-pattern manual transmission featuring bespoke gear ratios for a 200-mph top speed via a twin-plate hydraulic carbon clutch.
More details on the Porsche 911 TAG Turbo, offered by Broad Arrow Private Sales, here.
About Broad Arrow - Broad Arrow, a Hagerty (NYSE: HGTY) company, is an advisor, market maker, and financier for car collectors with a commitment to integrity, trust, and innovation. Broad Arrow operates Broad Arrow Auctions, Broad Arrow Capital, and Broad Arrow Private Sales, catering to all collector buying and selling needs. Broad Arrow is headquartered in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, with offices and specialists located across the United States and around the world in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. For more information, please visit connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY) –Hagerty is an automotive enthusiast brand committed to saving driving and fueling car culture for future generations. The company is a leading provider of specialty vehicle insurance, expert car valuation data and insights, live and digital car auction services, immersive events, and automotive entertainment custom-made for the 67 million Americans who self-describe as car enthusiasts. Hagerty also operates in Canada and the UK and is home to Hagerty Drivers Club, a community of more than 865,000 who can’t get enough of cars. As a purpose-driven organisation, Hagerty Impact aims to be a catalyst for positive change across the issues that matter most to our teams, our members, the broader automotive community, our shareholders, and the planet at large.
Forward-Looking Statements –This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect our current intentions, expectations, or beliefs regarding the business. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and may be outside of our control. Some of the factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by our forward-looking statements include: (i) our ability to recognise the anticipated benefits of the subject of this press release; (ii) our ability to compete effectively within our industry and attract and retain members; and (iii) the other risks and uncertainties listed in our Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 14, 2023. This press release should be read in conjunction with the information included in our other press releases, reports, and other filings with the SEC. Understanding the information contained in those filings is important in order to fully understand our reported financial results and our business outlook for future periods. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by law.
What: 1990 Porsche 911 Singer DLS Color: Dark Olive (unknown color code) VIN: WP0ZZZ96ZLS408205 Mileage: 1,415 miles (believed since restoration/conversion) Price: $3,149,995 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Graham Rahal Performance, Zionsville, IN Dealer Listing:Link
Why We Love It:
The DLS formula for Singer reimaginings is a remarkable thing. Launched in 2018, it created perhaps the ultimate specification for a classic 911, complete with all-carbon bodywork and 500 horsepower 4.0-liter flat six developed by Williams Advanced Engineering. The car was both incredibly expensive and very sought-after, making for years of waiting to get one or prices in the millions if you can find one (see above).
Should you wish to skip the line, Graham Rahal can help assist with this Dark Oliver over Antique Tan example. The black-painted Fuchs-like wheels give it an extra unique appearance even amongst other DLS where exposed silver star protrusions are the typical finish applied. That’s all a very tasteful mix, though there’s a premium attached. Check out the link above for more information, photos and contact details.
When covering these creations from Singer, we usually like to keep track of the Commission or title name given to the car. We’re not seeing one on this car, nor in the listing so if you happen to know then drop us a line or share it in the comments section below.
It’s hard to imagine building a brand new Porsche 911 GT 3 RS in Paint to Sample Mint Green (mintgrün; non-metallic UNI; 22R; Porsche) and yet all anyone wants to do is talk about the interior, but that’s exactly the case with this elfer going through pre-delivery at Porsche Colorado Springs and shared to Facebook HERE.
Imagine the task. You already know you’ve chosen one of the most iconic 964-era Carrera Cup colors, a color amongst an era that also established as greats the likes of Rubystar / Rubystone and Maritime Blue. Now, pick an interior to top that, and don’t do anything dumb like choosing a leather color that only has a shot of being cool in an ironic sense.
How do you do it? Well, if you’re this particular Porsche Colorado Springs Client, you lean into CXX special wishes and dig into unexpected classic tones and patterned fabric. Light grey leather is the name of the game here, over sport buckets with centers in Pepita houndstooth.
That’s unexpected, because Pepita tends to get paired with black, or maybe brown on rare occasions. Not only does it look amazing on light grey, it might serve to wear a bit better than had the whole seat been done in such a lightly toned hide.
Kudos to Porsche Colorado Springs for sharing this. And, kudos to the builder who created this specification. With so many Paint to Sample and Sonderwunsch GT3 RS examples out there, it’s getting harder and harder to wow those of us who feel sometimes like we’ve seen it all before. No question though, this car has done just that.
The prospect of an “internal” car is always an interesting one. Generally ordered by a executive, a board member, or simply a department looking to get a reaction, a given brand rarely orders a vehicle without some larger purpose. Porsche, in this case, initially ordered this Tailored Driver for themselves, wearing then-Paint to Sample Violet Amaranth paint. The reaction sought must have been achieved, as Amaranth was promoted to series option just two years later.
It takes a special kind of buyer to dip into Paint to Sample, much less Sonderwunsch, orders with a solid approach to subtlety. It happens though, and we appreciate it because what makes the car special becomes less of a look-at-me scream and more of an invitation of if-you-know-you-know nods from those who get it.
Cars like this 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic in the very light and almost-white looking Dolphin Grey paired with color-matched wheels are textbook if-you-know-you-know. To many, this may look like just another white 911 with a ducktail, but to the Porsche-aware it is just so much more.
To the uninitiated, the Sport Classic dusts of the name of the 997.2 era 911 and reformulates it ever-so-slightly, basing this most modern Sport Classic on the 911 Turbo S. This means Porsche’s most potent turbocharged model, which trades its whale tail for a retro duck tail. It is the Sport Classic and only the Sport Classic where a manual can be had with the 911 Turbo S engine, a configuration this car most definitely boasts.
Dolphin Grey comes from the latter 356 and earliest 911/901 era of the mid-60s at Porsche. Such subtle pastel takes of that era are en vogue again, and translate well to modern cars with timeless design. In this case, that’s even more pronounced by a pairing with Black Heritage Design Classic leather interior with Pepita (houndstooth) seat centers.
Since it’s a Sport Classic, standard features include the aforementioned Classic Black Heritage Design trim and Black carpeting, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, Sport Chrono, PASM Sport Suspension, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, Adaptive Sport Seats Plus with Backrest Shells in Leather, Extended Dashboard and Door Panel Package in Leather, Front Axle Lift and Carbon Fiber Roof. Options include the Burmester Surround Sound System, Interior Trim Inlays in Leather, Inner Door-Sill Guards in Leather, Ambient Lighting, and Under Door Puddle Light Projectors.
Though not mentioned in the auction listing, we also note that the Sport Classic-specification modern center-lock Fuchs 5-spoke wheels appear to be distinctively color-matched to the car’s Paint to Sample Dolphin Grey body panels for a further flourish of subtle tailoring.
As shown on the badging, this car is #299 of the 1,250 Sport Classics manufactured. It was delivered new in Minneapolis, MN and, thus far, has had two owners.
This car will be part of Broad Arrow’s auction at The Amelia 2025. Interested parties should plan to bid on it there.
Porsche reimagineer Singer Vehicle Design regularly shares its creations on social media and has lately been highlighting a car known as the Düsseldorf Commission built to their Classic Services specification that is effectively the original Singer formula that is a love letter to the early F-body 911 era.
On the outside, the car has been finished in paint-to-sample Düsseldorf Black, with light ghosted Porsche script stripes, a center-mounted fuel filler with side-mounted oil filler.
At the heart of Düsseldorf is the expected 4.0-liter air-cooled flat six complete with 24-karat gold badging. It drives power to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. For improved stopping power, carbon ceramic brakes were also installed.
Inside, the car gets lightweight carbon fiber track seats covered in Osprey leather with woven leather seat centers featuring a black stripe and nickel grommets. The woven leather continues on the door cards and dash strip where you’ll also note brass badging. The lower interior section is also trimmed in leather and the rear compartment has been fitted with a racing harness bar.
Gauges are finished in black with grey markings. The gear shifter has a unique matte, anodized finish. Apple CarPlay navigation and air-conditioning were also part of the build sheet.
There are fewer and fewer deals to be had in the Porsche world, particularly amongst rare models, performance models or in rare colors. That’s why the never-sold-new-in-America 968 Clubsport is a favorite of ours.
Built at the end of the front-engined so-called transaxle era, the 968 was the final evolution of the 924/944 lineage. By the end of the run, the 968 featured a normally-aspirated 3.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Other than an exceedingly rare 968 Turbo S, the 968 Clubsport was the most extreme of the range. It featured a track-tuned chassis, 50:50 weight distribution and further excellent kit from the factory including larger Cup wheels and optional Recaro Pole Position. Six colors were offered, including Grand Prix White, Black, Guards Red, Maritime Blue and Speed Yellow.
Yes, Speed Yellow was a standard color, on elf six . So, the car you see here isn’t a Paint to Sample Porsche. Even still, we believe it’s worth mentioning. That’s even more-so in this case, because it also has the optional color-matched Recaro Pole Position shell seats and is priced very competitively on the 968 Clubsport spectrum.
This car does have a few modifications worth noting for collectors. This includes a cage, Momo steering wheel, upgraded sport suspension and a 993 “Big Reds” brake upgrade. We’re guessing it was someone’s track toy, a task at which most 968 Clubsports excel.
The dealer also states that the car is damage-free.
This is one of our Euro market finds, so the usual caveats apply for our primarily North American readership. For Europe and other markets, we focus on cars older than 25 years, meaning a relatively easy import into the USA. This is often done by working with firms such as our friends at Orchid Euro, you can have the car purchased, transported to port, shipped to America and cleared through customs for clients seeking this sort of service.
What’s a finely tailored suit without the perfect piece of jewelry of precision chronograph? Such a question may also be asked of a finely tailored automobile. And, it seems he team at Formawerx may very well have the answer.
Okay, most modern cars have hands free remote control fobs, something largely irreplaceable… at least until mobile devices take their place as we’re seeing in brands like Rivian. In the meantime, vintage car owners can and do have options to accessorize their ownership experience, and that’s where Formawerx comes in. Using jeweler grade materials and precision design, Formawerx offers the highest grade replacement key for one of the most touch-and-feel parts of the vintage car ownership experience.
For those who relish in the idea of a tailored build, you’ll want to take note. One quality Formawerx prides itself on is its ability to tailor-make a key to fit the needs of the owner. This includes picking from multiple modular designs or even commission something completely bespoke.
In a recent social media post, Formawerx shared the setup you see here – their Legends-911 key design ($450) paired with their Titanium Cord Lock ($70). As yo may have gather from the name, the Legends-911 is specifically made for owners of vintage Porsches, featuring a drill-through design that mimics light weighting practices of Porsche’s classic racing era in a very creative way. Even more creative is the way their Titanium Cord Lock utilizes those holes in a very unique way and creating a keychain of sorts.
Both the key and the cord are available with various options and finishes. Here, the cord is worth a focus, where you can choose machined or frozen matte finish on the metal, and cord colors including Schwarz Black, Guards Red, Lava Orange, Signal Yellow, Auratium Green, Brewster Green, Mexico Blue, Gulf Blue, Bali Blue, Nardo Grey and Granite Green.
Check out more from Formawerx on their website HERE.
