Porsche hand-painting – A 992 S/T in Coppa Florio

They still exist, exclusive special requests that Porsche fulfills for its customers that even many connoisseurs have never heard of. One of these is Porsche hand-painting. It is one of the most exclusive options for individual vehicle refinement in Zuffenhausen. Recently, Porsche Sonderwunsch completed a 992 S/T in Coppa Florio, which is guaranteed to be unique. We can exclusively present you a unique Porsche 992 S/T, hand-painted in Coppa Florio with a very unique painted design!

Where the options in the configurator end, the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur only just begins!

At Porsche, individualization starts with the first click in the configurator. Colors, leather, technology packages… If you want, you can immerse yourself for hours in this world of options and design your own dream Porsche. But there are limits, for example in the choice of colors. Porsche currently offers 17 exterior colors for new 911s in its regular range. In addition, the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur offers a total of over 220 Paint-to-Sample (PTS) colors – a total of 137 variants for the 911.

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, you can check the box in the configurator at PTS Plus. This service opens up a whole new world of colors. Based on a color sample provided by the customer, a feasibility study is then carried out via Porsche Sonderwunsch. Put simply, a check is carried out to determine whether the color meets the standards for a flawless, reproducible paint finish. The test involves painting a whole body shell before the ordered car can be painted and takes a total of eight months.

It can get even more exclusive than PTS Plus – with the hand-painted finish from Porsche Sonderwunsch

But what happens when even the Exclusive Manufaktur reaches its limits? This is where the Porsche Sonderwunsch program begins. Porsche itself advertises this program as follows: “Not a Porsche. Your Porsche. With our Sonderwunsch program, we take attention to detail to a new level – and support you in fulfilling your very own Porsche dream – regardless of the year of manufacture.” In practical terms, this means that anything that passes a technical feasibility test, Porsche Sonderwunsch can do – whether for a new car or as part of the so-called re-commission offer, i.e. for vehicles that are already in customer hands.

But even within the Porsche Sonderwunsch department, things can be even more exclusive. The sports car manufacturer offers what is known as hand-painting. Here, there are virtually no limits to creativity in terms of exterior design. Colors that are not suitable for Paint to Sample for technical reasons can still be implemented here if necessary. Individual designs with special patterns, painted logos and much more can be realized with Porsche hand painting.

You dream it. We build it.

Porsche special request

Porsche’s hand painting means complete design freedom

However, this form of refinement cannot simply be ordered with a new Porsche. After the initial contact via the Porsche Center, many parameters have to be right. First of all, you need one of the extremely limited hand-painting slots. In addition, the production date must match the potential period for the hand-painting. Porsche hand painting means that the vehicle must be removed from the regular production line and then – as the name suggests – painted entirely by hand.

Once all this is in place, the design is developed together with the customer. It does not necessarily have to be a multi-colored paint job with accents. Monochrome paintwork in colors that are not suitable for machine painting or require an unusually large number of coats is also conceivable. If the production period and possible hand-painting slot do not match, the project will not take place.

A Porsche 992 S/T in Coppa Florio hand-painted finish as the crowning glory of a personal collection

One of the lucky ones who was able to get a new Porsche with a hand-painted finish is André. He prefers to remain in the shadows, but is happy to share the story behind the his car with us. “It’s not about me, it’s about the car,” he emphasizes several times. The obvious first question: Why do you want a hand-painted Porsche 992 S/T in the first place? “I assume that the Porsche 992 S/T will be one of the last, if not the last, new Porsche in my life,” the passionate collector explains to me. He sees it as possibly the last, highly emotional combustion-engioned 911 without turbo or hybrid – the crowning glory of his own personal collection.

Later, there was a 993 GT2 in Coppa Florio, with matching Speedline wheels. I’ve never been able to get it out of my head!

The basic color was also quickly clear to André: “I wanted a car in Coppa Florio right from the start!” Where did the inspiration come from? “The color is extremely rare and was available as a special color for the G-Model in 1976/1977. Later, there was a 993 GT2 in Coppa Florio, with matching Speedline wheels. I’ve never been able to get it out of my head!”

However, André had to be patient in order to realize his dream of a new, factory hand-painted 992 S/T. “To increase the chances of getting a match of production period and hand-painting slot, I had to get one of the last S/Ts,” he explains to me. Because shortly after a model is launched, everyone wants to get their car as quickly as possible. Consequently, there is more leeway in production planning for the models produced later.

Coppa Florio – a color that doesn’t even exist in the PTS cosmos

“At first glance, the 993 GT2 in Coppa Florio looks almost white. But it is a very bright, shimmering blue that completely changes its mood depending on the light.” It is precisely this ambivalence that makes Coppa Florio so special – and so difficult to paint. That is why it is not available as part of the PTS program.

The reason lies in the technology. Coppa Florio is extremely sensitive when it comes to color matching. On different materials – aluminium, plastic, carbon – the shade drifts visibly apart. The color is therefore not possible in industrial color processing. “That’s why I could only get it painted by hand,” summarizes André.

It took several months to develop the design for the Porsche hand-painted finish

However, André did not want a car that was only painted in a rare color and that’s it. He envisioned a design with contrasting stripes and a large Pegasus on the car. The former company logo of Mobiloil, now ExxonMobil, used to adorn many of the brand’s rally and racing cars. “It stands for power and speed,” explains André. However, unlike the stickers usually affixed to the door, he wanted to place the logo much larger, across the front of the car. “We decided to place it diagonally on the hood and the driver’s side mudguard.”

The stripes were to be painted all the way from the front to the rear bumper and also – starting from the air intake in the hood – run across the car to the rear diffuser. In the end, André opted for a combination of guards red and albert blue. The design was developed in close consultation with Grant Larson, Head of Special Projects Design, and took several months. “From a technical point of view, the design was extremely demanding. With the exception of the mirror caps, no part of the bodywork only has one color,” emphasizes the collector.

From a technical point of view, the design was extremely demanding. With the exception of the mirror caps, no part of the bodywork only has one color.

Almost endless small details make this 992 S/T an irretrievable one-off. “For example, I like painted wheels with a contrasting edge. That’s why the rims in Coppa Florio are designed with a carrara white edge as a delicate accent. This is only noticeable on very close inspection. Also, the fine line Porsche script between the accent stripes on the sides of the car is painted in the same color. At a cursory glance, this detail is almost overlooked. And there’s more: Rings in Coppa Florio are even painted into the headlights.

Hundreds of hours of work for the perfect hand-painted finish

What appears relatively discreet at first glance reveals so many details on closer inspection that it makes you dizzy. First of all, there are no edges. The Pegasus and the accent stripes are not painted stickers, but one hundred percent hand-painted. Despite this, the surface is smooth throughout, with no raised areas. All design elements are painted around the edges of the panel, right up into the respective body gaps.

There are different levels of hand painting. On my S/T, every single body part was affected. In this respect, it was an extremely elaborate design.

“There are different levels of Porsche hand-painting,” explains André. “On my S/T, every single body part was affected. In this respect, it was an extremely complex design.” For the team on site, this meant repeatedly masking, painting, sanding and reassembling. The fact that everything later disappears into the clear coat and feels absolutely smooth makes the effort invisible – but that’s exactly the point.

For photographers, the 992 S/T in Coppa Florio is also a real challenge

The experience of photographer Keno Zache, whom André had commissioned to capture the car, proves just how special the design ended up being. “In certain lighting conditions, this 992 S/T looks almost white,” he tells me. “In other surroundings, the Coppa Florio suddenly shimmers a clear blue. And many details – the fine lettering, the headlight rings, the lines around the rims – can only be seen if you look very closely.”

In certain lighting conditions, this 992 S/T appears almost white. In other surroundings, the Coppa Florio suddenly shimmers a clear blue.

Keno Zache

The interior largely corresponds to the Heritage package – with minor exceptions

As expressive as the paintwork was in the end, André remained restrained in the interior design. He opted for an interior very close to the Heritage Design package. “I already really liked the combination of black and cognac-colored leather as a contrast to the exterior.” The lucky collector only decided to deviate from the norm in a few details. On the one hand, the carbon roll bar was covered with the beautiful cognac leather. He also had the seat center panels, which are otherwise made of fabric, covered in leather. A small detail that rounds off the overall picture – just like the key, which is of course also painted in Coppa Florio.

“A project that Porsche is also proud of”

With all this attention to detail, the question naturally arises: will this car be driven at all? André’s answer is surprisingly clear: “No. The S/T should remain in its delivery condition.” It’s a statement that you can like or dislike – but it fits in with the consistency of the entire project. However, Porsche itself is allowed to use the S/T for certain purposes. “I’ve agreed to that,” says André. “This car is also a project that Porsche is proud of. And to be honest, it would be a shame if no one ever got to see it.”

© Photos: Keno Zache