Making the great spectacular
Gunther Werks has turned the Porsche 993 into a masterpiece. Jasper Spires reports
“The Gunther Werks Speedster is a gorgeous and refined hot rod, the highlight of any automotive gathering,” says Jonny Lieberman in MotorTrend. “Sure, it’s a plaything… but there’s nothing wrong with a bit of juvenile whimsy, a touch of high-concept frivolity.” Gunther Werks takes classic Porsche 993s and upgrades them with the philosophy that “money is no object”. “This machine is for serious car collectors.”
A masterpiece of engineering
The result is an engineering masterpiece, roaring from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds with a top-speed of 180mph. It weighs just 1,256kg, despite packing in enough circuitry and technological wizardry to boost the old 993 to new heights. Everything has been done to squeeze the best out of an already spectacular drive. The way it translates input into response is “utterly faithful”, says Kyle Fortune for WhichCar. Thanks to a soundtrack that’s pure racer as you reach the 7,800rpm redline, you will find yourself wringing the Gunther Works Speedster out to its maximum at every opportunity. The
Speedster looks fantastic too.
An electrifying ride
The steering is another highlight, says Fortune on PistonHeads. “Your connection to the car and to the road is second to none, and there isn’t a moment where the Speedster doesn’t place its driver at the centre of the action.” The absence of a roof plays into the drama, and aside from the possibility of rain, “it demands very few compromises in return for maximum reward”.
Even when you aren’t pushing for top speed, it is a great machine to spend time in, owing to its sophisticated interior furnishings. The steering wheel is small carbon-fibre and Alcantara-trimmed, the pedals’ weights are “hefty” and “perfectly matched”, while the gearshift is long and smooth, but precise, says Matt Prior in Autocar. On a good road, the Speedster is “electrifying”. And there’s a retro stereo system with Apple CarPlay to provide the perfect score, while the power steering and anti-lock brakes add to “an agreeable level of tech”. At £650,000, plus donor car, it’s not cheap. “But it’s the best high-end driving has to offer.” See
guntherwerks.com
“It squeezes the best out of an already spectacular drive”