1986 PORSCHE 911 CABRIOLET 'GEMBALLA CYRRUS'

This 1986 Porsche 911 Cabriolet is a great example of the exceedingly rare and wild Gemballa Cyrrus. Powered by a RUF-tuned 3.2-litre flat-six engine coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox, this example has recorded just 19,701 miles.

Understood to be one of only 15 examples of the Gemballa Cyrrus produced in period, this example was originally delivered new to Germany and then exported to the US. In 2015, it was shipped from the US to Jersey by the vendor, who has owned the car ever since, and who re-registered it with the UK DVLA in 2018. During their ownership, it has been driven sparingly and safely stored in a climate-controlled ‘Carcoon’.

The unique extra-wide Gemballa bodykit is striking and presents in very good condition for its age, thanks in part to the low mileage of this example. The odd stone chip to the front end is to be expected, though the bodywork is largely in great shape. There are a few marks, including a minor crack on the offside mirror, minor gravel rash on the edge of the rear arches, and wear to the bottom edge of the retractable soft top. The signature ‘six tip’ Gemballa exhaust system is an eye-catching addition at the rear, though the tail pipes are starting to show some wear with age.

The standard Porsche ‘tombstone’ seats are upholstered in cream leather. As part of the Gemballa upgrades, the standard steering wheel was replaced with a multifunction unit with numerous buttons, the dials have been replaced with functional LED items and gained aluminium surrounds, the centre console was replaced with a unique Gemballa fascia, and the rear seats were removed, being replaced by a storage box.

The seats have some wear to the outer bolsters, though this is commensurate with the age of the vehicle and modest use. Other areas such as the gear shifter and steering wheel also show some patina accordingly. The roof itself is in good, watertight condition with only the aforementioned marks to the edge being of note, and the tonneau cover is also in great shape. The vendor reports that there are no electrical faults or warning lights on the dashboard.

The most recent service took place at 19,701 miles, which included a general inspection along with an oil and filter change. Prior to this, the car was serviced during January 2020 and June 2018, with the known servicing recorded below. The drive belt was last replaced during the 2018 service, while the ECU was rebuilt in January 2020. In addition to this, the tyres were also replaced with a new set in January 2020 at a cost of £1,583, and have covered less than 100 miles since fitting.

While it remains a UK-registered and taxes-paid car, as it has been in storage on Jersey, it does not hold a current UK MOT test certificate – though it was put through a test on 18 August 2017, which resulted in a clean pass with no advisories.

Included with the car is a treasure trove of paperwork, including the original Porsche handbook and literature, spare key, service history, shipping documentation from 2015 when the car was imported from the US, ownership history, and even correspondence between the first owner and Uwe Gemballa including the specification sheet.

Offering the chance to own a rare and remarkable slice of ‘80s car culture, this 1-of-15 Gemballa Cyrrus presents very well throughout and comes complete with a rich and detailed history of this car’s globetrotting life to date. It would make a fascinating and extravagant addition to any collection.

Known service history:

• 21.07.1986 - 1134 miles - Konrad Porsche dealer - Germany
• 19.04.1988 - 14912 miles - Gramling Porsche/Ruf - Germany
• 22.04.1998 - 16,734 miles - Porsche, Forte Wayne - USA
• 29.08.2002 - 17,132 miles - Porsche, Forte Wayne - USA
• 17.11.2006 - 18,422 miles - Porsche, Forte Wayne - USA
• 30.06.2016 - 19,308 miles - TGM, Jersey, Channel Isles
• 30.06.2018 - 19,529 miles - TGM, Jersey, Channel Isles
• 02.01.2020 - 19,625 miles - Le Riche, Classic car specialists, Jersey, Channel Isles
• 14.04.2021 - 19,701 miles - Le Riche, Classic car specialists, Jersey, Channel Isles

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All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.