The Über 911: Gunther Werks’ 400R
911 Plus

It takes something special to stop you in your tracks at a show like SEMA.

Everything here is turned up to 11, with countless companies competing for your attention. The builds I’m walking past while on the way to pre-planned destinations are maybe the best cars that I’ll never see. It does appear to be a show dominated by US muscle cars and trucks, but everything is represented here, and in spades.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-15

I can’t feed you a lie and say that I just happened upon this immaculate 993 by chance; it was a car that I was tipped off about more than once in the last few days, including by Joey Seely of Emotion Engineering. When someone with Joey’s experience says that a Porsche build is very special, you stand up and take notice.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-5

It took a while to navigate the maze of stands and halls at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, but eventually I found the red 911 on the Meguiar’s stand in the middle of the main hall. It looks great, clearly, but what makes it so special to laud it with such praise? It’s just a 911, and we’ve seen plenty of those, right?

This might just be California-based outfit Gunther Werks’ magnum opus.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-12

Starting with a humble Type 993 Porsche 911, Gunther Werks have considered and re-examined every last detail in the pursuit of building the ultimate 993 street car. Their focus has been on reducing weight, adding power and creating a complete package that can comfortably be used on a daily basis.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-8

Every panel on the car – asides from the doors, so as to retain side impact protection – has been replaced with a completely custom and sculpted pre-preg carbon fibre equivalent. A team of dedicated clay modellers and designers worked with the 18×9-inch front and 18×12-inch rear wheels installed on the car, to create the body around them.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-11

By installing the custom KW Clubsport suspension with HLS on the outer homologated suspension points on the car, which are typically reserved for the race and wide-body variants of the 911, the 400R features an identical front and rear track of 63-inches. This gives the car a square footprint, which reduces understeer.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-19

Simple details, like the subtly asymmetrical headlights which feature bi-LED projectors and DRLs, have over 1,000 man hours invested in them.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-3

We haven’t even got to the party piece yet.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-10

Hanging behind the rear axle is a hand-built Rothsport Racing 4.0-litre flat-six. With a minimum output of 400bhp and 330lb-ft, and a MoTeC ECU imposed redline of 7,800rpm, it isn’t your ordinary Porsche motor.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-13

Extensive research and dyno tuning found that this Eventuri intake coupled with a carbon GT3 plenum provided the best power output.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-25

The fan, while identical in size to the one found in Turbo models, features twisted vanes as opposed to the Turbo’s straight vanes. It’s another completely custom piece that was researched and developed to the nth degree.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-2

The 400R is a car that features a thousand different details, each one as fascinating as the last. Speaking with Peter Nam, the driving force behind the project, revealed that every part was removed, evaluated and improved upon in some way, shape or form.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-21

Even mundane items, like the door handles, have been custom designed and machined from single pieces of billet aluminium to be the best they can be.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-23

This discreet switch in front of the 6-speed shifter switches the map and opens/closes valves in the exhaust to add a little more volume to proceedings. With the switch activated, the car’s total power output increases by a further 31bhp.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-22

The bezels around the dials are machined from billet and feature six subtle notches to represent the ethos and history of the flat-six motor.

2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-6

We’re only barely touching the surface of what this car is, and the lineage that it’s about to create. As the first of a planned 25 cars, the wide-bodied Gunther Werks 400R is sure to go down as one of the all-time greats. It’s also a car that’s deserving of so much more than just a spotlight on the show floor. This won’t be the last time this car appears on these pages, you can count on that.

Paddy McGrath
Instagram: pmcgphotos
Twitter: pmcgphotos
paddy@speedhunters.com

Cutting Room Floor
2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-7
2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-9
2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-14
2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-16
2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-17
2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-18
2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-20
2017 SEMA Porsche 911 400R Gunterwerks Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-24
ADVERTISEMENT

Comments



Comments are closed.

23 comments

by Oldest
by Best by Newest by Oldest
1

Saw this car on instagram and immediately followed his account. This lightweight 993 apparently has more than 600 hp and has a better power to weight ration than most gt3's! I like how clean, yet complex, the whole car looks. The front bumper, to me, feels more clear in comparison to normal 993 bumpers...? or is that just me? I also love the gt2 wing (with the vents and stuff). Overall this is a crazy nice build.

2

This is probably the best looking non wide-body Porsche out there. But I still obsess over the RWB Porsches of course.

3

This isn’t widebody? I’d like to see your idea of wide then. Lol. Did you mean overfendered?

4

If this isn't a wide-body, I don't know what is.

5

Now THAT is a build. Perfect.
Anyone know what bi-LED projector they used? Koito?

6

Weird, I don't recall R33 GT-R looks like this?

Author7

Thankfully, it looks nothing like an R33.

8
JBfromSiliconValley

Yeah its pretty sweet but its not $525,000 USD cool. Id rather build my own and pocket the remaining $375 grand.

Author9

Do you really think there's only $150k in the car? There's thousands upon thousands of hours of development, research, design, clay modelling, prototyping, build and setup in the car. It's a full custom carbon body for crying out loud.

10
JBfromSiliconValley

PS-I never once said I thought there was only 150k development in this build....not my words.

Author11

$525k minus $375k = $150k, so you kind of did in a roundabout sort of way. Apologies if I picked you up wrong, however.

12
JbBfromSiliconValley

No worries

13
JBfromSiliconValley

I am very aware there are a myriad of development and engineering costs in every square inch of the car.
I didnt say I disliked it. I would just go a different route with half a mil if I had it to spend on a 993.

Jeez, complinent 99% of the builds on SH and the minute you slightly have an ever so slightly dissenting opinion suddenly you're a leper?

14

I think Paddy might 1. Be a little jet lagged and waspy! And 2. Like the car quite a bit. Haha.

15

this is how to pimp slap all them rwb porsches

16

its like RUF but with 90s porsches now, hoorray for affordable!!

soon in 15-20 years from now 2000's porsches will be modified on the cheap!

*oprah gif*

and you get a porsche

and you get a porsche

PORSCHES FOR EVERYONE.

17

I have to say, so far, this IS the BEST LOOKING 993 I've ever seen.
The lines were clean, details were superb, oozes FULL STYLE.
Comparing to bolt-on wide body fender examples everywhere, this one WON, HANDS DOWN.

18

This isn't only the best Porsche I've ever seen, it's gotta be the best build I've ever seen. Absolutely beautiful

19

When it comes to ‘special edition’, ‘reimagined’ kind of Porsche’s, this really is in a different league of cool when you see it. Brilliant spotlight and lovely images Paddy.

20

I don’t see any offset in the headlights and I keep looking. Also, Why? I’m very curious. This car is drop dead gorgeous. Are there build photos anywhere?

Author21

It's very subtle, I think it's along the lines of a 6mm rotation.

22
Jay Soh Tsu Chung

How a 993-gen GT3 RS would have been.

23

The. WANT.

OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS