Gemballa 911 classic cars for sale
The Gemballa 911 stands for extreme Porsche tuning, where performance and bespoke design collide at the upper edge of what’s technically and visually feasible. Born from top-tier German tuning culture, Gemballa’s interpretations of the 911 chassis bridge supercar figures with a custom-tailored, individualist aesthetic.
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1996 | Gemballa GTR 600
TURBO GEMBALLA GTR 600
History
Uwe Gemballa founded his tuning company in 1981 and quickly set about transforming the Porsche 911 into something entirely his own. During the 1980s and 1990s, Gemballa made headlines with radical body kits, power upgrades, and outlandish interiors—pioneering a unique form of automotive luxury and performance personified by the Gemballa 911. These cars became status symbols within European and international tuning culture, distinguished as much for their brute force as their showmanship.
Model History
Gemballa’s core focus has always been the Porsche 911 platform in its many evolutions. The company’s most famous conversions were often based on the 930, 964, and 993 generations. Each Gemballa 911 reflected its base car: from the turbocharged, air-cooled classics of the 1980s to the advanced, high-performance variants seen in later generations. There is no real predecessor other than standard Porsches; successors include further evolutions built into water-cooled 911s and, eventually, other Porsche models.
Highlights
What sets a Gemballa 911 apart is the almost total reimagining of the original Porsche: think widebody kits, advanced aerodynamics, bespoke interiors, and engine upgrades far beyond what Zuffenhausen ever intended. Innovations included integrated multimedia systems in the 1980s and multi-pipe exhaust arrangements. Despite being rare in absolute terms, every Gemballa 911 built is a headline-grabber at any gathering.
Technical Data
Special Editions and Collectible Models
Gemballa released several special editions over the years, including the Avalanche and the Cyrrus, each built in very low numbers and often to unique customer specifications. The Avalanche, based on the 930 Turbo, is especially renowned for its extreme power and radical styling, including bespoke bodywork and luxury interiors unheard of in series production cars.
Weak Spots and Common Issues
Gemballa conversions are highly bespoke, making parts sourcing and maintenance complex. Specialist knowledge is essential—standard Porsche parts may not fit, and Gemballa-specific components are rare. Past modifications (especially engine and electrical upgrades) should be thoroughly checked, as individual builds varied in quality depending on the workshop and the period. Documentation and history are critical when buying.
Engine and Performance, Transmission and Handling
Performance is a Gemballa trademark: turbos boost power far beyond stock, with many builds easily surpassing 400hp, and some approaching or exceeding 500hp in period. Handling is transformed with wider tracks, custom suspension geometries, and larger brakes. Driving dynamics become more aggressive: steering and acceleration are significantly sharper, especially with the wider tyres and stiffer setups. Many models use uprated gearboxes to handle the extra power. - Gemballa Avalanche (930 Turbo base): Over 400hp, radical widebody, extreme spoilers, and full interior revamp.
- Gemballa Cyrrus (911 Cabrio base): Open-top, turbocharged, custom interior, advanced infotainment for the era.
Interior, Comfort, Exterior and Design
No two Gemballa 911s are ever truly the same. Exteriors often feature wild body kits, integrated spoilers, custom grilles, and unique colour schemes—often metres ahead of Porsche’s own options catalogue. Interiors might host hand-stitched leather in vibrant hues, hi-fi upgrades, video screens, and custom dashboard layouts. Gemballa’s work routinely included exclusive materials, bespoke accessories, sculpted Recaro seats, and electronic features never seen in factory models. Factory paint choices are rare—most cars left the workshop in custom-mixed colours, adorned with period-correct graphics or pinstriping.
Other Relevant Features
Many Gemballa 911s also feature security systems, integrated telephones (high-tech in their time), and rare BBS or Gemballa-special wheels. Some show pioneering work in digital dashboard displays, long before such features were commonplace in supercars.
Summary
A Gemballa 911 represents the utmost in individualised Porsche tuning—combining the raw performance of a turbocharged boxer engine with extreme aesthetics, innovative tech, and rare, hand-built quality. Today, each car is a reflection of 1980s and 1990s European luxury culture, and remains one of the most sought-after expressions of bespoke automotive engineering based on the 911.