Ordering stuff online has become a go-to activity for car people cooped up at home by pandemic fears. RM Sotheby’s has announced another opportunity for internet activity that benefits a United Way fund helping people impacted by COVID-19.
On Wednesday, RM Sotheby’s opens bidding on its Online Only platform for the final production example of the Porsche 991, the seventh-generation of the 911, that came off the assembly line to make way for the eighth generation, the 992 for 2020.
The last 991 is special, too, a 911 Speedster of which just 1,948 examples were created to mark 70 years of Porsche sports cars. The roadster recalls the style of the original Porsche 356 Speedster of the 1950s, which has become a highly desirable collector car.
All proceeds of the sale of the 2019 Speedster, donated by Porsche Cars North America, will go to United Way Worldwide’s COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund. The no-reserve auction will be held Wednesday, April 15, starting at 11 am and will conclude Wednesday, April 22, at 1 pm.
“We are all profoundly affected by the current situation and the immediate impact it’s having on those most at risk in our communities,” said Klaus Zellmer, president and CEO of PCNA. “United Way continues to step up to the plate and their response to this crisis has been quite impressive. So we are proud to do our part.
“I also appreciate the swift support of RM Sotheby’s to make this possible and I am hopeful that the sale of a very special Porsche will help in a small way.”
The 991 Speedster, finished in GT Silver Metallic paint, has never been registered and has covered just 20 delivery miles. It’s powered by a 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated flat-6 engine developing 502 horsepower, connected to a six-speed manual gearbox. The sports car is fitted with the Heritage Edition package, which includes special customer-option features.
The car will come with a letter of authenticity from Porsche confirming the chassis number is “indeed the last of the 991 generation to enter and pass down the serial production line.”
As an added incentive, the benefit auction of the 991 will include a bespoke edition watch created for the sale by Porsche Design: a 911 Speedster Heritage Design Chronograph.
“The watch incorporates the vehicle’s historic design features, including a strap made in the exact same Cognac leather as that applied to the interior of the sports car and a silver winding rotor that mirrors the car’s unique wheels,” according to an RM Sotheby’s news release. “Created exclusively for 911 Speedster customers and made in Switzerland, the limited-edition and COSC-certified timepiece with flyback function will feature the chassis number of the final 991 generation 911, making it unique.”
But wait, there’s more.
“The winning bidder and a guest will be invited to take a personal, behind-the-scenes tour of the Porsche AG Weissach development headquarters – including experiencing the test track – on a 1:1 basis with Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser and Andreas Preuninger, heads of the 911 and GT model lines respectively.
“The car will also be accompanied by a one-of-a-kind book illustrating the assembly and completion of the last 991, including photographs and an original sketch by the Speedster design team.
“Finally, the handover of the vehicle will be hosted by Klaus Zellmer, president and CEO of PCNA, which will take place at a dedicated event in the U.S.”
Kenneth Ahn, president of RM Sotheby’s, said, “This is a truly unique and unheard of offering for extraordinary times – not just the car itself as the last-ever seventh-generation 911 ever to roll down the line, but all auction items including the exclusive Porsche Design 911 Speedster Heritage Design Chronograph as well as the chance to experience an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to the home of Porsche with the two engineers who lead the creation of modern era 911s.”
United Way Worldwide will be the beneficiary of the auction, with funds being donated to its COVID-19 Fund in the U.S. PCNA has ramped up support of the Atlanta Public School system in its US hometown, with employee volunteers in Atlanta helping to deliver daily meals to students at home who require nutrition assistance while the district is closed due to COVID-19.
RM Sotheby’s Online Only platform, developed last year, is a means for the auction company to cope with the shutdown of live collector car auctions due to COVID-19. The company held an Online Only auction last month in place of its planned Palm Beach sale.
“RM Sotheby’s Online Only platform will allow Porsche enthusiasts and collectors to easily bid for a worthy cause from the comfort of their homes,” Ahn added.
For information about the Porsche 991 Speedster auction and to register for bidding, visit the auction website.
