At Gunther Werks in California they are obsessed with the analogue. Analogue 911 Porsches, to be precise. And this may just be the ultimate result of that obsession. There’s more than 1,000 bhp under that rear lid. Inspiration, as any Porsche aficionado will have noticed by now, is Porsche’s legendary 911 Slantnose of the 1980s, itself a road going version of the company’s formidable 935 racer. The Gunther Werks F-26 has a lot to live up to. Spoiler alert: it does so with ease.
No alert needed to spot the spoiler at the rear of the Stealth Edition of the F-26. It’s unashamedly a version of that on the 935 competition model, in carbon fibre of course, as is much of the bespoke bodywork on this Gunter Werks machine. High downforce of the sort that you’ll only need on a particularly fast track day? Sure, but this is one speedy car. That 1,000 bhp is provided by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre flat six co-developed with Rothsport Racing. It’s a Porsche engine, but not as you know it.
It’ll be quite a ride. The F-26 sends all of that power to the rear wheels. Basis is the 993 version of the 911, the final generation of classic air cooled 911s. Air cooling here is augmented with a water-to-air intercooler and flat fan engine cooling. You’ll be holding on the alcantara covered carbon fibre steering wheel too tightly to care, stirring the manual six-speed gearbox as the flat six explodes behind you. Carbon-fibre seats are alcantara covered, as you’d expect and finish is to Porsche standards. A full rollcage protects you.
Gunther Werks F-26: Murdered out
Because this is the Stealth Edition, all and everything is blacked out to the exterior, barring tasty gold magnesium monoblock alloys, bespoke naturally to Gunther Werks. You’ll be reassured to know as the horizon rockets towards you that the original 993 chassis has been reinforced to cope with all the power, just as the alloys are shod with hefty Continental ExtremeContact Force tyres, wider at the rear so that you’re slightly less likely to leave a black stripe in the cul de sac as you leave home.
While 948 examples of the original Slantnose were made, Gunther Werks is making a mere 26 of this ultimate homage to one of Porsche’s most sought after 911s. You’ll effectively be owning a bespoke sports car, if those words are sufficient to describe the F-26. As the company themselves put it: "At Gunther Werks you don’t just own a masterpiece, you’re about to take the ride of your life”. Implication is that this is an artwork demanding to be pointed at an autobahn.
Given how desirable these machines are we’d suggest you put your name down fast if you’re keen. There’s the small matter of the £738,000 that you’ll need to hand over to make an F-26 your own, but who can put a price on art?
