1996 PORSCHE 911 (993) TURBO GEMBALLA GTR 600

This Porsche 993 Turbo Gemballa GTR 600 is a well-maintained and completely bespoke 911, boasting a sensational uprated specification. Under the rear engine is a 3.6-litre Porsche/Lotec twin-turbocharged flat-six, now producing up to 610bhp and 530lb/ft of torque, driving all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission with a GT2 racing clutch and a limited-slip differential. With significantly more power on tap than the Turbo on which it is based, the GTR 600 can sprint from 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds, and has a top speed north of 200mph. The odometer shows 31,626 miles.

Founded by Uwe Gemballa in 1981, the Gemballa tuning company is based in Leonberg near Stuttgart, and is a name that has been synonymous with incredible bespoke tuned Porsche models ever since. With a focus on aerodynamics and sensational performance, Gemballa 911s have twice held the lap record for road cars at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and paved the way for numerous Porsche tuners that have followed.

Starting life as a standard UK-market 993 Turbo, this particular car left the factory finished in Midnight Blue metallic paintwork, with a light grey and blue leather interior. It was specified with a number of desirable options, including the Aerokit front and rear spoilers, a front strut brace, carbon gear knob and handbrake grip, hard-shell sports seats, and even the X50 package Turbo Power Kit.

Around one year after delivery, in July 1997, it was dispatched to the Gemballa facility in Germany, where it was initially upgraded to Biturbo 570 specification at a cost of EUR 56,375. In this guise, it featured a GT2 front splitter, Turbo GT rear wing, sport suspension, stiffer gearbox mounts, and uprated brakes - not to mention a significant power hike to 570hp. Registered as ‘N666 RWW’, it still retained its factory Midnight Blue paintwork at this point.

Having enjoyed this bespoke Gemballa for around one year, the owner then decided to send the car back to Germany in July 1998 for further upgrades. Over the course of the next 18 months or so, this 993 was put through a detailed customisation and enhancement programme, at a cost of more than EUR 190,000. The result of this work, which included extensive personal correspondence (with fantastic hand-annotated diagrams) between the first owner and Uwe Gemballa himself, was a unique car that blended elements of the GTR 600 specification with the Le Mans Biturbo appearance.

As part of its GTR 600 upgrade, this 993 Turbo was essentially taken to full GT2 Evo specification, with GT2 Kevlar front and rear arches and riveted extensions, a front air dam with brake cooling ducts, side skirts with integrated air ducts to the rear brakes, carbon honeycomb doors (just 2.9kg each) and bonnet (3.8kg), rear and side windows in polycarbonate, and a substantial GT2 Evo rear wing with ‘boomerang’ carbon-fibre gurney. At the front, it was given the Gemballa ‘Biturbo Le Mans’ treatment, with aerodynamic wings featuring faired-in dual headlights. It rides on a set of staggered 18-inch BBS centre-lock magnesium alloy wheels (9.5J at the front, 11.5J at the rear), with a powder-coated and polished finish. The end product is nothing short of a Le Mans style Evo / RSR racer for the road.

Following this substantial bodywork upgrade, the whole car was stripped back to a bare shell and resprayed in Porsche Polar Silver. It is believed to be one of only four GTR 600 builds completed, and it is also understood to be the only such car to have been fitted with the ‘Le Mans Biturbo’ headlight arrangement.

Mechanically, the car received a total overhaul, starting with a full rebuild of its 3.6-litre flat-six. The motor was fitted with high-lift GT2 camshafts, larger intake and exhaust valves, metal ring gaskets, reinforced con-rods, and a mechanical valve train with race springs. It also received modified, enlarged and reinforced KKK turbochargers, a high-capacity turbo intercooler, an oil cooler in the front air dam, and a wide-bore sports exhaust system.

The suspension was upgraded to H&R double springs with a stiffer setup and lowered ride height, and with a revised front shock tower strut brace. GT2 rear axle mounts were installed, as well as uprated GT2 front and rear anti-roll bars. Its massive power upgrade merited a substantial revision of the braking system, and so it was equipped with vast 380mm lightweight, ventilated and grooved metal/ceramic discs with Brembo 8-piston callipers at the front, and 345mm ventilated and grooved discs with Brembo 4-piston callipers at the rear - featuring steel braided brake lines and modulated by a Supercup ABS system.

The first owner kept the car for around six years in total, covering around 17,000 miles behind the wheel, before selling it on in May 2002 to its second keeper. This gentleman owned the car until April 2008, when it was acquired by the vendor. In more recent years, the car has been regularly maintained by Ferrari and classic car specialist SMDG, as well as the Porsche experts at Carrera Performance in Horsham.

Today, the car presents in superb condition, with no prior accident damage history, and with its Gemballa-fitted bodywork boasting a very good standard of fit and finish. The car has not received any paintwork since its respray in Polar Silver, apart from small stone chip repairs. Naturally, the lower position of the front bumper and splitter means that it has attracted a light dusting of stone chips, though the paint protection film applied around the front has kept this bespoke 993 in excellent cosmetic order. All exterior features of this Gemballa GTR 600 were personally selected by its first owner, even down to the position of the ‘GTR 600’ motifs around the body and their Ferrari Rosso Corsa finish.

Inside, the combination of light grey and dark blue leather is understood to be the original factory finish, as it was specified through Porsche’s Exclusive department for custom options. However, the Momo steering wheel trimmed with matching leather and carbon-fibre is a later addition, as is the Gemballa-fitted carbon-fibre instrument surround and ‘Motor-Start’ console with push-button start, oil pressure warning light, and turbocharger boost readout. A roll cage is also present with carbon-fibre coated side bars, along with Gemballa carbon-fibre door sill covers, and a Spa Design 3-stage shift light box.

The hard-shell electrically adjustable sport seats are in great shape, with minimal signs of use, and the car also comes with the Kevlar Recaro bucket seats that were ordered from Gemballa back in 1999. It has the RS-style rear seat delete treatment, and RS-style door cards with manual winding windows. Long-distance touring comfort and entertainment is enhanced by the presence of air-conditioning, as well as a Becker Mexico stereo head unit and six-disc CD changer, along with an Infinity amplifier. There are no known electrical faults, and no warning lights on the dashboard.

Its last full service was in 2019 at Porsche specialist Carrera Performance, which included renewal of all fluids. The car has been well-cared for by the vendor during their 13-year ownership, including regular routine and preventative maintenance.

The most recent MOT test was on 3 March 2021 at 31,621 miles, when it achieved a first-time pass with only one advisory regarding wear to both rear tyres. This was the car’s sole advisory in the last 14 years of MOT tests visible online - a testament to the care and attention of its current owner. The Pirelli P Zero tyres have around 5mm of tread remaining at the front, and 2-3mm at the rear.

Accompanying the car are all of the original Porsche handbooks, including its warranty and maintenance record, plus a huge A4 lever arch history file of paperwork. As the photo gallery shows, there is extensive correspondence on file from its Gemballa build, which even includes marked-up drawings of the car, with decisions being made on the placement and colours of badging. Two keys and remote fobs are present, as is a tailored Gemballa car cover.

This Porsche 993 Turbo Gemballa GTR 600 is an astonishing custom supercar, boasting a significant upgraded and rebuilt powertrain, race-specification suspension and brakes, and the outward appearance of an RSR-style Le Mans GT2 competitor. While it is not uncommon to find cars that have received partial or cosmetic-only Gemballa upgrades, this is a bona fide factory rebuild, which demonstrates the most extreme iteration of its modification programme for the 993 generation car. For someone seeking an altogether more thrilling driver’s car, from arguably the golden era of high-performance analogue machines, this is an unmissable opportunity to acquire a unique 911.

Gemballa build and conversion costs (invoices on file):

  • Initial cost of base 993 Turbo- £113,530
  • 14/07/97 to Gemballa - 56,375 EUR
  • 01/07/98 to Gemballa - 8,041 EUR
  • 07/11/98 to Gemballa - 35,148 EUR
  • 18/02/98 to Gemballa - 17,893 EUR
  • 23/08/99 to Gemballa - 83,221 EUR
  • 01/09/99 to Gemballa - 473 EUR
  • 27/09/99 to Gemballa - 4,250 EUR
  • 19/10/99 to Gemballa - 66 EUR
  • 18/02/00 to Gemballa - 12,158 EUR
  • 24/02/00 to Gemballa - 2,636 EUR
  • 25/05/00 to Gemballa - 30,961 EUR
  • Total cost of conversion: (251,222 EUR) = £173,103
  • Total cost plus donor car: (+£113,530) = £286,631

Factory specification:

  • C16: UK market car
  • XD1: Aerokit front spoiler
  • XD2: Aerokit rear spoiler
  • XD7: Strut brace
  • X47: Carbon gear lever knob
  • X50: Turbo powerkit
  • X58: Carbon handbrake lever
  • X71: Alu-look instrument dials with chromed rings
  • X78: Front spoiler air intakes with daytime driving lights
  • X79: Side air vents on rear wings
  • 373: Sports seat, left, height electrically adjustable
  • 374: Sports seat, right, height electrically adjustable
  • 567: Top-tinted windscreen
  • 602: High-level third brake light
  • 650: Sunroof
  • 706: Internal production code
  • 00061: Porsche Exclusive option
  • 09981: Porsche Exclusive option
  • 09991: Porsche Exclusive option
  • 16931: Porsche Exclusive option

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

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


Car Overview

  • 31,626 miles
  • manual
  • RHD
  • Polar Silver (92M)
  • Grey/Blue leather
  • 3.6L


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Lot Overview

  • Lot #03026
  • private Sale
  • Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom

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1996 PORSCHE 911 (993) TURBO GEMBALLA GTR 6001996 PORSCHE 911 (993) TURBO GEMBALLA GTR 6001996 PORSCHE 911 (993) TURBO GEMBALLA GTR 6001996 PORSCHE 911 (993) TURBO GEMBALLA GTR 6001996 PORSCHE 911 (993) TURBO GEMBALLA GTR 6001996 PORSCHE 911 (993) TURBO GEMBALLA GTR 6001996 PORSCHE 911 (993) TURBO GEMBALLA GTR 6001996 PORSCHE 911 (993) TURBO GEMBALLA GTR 600
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