The RM Sotheby’s single-car online auction of the last Porsche 991-series 911 raised $1 million to benefit United Way Worldwide COVID-19 Relief, with a hammer price of $500,000 and Porsche Cars North America matching that with a $500,000 donation.
The final car produced from Porsche’s seventh generation of 911 sports cars is a special 2019 Speedster version, 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.
Weeklong bidding for the 911 Speedster ended April 22. The winning bidder will receive the 911 at a special event hosted by Klaus Zellmer, president and chief executive of Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
“When we began this project, I wanted to use our voice to help raise awareness and funding for the incredible work of United Way,” Zellmer said. “I’m pleased to have helped draw attention to their efforts and I’m deeply appreciative of the generosity and kindness of all the participants and the winning bidder.
“We are joining in that spirit by making our own donation on top of the winning bid for this special part of our history. We can now look forward to the funds raised making a direct difference to those who need it most right now.”
The winning bidder also will receive a bespoke edition wristwatch created for the sale by Porsche Design: a 911 Speedster Heritage Design Chronograph, as well as a single-edition book charting the construction of the last 991 as it entered and passed down the serial production line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.
The winner also will be treated to an exclusive tour of Porsche’s engineering and design headquarters in Weissach, Germany, as the guest of FrankSteffen Walliser and Andreas Preuninger, heads of the 911 and GT model lines, respectively.
The online Porsche auction was for US residents only, held on RM Sotheby’s proprietary Only Online platform. The winning total was $550,000, including RM Sotheby’s 10 percent auction fee.
“There was considerable web traffic over the seven-day period, with more than 48,500 unique page views resulting in significant bidder interest and a total of 32 bids, more than the average number of bids on RM Sotheby’s typical Online Only lots,” according to a news release.
United Way Worldwide plans to use the funds to help those effected by the pandemic.
To learn more about the United Way COVID-19 Fund and to make a donation, visit the United Way website.
RM is charging a buy fee on charity cars?! That is so sad and greedy. Barrett-Jackson doesn’t charge buyers a fee on their charity cars. All the money goes to charity. Why is RM doing this???