It’s early 1984 in West Germany, and after a banner 1983 at the firm, your pockets are lined with Deutsche Marks. So you do the most logical thing possible, and spec out your very own brand new 911. But your colleagues all have them too, so yours must be different. You glance out the window at your wife’s 300TD wagon and think to yourself- yep, that’ll set me apart. It’ll be Mercedes Midnight Blue metallic, ordered via Porsche’s Paint to Sample program, and for a further punch to your coworkers’ gut, you’ll pair it with leather to sample in Grey. Frankie Goes to Hollywood comes on the radio. Life is good.
Fast forward to today, this Paint to Sample Midnight Blue Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe (VIN: WP0ZZZ91ZES101928) has aged pretty well- far better than the hits that once rattled its speakers. Modern touches are fairly limited here, with a Continental single-din radio with Bluetooth capability being the most obvious, and that’s just the way we’d want it.
This Paint to Sample Midnight Blue Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe is currently offered for sale by Bring a Trailer power seller 911r at an at-time-of-writing bid of $19,911 with 6 days remaining. We’d bet it’ll finish somewhere quite a bit north of that.
See the full auction for this Tailored Driver, here.
Even though we’re primarily a U.S.-based publication and tend to focus on North American cars, we occasionally pivot to other markets. That might be to cal out a particularly unique color or compelling specification, or in the case of our Market Find series, it might be to call out a car that is either older than 25 years (so an easy import) or on the NHTSA list of importable cars. In the case of this purple 1995 968 Clubsport, it’s both older than 25 years and also a desirable model in an even more unique Paint to Sample color.
First, a little background. America did get the Porsche 968 coupé and cabriolet, however the more aggressively sporting Clubsport model never came here. And while the engine was largely the same as the U.S. model (think 964 RS America), it got a host of upgrades and lightening measures in order to make it more of a turn key track weapon with practically a 50:50 weight distribution. Since attaining 25 year status, 968 Clubsports have begun finding their way into the U.S., and Paint to Sample specimens tend to be the preferred lot.
When we consider Paint to Sample on the 968 Clubsport, we tend to see of that era’s Carrera Cup colors. Think Maritime Blue, Ruby Stone, Mint Green, or Speed Yellow. This one painted Amaranth Violet (L39D) may be the first purple 968 Clubsport we’ve seen.
This car was a Belgian-delivered example featuring the standard seats in black cloth, multi-function steering wheel, rear seats with backrests, basic alarm system and power door windows and mirrors. The car has logged 178,464 km (110,892 miles). It’s currently for sale in Belgium at Autos-David.be with a price of €44999.
It’s always interesting when specification of a non-sportscar Porsche goes deep into the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur catalogue. Take this Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid posted by Porsche AG to their Facebook feed. It begins with Paint to Sample finish, but it hardly ends there.
The color chosen is already quite handsome. Yachting Blue Metallic looks great on a 911, so no surprise it presents the Panamera in similarly attractive form. As Paint to Sample colors go, Yachting Blue is a subtle choice. Medium blue metallics are common on most standard palettes, so like a PTS white, black or grey, the customer is spending a lot for a subtle tailoring of their car. Showing reservation isn’t always high on the list for a soon-to-be owner seeking to spend thousands of dollars on special paint. Maybe that’s why we love it even more when they do choose subtlety. And no doubt, Yachting Blue is a good look.
Another excellent choice is Porsche’s Neodyme, a subtle gold finish that makes the wheels pop. Paired with Yachting Blue, it seems to hark an ’80s classic feel while still not being retro. Instead, it seems timelessly classic.
Inside, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur goes even further, pairing stitching that seems color matched to the exterior, and also adding Neodyme interior elements as well so that the outside theme carries through across black leather. Custom door sills and even leather operator’s manual folio both read “Be Bold”. That seems fitting, because despite the subtlety of a medium blue metallic or black leather, the overall specification is still decidedly bold.
We don’t have full specification details on this car and only have the Facebook post embedded here to go on. That’s par for the course with manufacturer special paint social media posts. Like the post themselves, we’re including it here more for paint color reference and inspiration look book of capabilities of the Porsche brand. In that we are constantly impressed.
Porsche’s GT3 variants of their 911 range seem to be the frequent flyers of the Paint to Sample and Sonderwunsch world these days, with Touring seemingly having Platinum status. It’s easy to see why- the GT3 Touring’s near-perfect mix of sport and comfort makes it a compelling forever car, so you might as well make your order count.
This 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring in Paint to Sample Nordic Gold (VIN: WP0AC2A94PS270254) was configured with nearly $53,000 in optional equipment, requiring a discerning eye to really digest the scope of this build. It’s a mix of must-haves like the expanded range fuel tank (drive it!), carbon ceramic brakes and front axel lift, and some nice to haves like the carbon roof, deviated seat belts in grey, and LED-matrix headlights.
Currently offered on Bring a Trailer by power seller Northwest European (username “nweuro”) at a current bid of $229,666 at time of writing with roughly 3 days left to bid, this Paint to Sample Nordic Gold Porsche 911 GT3 Touring represents a great opportunity to own one of the least common hues of Stuttgart’s creation. Get additional details about this Tailored Driver, here.
When ordered new back in 2005, the individual who ordered this Tailored Driver couldn’t have fathomed just how special their creation would be. In just a few years the 997 Turbo S would debut sporting a mandatory transmission that had yet to be discussed publicly, and still struggles for respect in certain circles to this day. The purple renaissance was also difficult to foresee while making sure your TiVo was set to record The Colbert Report’s premiere episode.
Despite those significant headwinds, this last-of-breed Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet (VIN: WP0CB299X5S675239) is exactly as you may have spec’d had you known what was to come- Paint to Sample Viola Metallic, a 6 speed manual transmission, and optional wheels more commonly seen on the 996 GT3. And covering just under 20,000 miles since new, it’s been moved enough to keep fluids moving, but sparingly enough to be a near time capsule.
Offered by frequent Tailored Driver flyers Gran Prix Motors in Portland, Oregon for $129,900 at time of writing, this Paint to Sample 911 Turbo S Cabriolet is a great opportunity for the investor who isn’t afraid of the 996 stigma.
See the full listing for this Tailored Driver, here.
Nestled alongside the Ferrari 812 Competizione was a Paint to Sample (PTS) Porsche 918 Spyder (VIN# WP0CA2A16FS800652), finished in Oryx White Metallic with Martini Stripes. Previous sightings of this car have shown it wrapped in matte black with the Martini livery, sparking speculation that the wrap might have been a factory job. While rumors abound, what matters most is that the PTS paint is now on full display for all to see.
One of just 918 examples produced, this particular car is even more exclusive, being one of only 230 to feature the Weissach package. This option adds an array of weight-saving features, including magnesium wheels by BBS, a carbon fiber windscreen frame, mirrors, and roof, along with an extended aerodynamic diffuser and bespoke interior trim. Altogether, the package sheds 100 pounds from the curb weight, enhancing the 918’s performance.
Inside, the cockpit is a blend of Onyx Black full leather with contrasting silver piping, set against the exposed carbon fiber accents. Among the additional options are a glare-reducing interior, front axle lift system, two-zone climate control, cup holder, Homelink, an extended charging cable from Porsche’s “special wishes” department, and a driver’s seat pad.
With just 1,319 miles on the odometer at the time of cataloging, this 918 Spyder stands as a pristine example, meticulously cared for and lightly driven. Interestingly, this isn’t its first auction appearance during Monterey Car Week—it has previously graced the stages of both RM Sotheby’s and Gooding & Company. However, Bonhams did not report a sale this time around, adding a layer of intrigue to the car’s journey through the auction circuit.
Porsche has released details on a Taycan Turbo S one-off for Southeast Asian markets that has some pretty unique flair. It also reveals new capabilities for their Paint to Sample program, and confirms Leather to Sample and beyond that a significantly expanded Sonderwunsch program for Taycan models.
Inspiration for the car comes from Jade, and the paint shows off a first-ever pairing of Chromaflair paint and a gradient shift. The gradient shift is sort of like Cannondale mountain bike frames in the 1990s that shifted one color to another front to back. Here though, it’s at a much higher level of time and skill invested.
For starters, both colors are Chromaflair, meaning thin flakes that shift in color. The two paints in question are the green/gold hue of Urban Bamboo and dark grey/blue hue of Shifting Carbon. Applying it with that shift is about 80 hours of work.
Inside, the cabin is also extensively reworked, with Englishgreen and Slate Grey leather, not to mention a few other touches and unique logo icon to set the Celestial Jade apart.
See the full detail in the press release below, with gallery of photos below that.
PRESS RELEASE: Inspired by the precious gemstone jade: Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade
World premiere in Singapore at regional Taycan launch
Unique look: first-ever Chromaflair paintwork with colour gradient
Elegance: varnished carbon-weave elements and “Leather to Sample”
Unique logo created to pay homage to vibrant Southeast Asian region
Stuttgart/Singapur. Fascinating metamorphosis: In the depths of the Earth, a miraculous transformation takes place that produces the precious gemstone of jade. Over thousands of years, minerals in the Earth’s crust heat up and are subjected to great pressure before they crystallise and fuse together. Minor changes in temperature or pressure leave their mark on the rock, creating patterns of green, yellow, gold, white, and sometimes blue. This unique journey from their mineral origins to master artisans, from multi-faceted natural stone to jewellery, is the foundation of the timeless appeal of jade.
Inspired by this precious gemstone, the Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade, an extraordinary one-off, was created through the Sonderwunsch programme. Together with the Porsche Asia Pacific team, the designers and paint experts at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur sought to reflect the vibrance and innovation of the Southeast Asia in their own craftsmanship, paying tribute to this important region with bespoke touches and mythical symbols.
The Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade will celebrate its world premiere at a spectacular Taycan regional launch event on 5 September in Singapore. From there, the one-off model will go on display in various locations in Southeast Asia before being auctioned off for a good cause in 2025.
This Sonderwunsch production is based on the extensively upgraded Taycan of model year 2024. The new versions have more power, more range, accelerate quicker and charge faster with greater stability. The Turbo S has up to 700 kW (952 PS) peak power¹ with Launch Control and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds, making it 0.4 seconds faster than its predecessor.
World premiere: elaborate Chromaflair paintwork with colour gradient For the first time ever, in the Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade, Porsche has blended two Chromaflair effect paints. The preparation and implementation phases for this were both very elaborate, with development taking around a year. The paintwork itself was done exclusively by hand and took around 80 work hours.
Chromaflair pigments contain extremely thin “flakes” that appear to shift in colour depending on how you look at them. These flakes consist of an opaque, reflective core layer of aluminium, which is then surrounded by a glass-like layer. This transparent layer looks different colours depending on the thickness. All together the flakes are only 1 µm thick. By comparison, human hair is 50 times thicker than this. This gradient paint isn’t just found on the body of the Sonderwunsch Taycan: the rear model designation, the “Electric” logo on the side and the key fob cover also have this impressive finish.
“Urban Bamboo”, a bright green with yellow and gold tones, and “Shifting Carbon”, a dark grey with black and blue tones, were chosen as the colour combination. It culminates in the transcendent name of the vehicle: Celestial Jade. Especially in Asia, jade is a noble and precious material that is rich in tradition and associated with happiness and longevity. Carbon, by contrast, symbolises the pioneering spirit of Porsche. This innovative and powerful colour is often seen in the world of motor racing. The material is robust, light and durable.
Bespoke logo with symbolic power, special carbon-weave finish components In addition to the spectacular Chromaflair exterior paintwork, the one-off car features a specially designed logo in several places. The logo is inspired by “LongMa”, a mythical being with a dragon’s head (“Long”) and the body of a horse (“Ma”) said to be of great power and strength, and an auspicious symbol bringing good luck. The motif is also adds a layer of meaningful symbolism to the Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade, since 2024 is also the chinese Zodiac Year of the Dragon, and the horse reflects the Taycan, with Turkish origins meaning a ‘Young Horse’. The “LongMa” logo on the Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade can be seen on the sill guards of the front and rear doors, on the door projector and all headrests.
Another highlight, designed to match the Chromaflair paintwork, is the carbon-weave finish components in varnished Carbon. These replace the standard Turbonite-coloured inlays on the front bumper, on the side skirts and on the rear diffuser. The airblades on the wheels are also made from this special, hand-crafted material. The varnish allows the carbon-fibre compound to shine through. Depending on the angle you look at it from, the surface shimmers in different hues.
“Leather to Sample” now also available for the Taycan In addition to the ten leather and 15 seam colours that Porsche offers as standard for the Taycan, “Leather to Sample” is now also available for this model series via the Sonderwunsch programme. This further customisation option celebrates its premiere with the Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade. The interior specialists from the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur have combined the standard colour Slate Grey with the “Leather to Sample” option Englishgreen. This elegant, dark green can be found in the doors, the centre console and the front and rear seats. In addition to Englishgreen, the “Leather to Sample” programme includes around 150 colours.
For especially individual requests, Porsche goes a step further: with “Leather to Sample Plus”, the colour can be chosen almost entirely freely. Inquiries can be made through the Porsche Centres, and the experts at Porsche AG will then check the feasibility.
About the Sonderwunsch programme Porsche is reinterpreting its legendary Sonderwunsch programme from the late 1970s, which will enable it to design individualised, one-off cars – co-created by the customer and professionally produced by Porsche. The offering has now been expanded. In addition to the ability to commission individual customer colour and material requests directly in production at the factory, this expansion also includes subsequent Factory Re-Commissioning and Factory One-Off services for vehicles that have already been delivered to the customer.
Customers can contact their Porsche Centre for customisations on new cars. If the request is beyond the bounds of what the Car Configurator can offer, the Sonderwunsch process kicks into gear with an arranged personal customer consultation at Zuffenhausen or one of the international locations, such as Atlanta or Los Angeles. Here, experts from the manufacturer evaluate individual customer requests and take care of the technical approval for the relevant Factory Commissioning area. Typical Sonderwunsch features range from leather in the luggage compartment to painting the whole exterior in multiple colours using different types of paint surface technology.
About Porsche Asia Pacific Pte Ltd Porsche Asia Pacific Pte Ltd is a subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. The company started operations on 1 October 2001 and currently serves 13 countries from its headquarters in Singapore: Brunei, Cambodia, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Porsche Asia Pacific sees itself as an incubator for the market and supports importers and dealers in the areas of customer service, business development, marketing, new business areas, public relations and sales. In this way, the company helps them to further professionalise their operations and address the needs of their customers in order to ultimately expand their business.
About Porsche Singapore Pte. Ltd. Porsche Singapore Pte. Ltd. is a retail company of Porsche Asia Pacific and the Eurokars Group and was founded in March 2022. Porsche Singapore sells new cars and vehicles with Porsche registration from the new Porsche Studio Singapore in Guoco Midtown. The central point of contact for all service matters relating to Porsche vehicles is the Porsche Service Centre in 27A Tanjong Penjuru.
Have you ever wanted to be Chris Harris? Former presenter on Top Gear, legendary YouTube reviewer, automotive journalist and generally beloved petrolhead about town? Well unfortunately you can’t, but here’s a great opportunity to be just like him.
Nearly identical to his daily driver, this PTS Speed Yellow Porsche 911 GT3 Touring (VIN: WP0AC2A97KS149176) could be your first class ticket to imitation- and they say that’s the most sincere form of flattery. But unlike his daily, this has many, many fewer miles (just 228!), wheels finished in black and features Carbon Ceramic Brakes from factory.
Our more eagle-eyed readers will be quick to note that Chris had his car wrapped in a slightly darker variant of Yellow, which is fair. But if you’ve got the $299,900 to acquire this Tailored Driver, certainly you’ve got the scratch to follow Mr. Harris’ lead, should you choose to do so.
Visit Portland’s Gran Prix Motors to see the full listing, here.
Perhaps the most exclusive event during Monterey Car week is The Quail. Okay, the private owner dinners of posh brands may be more exclusive, but as mainstream events The Quail is both the most expensive ticket and also awash in the most exclusive cars… cars like this Singer Classic Turbo.
The Quail may very well be the heir to the Geneva Motor Show throne. Here, producers of the most exotic and expensive automobiles are on display while a concentration of the most wealthy car enthusiasts in the world stroll around them taking it all in. Where once the industry auto show held in Switzerland wore that crown, The Quail seems more than happy to take the throne as car events move out of convention centers like Geneva’s Palexpo and more into the lifestyle space.
Vintage Porsche tailor Singer has been a regular at The Quail for years, debuting new models here and configuring them in the most tasteful specifications. Perhaps our favorite on the stand was this Classic Turbo version produced in Turbo Racing White with Seafoam shoulder stripe. This car is known as the “Fuji Commission”.
Beyond the sublime color choices, this car stood out further for its painted Turbo-style stripe graphics (no vinyl here) that hark striping on the earliest Porsche 911 Turbos of the 1970s. At the same time its handsome plaid fabric seats continued the 70s vibe, though in a decidedly timeless way.
Published for the fashion industry by the Pantone Color Institute, this season features the first color uniquely designed by an automotive brand in the highly regarded report
Turbonite, an exclusive and timeless, innovative shade of grey, is part of what makes a Turbo so distinctive
Colours are created at Porsche in a labour-intensive process lasting a number of years
[source: Porsche AG]
Twice a year, the Pantone Color Institute publishes the Pantone Fashion Color Trend Report, its preview of popular and innovative colors that provides important stimuli for the world of design and fashion. In the latest issue for New York Fashion Week (NYFW, 6 to 11 September 2024), Pantone presents Turbonite – the first time the report has featured a customized color from an automotive brand. Since the end of 2023, Porsche has been sharpening the look of its Turbo derivatives with this elegant metallic grey tone. The sports car manufacturer and the color specialist will celebrate the publication of ‘The Story of Turbonite’ with a high-profile event ahead of NYFW.
Stuttgart/New York. “Every designer and graphic artist knows the Pantone color cards. In the same way that the Porsche 911 is the archetype of all sports cars, for more than 60 years the US company’s color standard system has been the reference work for everyone that uses colors in design,” says Michael Mauer, Vice President Style Porsche. “We are proud to be the first outside brand represented in Pantone’s Fashion Color Trend Report. Turbonite is unique. An innovative, timeless, strong, but not loud color that gives our Turbo derivatives an unmistakable, self-assured look. Like all Porsche colors, the newly developed color shade was created over several years in a labour-intensive creative and development process.”
The target group for Pantone’s Fashion Color Trend Report encompasses the entire design and fashion world. The color trends that it forecasts significantly influence future collections. “Car design and fashion have inspired each other for many years. Trend scouts very closely observe what’s new and what can be adapted,” says Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute. “In our opinion, Turbonite has the potential to become an iconic color and shape the perception of the Porsche brand for years to come. Simply put, this metallic grey tone has that certain something. We are happy to reward the courage it took to develop this exclusive color by including it in our Pantone Fashion Color Trend Report Spring / Summer 2025/2026.”
In August, Porsche celebrated the 50th birthday of the 911 Turbo with a special edition, while also commemorating all Turbo derivatives as a special, highly emotional part of the brand. A limited anniversary model of the 911 Turbo S and a Taycan Turbo S will be present at the ‘Porsche x Pantone’ event as part of the NYFW, illustrating that irrespective of body shape and drive concept, Turbonite creates a unique look all by itself.
About Turbonite Gold-tinted elements create the elegant, metallising effect of Turbonite. The top layer exhibits a contrasting satin-matte finish. For the Porsche Turbo derivatives across all model lines, the lettering on the rear, the Daylight Opening (DLO) and the borders of the side windows are finished in Turbonite, which is also the dominant color in the exclusive crest. All the range-topping high-performance models feature this crest on the front of the car, as well as on the lightweight alloy wheels and the steering wheel. Depending on the model line, further details such as the inlays in the front aprons, the spokes, or the aeroblades in the light alloy wheels can be finished in this exclusive color.
Additionally, selected components in the interior, for example the trim strips and the belt straps, as well as a number of controls such as the mode switch and the air conditioning controls, also come in Turbonite. In this case, too, the exact scope depends on the model line. In combination with a black interior, Turbonite is also used as a contrasting color for the decorative stitching on the seats, door panel trims, instrument panel and floor mats.
About the Porsche color programme At the start of 2024, Porsche revised and emotionalised the color scheme for all model lines. Contrasts, Shades, Dream and Legends are the names of the categories for former standard, metallic and special colours. These reflect a variety of topics, and their emotional labels make it easier for the customer to choose a colour.
Alongside the standard color programme, the sports car manufacturer offers even more individualised paintwork with ‘Paint to Sample’ and ‘Paint to Sample Plus’. With ‘Paint to Sample’, the focus is on the availability of classic Porsche colors recognisable from the company’s history. At present, the range across all model lines comprises more than 170 colors. ‘Paint to Sample Plus’ also offers the option of creating highly individual colors based on customer specifications.
About the Pantone® Fashion Color Trend Report The colors presented in the half-yearly Pantone Fashion Color Trend Report are selected from the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors color system, the most widely used and highly regarded color standard system for fashion, textile, home and interior design. Each season, the Pantone Color Institute publishes the Pantone Fashion Color Trend Report as a half-yearly color trend preview for the coming season, presenting the most important colors expected at the New York Fashion Week and the London Fashion Week. Over the entire season, the Pantone Fashion Color Trend Report provides a color reference for retailers, brands, fashion designers and the press.
About Pantone Pantone provides the universal language of color that enables color-critical decisions through every stage of the workflow for brands and manufacturers. More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate and control color from inspiration to realization – leveraging advanced X-Rite technology to achieve color consistency across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design. Pantone Standards feature digital and physical color specification and workflow tools. The Pantone Color Institute™ provides customized color standards, brand identity and product color consulting as well as trend forecasting inclusive of Pantone Color of the Year, Fashion Runway Color Trend Reports, color psychology and more. Pantone B2B Licensing incorporates the Pantone Color System into different products and services, enabling licensees to communicate and reproduce certified Pantone values and improve efficiencies for their users. Pantone Lifestyle brings color and design together across apparel, home, and accessories.
