Porsche and RM Sotheby's raise $1 million for covid-19 relief

As if people needed even more reason to love Porsche. The company has been going from strength to strength with their sleek designs, excellent performance on the circuit, and an almost royal reputation when it comes to coupes and luxury vehicles. Now, they’ve even gone out of their way to help COVID-19 relief efforts to show that they’re more than just a premium sports cars brand.

Speaking of which, it’s hard not to think about the Porsche 911 whenever sports cars are mentioned. It is the quintessential luxury coupe with a look that’s never gone out of style since 1963.

Working with RM Sotheby’s, the car manufacturer auctioned off a truly special Porsche 911 – the last of the 991 series that ever rolled off the production line, and a Speedster to boot.

THE 991 GENERATION

According to Porsche, the 991 series has been the most successful and the most comprehensively developed generation of the already iconic model. When the series launched in 2011, almost 90 percent of the components were either freshly designed or had undergone significant redevelopment. Because of its revolutionary body made from a composite of steel and aluminum, the 991 was also the first 911 that weighed less than its predecessor.

The series was massively successful with over 233,000 units produced.

The 991 Series also monumental milestones for Porsche.

• 50th anniversary of the 911 (2013)
• 50th anniversary of the 911 R (2017)
• The one-millionth 911 sold was from the 991 series
• The company’s 70th anniversary (2017)

Needless to say, the 991 was the best series of the 911 in many ways. And to cap off this historic generation, its last car was nothing short of epic.

THE LAST 991 SPEEDSTER

Even among 911 cars from the 991 generation, Speedsters were special. There were only 1,948 units ever made – an homage to when the year the first 356 was made. That’s why it’s the only logical choice for the final car of the series.

The Speedster has a Carrera 4 body that’s been modified. It’s naturally aspirated 4.0 L flat-six engine puts out 500 horses with a 9,000 RPM redline. Together with a six-speed manual transmission developed by Porsche’s very own GT department, the last 991 Speedster is, according to Business Insider, ‘perfection on four wheels.’ We tend to agree.

THE PORSCHE WITH A PURPOSE

Now why was all that important? Well, at the end of the one-week online auction set up by RM Sotheby’s in April, that Speedster sold for $500,000. But that’s not all. Porsche Cars North America matched that winning bid, raising the total amount of the proceeds to an even $1 million. This money was donated to United Way Worldwide in support of their COVID-19 relief efforts in the U.S.

Of course, United Way Worldwide wasn’t the only one that benefited from this whole undertaking. The winner of the auction also received exclusive goodies along with their one-of-a-kind Speedster. They also got an equally unique Porsche wristwatch made in Switzerland. It was designed to match the 911 Speedster in every way.

The auction winner was also invited to Porsche’s own test track to experience their spoils.

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