Before there was Formula 1: Drive to Survive and 1: Life on the Limit, there was Pixar’s Cars, which for many ‘90s and 2000s kid represented the first glimpse into the racing world. The first film even featured late actor, motorsports icon, and all-round legend Paul Newman as a small town doctor and judge Doc Hudson (who was frankly altogether too attractive for a car), while the second film saw current racing great Lewis Hamilton make an appearance.
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Real recognises real, so it seems only natural for automotive icon Porsche to acknowledge the cultural impact of Cars. And how better to do so than with a custom car? Sally Carrera, lawyer and love interest of Cars protagonist Lightning McQueen, was modelled after a 996-series Porsche 911 Carrera. Bringing the anthropomorphic cartoon car off the screen into our world, Porsche has created the 911 Sally Special, a one-of-a-kind car with a soul.


Developed by Porsche in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios, the Sally Special is built on the 911 Carrera GTS platform, quipped with a manual gearbox and painted a custom shade of Sallybluemetalic. Designed to bring the spirit of Sally Carrera to life without being a carbon copy, the Sally Special was inspired by the character’s love of driving. “We asked ourselves: if Sally were built today as a road-approved model, what would she look like?” explained Jay Ward, creative director of franchise of Pixar Animation Studios.


Sally Carrera’s Turbo-look rims were reinterpreted by Porsche designers, with the ‘fivearm design’ adapted to the 20/20” wheel dimensions of the current 911 generation. Meanwhile, Sally Carrera’s graphic tramp stamp style tattoo makes a subtle appearance on the rear of the car.


Designed to be driven, not displayed, the Sally Special was designed with both usability and aesthetics in mind. The custom Sallymetalicblue hue continues inside the car, complementing seats clad in Pepita houndstooth fabric and chalk-coloured leather, a combination that’s stylish and slightly nostalgic.


“Vehicles need a face and a story,” said Dr. Sebastian Rudolph, vice president of communications, sustainability, and politics at Porsche AG. “And the animated Pixar’s film ‘Cars’ has impressively transferred done just that: brought cars to life on the big screen.”
A car with both a face and a soul, the 911 Sally Special will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s on 20th August 2022 with proceeds split between Girls Inc., a non-profit organisation that advocates for and empowers young women, and USA for UNHCR, USA for UNHCR.


















Words by T. Angel