You too can have one of 1960 (marketing can be so cute some times, can’t they) being produced assuming you’re willing to pony up the almost $65k (that’s the base price) for this tribute style Boxster. That’s a lot of money for a Boxster.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not putting down the Boxster, it’s a Porsche though and through. I’m just not a big fan of this car as a tribute to the RS 60 Spyder (Type 718) that won the 12 hours of Sebring in 1960. For the base MRSP on this “limited edition” Boxster you could get an amazing (heck, almost new) Porsche 993 C2 wide body or C4S. You could even find a nice Porsche 993 Turbo.
Anyway, press release is below for you to read for yourself. I plan on taking a ride over to my local dealer just to see if they happen to have one in the showroom (only 800 of them are to make their way to the US/North America).
The latest Porsche Boxster pays tribute to the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring winning Type 718 RS 60 Spyder
The 2008 Boxster RS 60 Spyder, to be introduced to the public next week at the New York International Auto Show, pays tribute to the legacy of the original RS 60 with style and substance that is worthy of its ancestry.
The 303 horsepower 2008 Boxster RS 60 Spyder bloodlines are reflected in its enhanced exterior and interior design cues. The front end is taken from Porsche’s SportDesign Package and when combined with 19-inch Porsche SportDesign wheels on spacers, helps distinguish the RS 60 from the current Boxster S. When you combine this extra power and aero package with standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and a dual tailpipe sports exhaust system, the reward is confidence-inspiring
performance in all conditions.
The exclusive GT silver metallic paintwork is further accentuated by the contrasting colors of the Natural Leather interior in Carrera Red with a matching red convertible top. An alternative of Dark Grey Natural Leather in conjunction with a black roof will also be available.
Interior features and equipment of the new RS 60 Boxster reflect the racing heritage of its ancestor: door entry guards made of stainless steel that show off the model designation, a race-inspired gearshift lever, special surface texture in the center sections of the sports seats and center door linings as well as on the steering wheel rim and handbrake lever.
The instrument cluster also gives the impression of a racecar as the cover has been removed, prominently displaying the GT Silver Metallic instruments which have been set wider apart.
Other special features include a black windscreen frame, red taillight lenses, GT Silver Metallic center console, rear sections of the seat backrests and roll bars that blend perfectly with the seat belts finished in silver.
The RS 60 Spyder comes equipped with a VarioCam Plus six-cylinder Boxer engine, which features increased horsepower over the Boxster S. Installed just ahead of the rear drive wheels; stability, agility and control are maximized. These attributes are expected from Porsche and delivered with such efficiency that Boxster models, like all other Porsche sports cars, are certified as low emissions vehicles and not subject to a gas-guzzler penalty.
Designed to be a world-class roadster, the Boxster family can accommodate two people with cargo in a small, agile, open-top, and powerful sports car. A true engineering feat in itself, the Boxsters soft top can be operated at moving speeds of up to 30 mph. Boxsters are all equipped with three point inertia-reel seat belts as well as six airbags. In addition to two-stage frontal airbags, Boxsters feature the Porsche Side Impact Protection (POSIP) system with torso-protecting thorax side-impact airbags mounted in the outer edges of the seatbacks and special head-protecting side-impact airbags which deploy from the
doors’ windowsills.
Reflecting its model designation, the new Boxster RS 60 Spyder is limited to 1,960 units worldwide, each number displayed on a silver-colored placard on the lid of the glove compartment. Less than 800 of the 1,960 units produced will make it to North American showrooms.
The new 2008 Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder goes on sale March 22, 2008 in the
United States with a MSRP of US $64,900
[Sources: Porsche, eGM Cartech]