Believe it or not, it’s been 20 years since we met Lightning McQueen, Tater, Sally Carrera and the other automotive characters who starred in Pixar Animation Studio’s Cars movie, a seminal film that introduced the automotive passion to a new generation.
To celebrate the anniversary, Porsche and Pixar are turning a 911 Carrera into an updated and running version of the movie’s leading female character, and will put the car up for auction to benefit Girls Inc and the UN Refugee Agency and its efforts to provide aid for families impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Work on the car has been underway and was revealed during a Porsche presentation at the South by Southwest gathering in Austin, Texas.
“We wanted to help, somehow, and as a team we realized we could perhaps harness what we were working on to raise money,” said Jay Ward, creative director for the Cars franchise at now-Disney-owned Pixar.
“The whole project began with the premise that Sally’s character was devoted to helping others and it seems right that this should continue 20 years on.”
The money raised at auction, to be conducted by RM Sotheby’s, will be added to other donations; Porsche recently donated a million euros in emergency aid for the people in Ukraine.
“We are, for the first time ever, going to build a brand new, street legal Porsche 911 inspired by the special character we created – Sally Carrera,” Ward continued. “Only one will ever be made. It will be auctioned with all proceeds specifically aimed to help children, supporting education programs for young girls in the U.S. through Girls Inc. and refugee families fleeing Ukraine, predominately women and children.”
“The majority of those forced to flee Ukraine are women and children, among them unaccompanied children and those separated from their parents,” added Anne-Marie Grey, executive director of USA for UNHCR. “But there is reason to hope with the critical support of companies like Porsche and Pixar Animation Studios who have generously stepped up to help ensure their safety and protection in months to come.”
“My own daughters grew up watching Sally, and it’s wonderful that we can mark a special anniversary with something meaningful that will help others,” Kjell Gruner, president of Porsche Cars North America, is quoted.
“Translating the spirit of Sally into a new 911 has been fascinating – this time the sports car is intended for our world, and to be driven and enjoyed – it will have a windscreen you can see out of, and shares its panels with the 911 we know and love. But, like Sally, its purpose is to help others – and that makes it extra special.”
To celebrate the movie’s anniversary, a team from Pixar, including Ward and Cars production designer Bob Pauley, as well as those from Style Porsche and Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur in Germany, have been working on the car. In addition to the car, Porsche Design will create a one-off timepiece to accompany the Sally-inspired car.
Porsche said additional details about the car and its sale will be provided at a later date.
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