In 1979, Apple would take part in its only motorsport sponsorship in the tech giant’s history, backing a Porsche 935 race car at that year’s running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now owned by comedian and gearhead Adam Carolla, the fabled Apple-liveried 935 — which won its class at the Circuit de la Sarthe endurance event — would eventually garner something of an iconic status, with replica examples now fetching $500,000.
And it’s this same Apple-liveried 911 variant that inspired Vermont-based automotive photographer Syd to create a 944-based homage to the Le Mans racer. Starting out as a 1984 Porsche 944, the project’s donor remains largely stock, retaining its front-mounted 2.5L inline-four and blacked-out Fuchs wheels. What sets Syd’s Porsche apart from other 944s is its bespoke paint job, which is modeled after the race livery on the 935 Apple car. Cloaked in a Pasadena yellow base, this custom livery features Apple’s signature rainbow stripe scheme and the computer company’s period-correct logos, as well as the Le Mans racer’s original (#71) racing number. Even the 944’s license plate pays tribute to the Apple-sponsored race car, reading “935 NEXT.”
The project is made all the more impressive by the stunning photography of the build, all of which was shot by Syd herself. Having already previously fully restored a 1986 Saab 900 Turbo — complete with an SPG conversion — we’re genuinely excited to see what Syd’s got in store for her next project.
