There’s no arguing with the status of the Porsche 911. It’s the linchpin of the German carmaker’s line, the icon that’s defined the company since it first hit the streets more than half a century ago.
Yet the 911 doesn’t always reign supreme in Porsche’s lineup; every so often, the Zuffenhausen crew turns out a supercar that puts the Neun Elfer to shame. And while the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder hold a special place in our hearts, no Porsche halo car can ever compare to the iconic 959, which astounded the world with its performance when it debuted in 1986 and set the course of the company for more than a decade.
Now, it seems a company called Marc Phillipp Gemballa GmbH is looking to bring some 959-inspired magic to the latest generation of Porsche’s 911.
Marc Phillipp Gemballa GmbH is the brainchild of, you guessed it, Marc Phillipp Gemballa, the 26-year-old son of the late Uwe Gemballa, one of the world’s most renowned Porsche customizers. While the elder Gemballa’s company still endures, his son is looking to make his own mark with the new company. MPG’s 959-inspired 911, teased in the image above, will use a bespoke carbon fiber body designed by Alan Derosier, whose passion for redesigning and reinterpreting classic Porsche forms in the modern era is so renowned, the carmaker actually made a documentary about one of his works.
Marc Gemballa says his customized car — which appears to be based on the 992-generation 911, based on the sole image we’ve seen — will pack off-road capabilities, which isn’t quite as random as you might think; the original 959, after all, offered a rally car version. The company partnered with some of the top-tier suppliers in the automotive industry, according to Autoblog: Michelin and BFGoodrich, for the tires; Akrapovic, for the exhaust; KW Automotive, for the suspension; Vela Performance, for the development and engineering; DS Fasertechnik, for the carbon fiber.
Just 40 examples of the car will be made, according to Motor1; meanwhile, Autoblog reports that some orders have already been placed, so there’s still a chance to buy one if you want. The price hasn’t been revealed, but given that the company’s website says it deals in “creating special vehicles in the ultra-high luxury segment,” we’re guessing it ain’t cheap.
Still, if you can convince Marc that you’re serious about plunking down six or seven figures on his passion project, you might still be able to squeeze an invite to the secret reveal in Switzerland next week. The rest of us will likely have to wait a little while longer to see it in the carbon fiber flesh.
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