Porsche Cars North America has announced a special charity auction to help raise money for coronavirus relief. 

An online sale, administered by the RM Sotheby’s auction house, offers a unique car to tempt serious Porsche fans. 

However, the last production example of the 991-generation 911, a rare Speedster model is only part of the auction package. 

The last of the 991 line

Production of the ‘991’ Porsche 911 ended in December 2019, with this particular car finished in GT Silver paintwork. A Heritage Package was also fitted at the factory. 

Unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the Speedster was created as part of the 70th anniversary celebrations for Porsche’s sports car range.

Limited to 1,948 examples, the last car off the line was always intended for the United States.

The current coronavirus pandemic led Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) to rethink simply selling the Speedster to a new owner. 

Klaus Zellmer, president and CEO of PCNA, commented that his team were “profoundly affected by the current situation”. He hopes “the sale of a very special Porsche will help in a small way”.

A unique way to make a difference

Auctioning the 503hp Speedster would have undoubtedly raised more than the $274,000 (£211,599) it cost when new. But PCNA has sweetened the deal further with some bespoke additions. 

Porsche Design will supply a 911 Speedster Heritage Watch. Made in Switzerland, and offered exclusively to Speedster buyers, the chassis number of the car will feature on the watch as a unique touch.

The winning bidder will also be invited to visit Porsche’s Weissach headquarters. They will be given a tour of the facility, including a test-track experience. A meeting with the famed head of Porsche GT cars, Andreas Preuninger, is also part of the deal.

Fully documented history

Documenting the build of the final 991 Speedster will be a bespoke photobook, also featuring sketches by members of the Porsche design team. Once back in the United States, Klaus Zellmer will conduct the handover of the car. 

All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the United Way Worldwide charity, for use in the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund.

Starting next week, volunteers from PCNA will be helping United Way deliver meals to school students at home. 

RM Sotheby’s will manage the sale, hosting it on the auction website. Offered without reserve, bidding will begin on Wednesday 15 April, closing on Wednesday 22 April.

Mercedes-AMG F1 and University College London (UCL) have made the designs for a reverse-engineered breathing aid freely available to help the global fight against COVID-19.

Details can be downloaded for free at a new UCL COVID-19 research hub.

The package includes the designs, plus specifications of materials, tools and equipment required, and the fabrication time for each part.

Mercedes-AMG F1 and UCL engineers worked ‘around the clock’ to develop the improved device, allowing the first one to be produced fewer than 100 hours after the original meeting.

The team have developed a product that is 70 percent more efficient than the first design. It has already received full regulatory approval.

The Brixworth, Northamptonshire factory normally used to produce racing star Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 engines has now been fully repurposed to produce the life-saving device.

A total of 1,000 a day are now rolling off the fast-tracked production line.

The first 10,000 breathing aids, called the UCL-Ventura device, are going to the UK government for use by the NHS.

The device is a ‘Continuous Positive Airway Pressure’ CPAP breathing aid.

It helps Covid-19 patients for whom an oxygen mask alone is insufficient. Medical experts say it is a vital device that bridges the gap between oxygen masks and full ventilators.

Andy Cowell, MD of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, said: “Since the project was announced, we have received an incredible number of enquiries about the CPAP device from around the world.

“Making the design and manufacturing specifications openly available will allow companies around the world to produce these devices at speed and at scale to support the global response to COVID-19.”

Security flaws have been uncovered in two best-selling cars that could allow computer hackers to gain access and put safety and privacy at risk.

Consumer group Which? partnered with experts to study the connected tech features of two models, the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Polo.

ALSO READ: Keyless car theft – how to prevent it and stay safe

The research concluded that manufacturers are being ‘careless with security’ because there is no meaningful industry-wide regulation for in-car technology.

Cyber security experts found they could intercept the tyre pressure monitoring system on the Ford. Hackers could tell the system to show that flat tyres were fully inflated – a potentially dangerous safety concern.

ALSO READ: Stolen in seconds: keyless new cars that fail security tests

Analysing the code also uncovered wi-fi details and the password of a computer system at Ford’s factory in Detroit, Michigan. (The Focus is built in Europe.)

Which? also noted the amount of personal information the car was storing, including location and travel direction, speed, acceleration, braking and steering.

‘Simply lift the VW badge’

On the Volkswagen, the security experts gained access to the infotainment system, through the ‘disable traction control’ function.

They noted it contains a huge amount of personal information, including phone contacts and location history.

Furthermore, the tech experts found they could access the car’s front radar module – simply by lifting the VW badge on the front grille.

This would allow hackers ‘to tamper with the collision warning system’.

Which? magazine editor Lisa Barber said: “Most cars now contain powerful computer systems, yet a glaring lack of regulation of these systems means they could be left wide open to attack by hackers – putting drivers’ safety and personal data at risk.

“The government should be working to ensure that appropriate security is built into the design of cars and put an end to a deeply flawed system of manufacturers marking their own homework on tech security.”

A regulation for on-board car computer systems is planned for 2021, adds Which? – but this is only voluntary.

The consumer group adds that while Volkswagen is engaging positively with it, Ford declined to receive the Which? technical report. 

An intriguing collection of nine modern cars with enthusiast appeal are currently being auctioned online. 

Named the Davis Collection, the cars belong to a prolific user of the Bring a Trailer website. All are being sold with no reserve, meaning a new home for each is almost guaranteed.

With the varied range of cars spanning a period from 1989 through to 2002, this could be the perfect starter pack for anyone wanting to get in on the modern classics scene. 

Pick your ride

Mr. Davis, known to the Bring a Trailer community by the username Giediprime, has bought and sold a number of vehicles through the auction website before. 

Some of the cars offered are regular staples on Bring a Trailer. BMW M5s and Honda S2000s being particular fan favorites with the online community. 

However, the collection offers more rarified options, with the choices including a Japanese kei-car and low-mileage Jeep Wrangler Renegade. Below are just some of the highlights. 

1989 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix

One of the standout cars being offered is the 1989 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix by ASC/McLaren. One of just 749 special editions created for the ‘89 model year, this turbocharged Pontiac has covered 5,500 miles from new. 

Made solely in the coupe body shape, the Turbo Grand Prix features a 3.1-liter V-6 engine producing 205 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission was the only option for this rare offering. 

Bespoke front and rear bumpers, plus 16-inch mesh-design alloy wheels and tan leather seats, are just some of the highlights on the Turbo Grand Prix. 

1992 Autozam AZ-1 

Produced between 1992 and 1994, the AZ-1 was created by Mazda under its own special Autozam brand name. Although designed to meet strict Japanese kei-car legislation, the AZ-1 had a host of intriguing features. 

A tiny 657 cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine is mid-mounted in the AZ-1. It sends a total of just 63 horsepower to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. However, the party piece of the AZ-1 are the trick gull-wing doors.

Imported to the United States in 2017, the right-hand drive AZ-1 being auctioned includes bespoke body kit parts taken from the Mazda M2 1015. A number of additional upgrades were also installed when the car lived in Japan, meaning it should attract plenty of keen bids. 

2000 BMW E39 M5

Regarded as one of the greatest sports sedans ever made, the E39 version of the BMW M5 is seeing values continue to increase. Prices are now moving away from the clutches of street racers, and towards the hands of wealthier collectors.

Power comes from a 394 horsepower 4.9-liter V-8 engine, with a six-speed manual the only transmission option. A unique aero kit, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an exhaust system with four tailpipes were other M5 specialities. 

Having covered 56,000 miles from new, the BMW M5 in the Davis collection has certainly been used as intended. Regular maintenance work has been carried out, with new tires fitted last year. We would be inclined to ditch the non-factory M badge added to the front grille though…

Time is running out

Other highlights from the collection include a 1990 Nissan 300ZX Turbo, 1989 Dodge Shelby Lancer, and a 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG. 

An imported Toyota Aristo is also a rarity, using the same twin-turbocharged engine as seen in the MkIV Supra. 

All of the nine auctions began on Monday, April 6th, and are set to run until Monday, April 13th. The finish times are staggered, just in case you really want to try and bag all nine cars.