With the abundance of coverage from the recent US media launch of the 2013 Porsche Boxster we were all exposed to the various historic liveries Porsche used to promote the Boxster’s racing heritage. Now, just this week, Porsche announced that the new 918 will be available with a historic Martini Racing Livery option.
As I’m sure most of you know, these liveries are not actually painted onto the Porsches. They are “wrapped” using material similar to the clear bra on your Porsche. Obviously, instead of being clear, they are colored to match a specific pattern. In fact, this same method is what is used to create the “murdered out Porsche” look that was so popular a few years ago.
We asked Auto Super Shield (the folks who did the paint protection film on our Porsche Cayenne) what it would cost to completely wrap a Porsche. The price can vary depending on size (911 or Cayenne) and the material you want to use, but an average wrap for a 911 should run you somewhere between $3000 and $5000. This is significantly less that what a quality paint job would cost. Even better, if you did completely wrap your Porsche the original paint is now protected as the whole car is wearing a “bra”.
So, I ask you, should Porsche offer historic racing livery options on the Boxster and other sports car models? Let me know what you think!
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View Comments (7)
I think it's cool . . but would worry that perhaps it would end up kinda cliche' . . What made some of those themes SO COOL was that they FIT the shape of the car and were oh so relevant . . IN THEIR TIME . . Gulf Blue and Orange . .Very cool. And probably still cool today . think Ford GT. A WELL DONE Martini Stripe which "ENHANCES" the shape of a current car . . . . very cool. Maybe not a LITERAL application from any given era. The '78 TURBO MARTINI stripes are still insane looking today . . What would they look like on a new 911? How about an interpretation of that stripe in ROTHMANS Colors? You get the relationship without looking like a poser!!
I would rather see a return to Old School COLOR choices first, add cool historic PORSCHE scripts for doors ( Think IROC Porsche Block font too) then some interpretive subtle stories. Just my opinion!
Clay
I like the idea of a return to "old school" colors and opinions are exactly what we were looking for. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
As much as I love them I would not want to see them offered as an option. There is to much history which in turn has made the liveries iconic. Granted, I doubt one would see them in abundance. Maybe it's a small run of each. IMO the Gulf livery is starting to be played out way to much. Obviously, Gulf AMR would run the colors yet it still maintains the iconic racing heritage. It worked great in the Cayman Interseries.
The 918 looks great and if Porsche hooks up with Martini Racing for the return to Le Mans, perfect.
I like Clay's idea of bringing back the colors of yesterday and scripts.
Needless to say I am TOTALLY fine with Porsche re-uniting with classic liveries.....especially MARTINI.....I love the Martini 918 and Martini Boxster looks. Having owned one of the bog-slow 1977~78 Martini Porsche 924's in the day, I just hope that the 918 and if they do bring out a Boxster with the Martini "look", that the cars live up to the performance that such a look demands.
I would like to see Porsche offer some of the early 911 and 914 paint colors on the new cars and although I like the classic liveries there is a fine line from driving an historic looking vehicle to being a poser. If Porsche only made a numbered run of them most would probably end up in collectors garages which is not what they were built to do and flies in the face of what those classic liveries accomplished. Would I like to purchase a Gulf liveried 911 and race it? Damn straight. Would I purchase one to drive around town? Not in this life.
I would love to see them offer Iconic liveries as an option or any other liveries that a customer may like. I have a 74 911S Targa I would love to have it painted in Martini colors. Already have a Momo Martini steering wheel . lol . Imagine someone having a car painted like the Pink Pig. Don't how it would look on a 911, Boxter, Panamera, Cayenne or Caymen. Maybe someone with Photoshop you show us what it could look like? lol
I also had a 77 Martini 924 and it "looked" good but that was a subtle design. Let's leave these wraps to the racers. Our Porsches look good enough already.