At first glance, Pixar’s Cars seems like a kids’ movie, but if you dig a little deeper, you might come to realize that this animated classic was very much made for adults. Oozing with nostalgia and motifs about preserving our past, the 2006 film was made at a time when the idea of remembering forgotten Americana was a novel concept. Ironically, the prevalence of mobile technology like smartphones and GPS revitalized interest in old roadside attractions, with a plethora of popular apps built around discovering them and remembering our culture’s past, whether we were around or not.
In the film, Lightning McQueen, our state-of-the-art racecar protagonist, becomes stuck in one of these old, rundown towns, which got buried in history after the new highway nearby precluded the need to drive through it anymore. Thanks to the locals, especially his love interest Sally Carrera, McQueen gets his own self-importance upended after he learns to take things more slowly and enjoy the simple things in life. Things have come full circle for Pixar. In the 16 years since the movie’s debut, the studio has surprisingly never put its stamp of approval on any real-life vehicle. That is, until now.
Partnering with Porsche, Pixar will auction off a one-of-a-kind, drivable vehicle that’s been made to look like Sally. Just like the character’s last name implies, this new ride will be a 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera. Dubbed the “Sally Special,” the car sports the same blue coat as the animated version and has a chalk leather interior with Pepita seat inserts to go along with a myriad of special detailing on the inside and out. With a 473hp twin-turbo flat-six engine, the Sally Special is based on Porsche’s most powerful model, the 911 GTS.
No estimate has been given for the vehicle, but the 2022 Porsche 911 Sally Special will cross the auction block in Monterey on August 20 via RM Sotheby’s, with proceeds going to charity. Along with the car, the winner will receive a detailed book charting its development, original sketches, and a one-off timepiece by Porsche Design, among other goodies.
