Porsche has one of the most successful motor racing legacies around, and its racing heritage stretches back over half a century. The German marque has been involved with everything from Formula 1 to Le Mans, but not everyone knows that Porsche was also highly active in the rally racing scene. Legendary cars, such as the 356, used to tear up dirt and gravel roads across the globe and famously participated in the notorious Mexican road race, La Carrera Panamericana. This grueling race was first undertaken by a Porsche 356 S Cabriolet in 1952.
To pay tribute to this history-making car, Porsche has announced a special tribute edition: say hello to the 911 Carrera Panamericana Special.
The original race ran from 1950 to 1954, and the latest edition of the La Carrera Panamericana was recently held in Mexico over seven intense stages to mark the 35th anniversary of the contemporary race. This race is not for the faint-hearted and covers 2,200 miles in just seven days. Porsche Latin America and Porsche Mexico have now embodied the hardy spirit of this race, and the original Porsche that conquered it in a stylish tribute car based on a 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet.
As a tribute to the original drop-top racer of the 1950s, this special edition is finished in Gentian blue metallic and features a set of 20/21-inch Turbo wheels painted in Gentian Blue Metallic. The side profile proudly shows off the 11 racing number, and the brake calipers have been painted black instead of the traditional red or yellow. The rear engine cover has been painted white, and the third brake light is now tinted to resemble the figure 11.
The exterior is topped off with a Graffiti Gray soft top which completes the car's look. "Graffiti gray is not available for the roof of the 911, so we had to use the canvas of the 718 Spyder (type 982), which makes this custom model from the Sonderwunsch special order division the only 911 in the world with that roof color," said Grant Larson, the head of special projects at Porsche.
The interior of this special Porsche features Crayon gray leather with a Carrera Panamericana helmet embroidered in Graphite Blue on the headrests. The dashboard wears the inscription "911 Carrera S - La Carrera Panamericana 1952". Even the race's name is engraved in the blue key case.
"A good part of Porsche's successful history in motorsports began in the Carrera Panamericana, which for many experts, was the most demanding asphalt rally in the world in the 1950s. We think it is very appropriate to recall the great feats of the brand in the Panamericana with a unique model, the 911 Carrera Panamericana Special," said Camilo San Martin, Director of Porsche Mexico. This special Porsche will be auctioned off in 2023, with a proportion of the money going to charity.