In 1950, Mexico finished construction of the 2,178-mile (north/south) Pan-American Highway. That same year, various motoring enthusiasts organized the inaugural Carrera Panamericana — a five-day, nine-stage rally event held on the open public roads of the newly-completed highway. In 1952, the first-ever Porsche would enter this race with a 70-hp 356 S Cabriolet that would ultimately go on to win the event — and put Porsche on the map of the racing world. Exactly seven decades later, and the Stuttgart firm has now opted to pay homage to the rally-winning 356 via a special one-off model known as the Porsche 911 Carrera Panamericana Special.
Borrowing design cues from the 1952 Carrera Panamericana-winning 356 S Cabriolet, this one-off automotive tribute is based on the latest 911 Carrera S Cabriolet. Brimming with custom elements, the 911 boasts a Graffiti Gray-colored convertible top, specially-embroidered headrests, and bespoke Carrera Panamericana logos. The one-off also retains the $135,800 donor’s 443-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Boxer six engine and 190-mph top speed.
Alongside custom interior badging and special door sills, the car has also been treated to Mexican flag “Carrera Panamericana” door graphics. When opened, the bottom of the doors also feature projector LED lights that display a “Carrera Panamericana Mexico” graphic onto the ground. Further tying the one-off 911 to the race-winning 356 is its replica livery. Like the ’52 356 S, the latest 911 Carrera Panamericana Special wears a Gentian Blue Metallic livery complete with #11 roundels and a white rear lid grille. The one-off also rides on (20” / 21”) Gentian Blue Metallic-finished Turbo wheels with bare faux center caps — another blatant nod to the rally-winning 356.
Limited to just a single unit, this one-of-one 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera Panamericana Special is scheduled to be auctioned off next year, where a portion of the proceeds raised will be donated to various charitable foundations.
