The Audacious Canvas: Why the 1994 Porsche 911 Speedster ‘Turbo-Look’ Physical Sculpture XI is Automotive Art

There are Porsches, and then there are Porsches that transcend mere engineering to become outright declarations of artistic intent. Landing squarely in the latter category is the utterly unique 1994 Porsche 911 Speedster ‘Turbo-Look’ known officially as the Physical Sculpture XI, a machine born not just in the workshops of Stuttgart but in the defiant, boundary-pushing mind of the celebrated Austrian artist, Professor Wolfgang Flatz.

This vehicle is more than a rare collector’s item; it’s a high-performance, open-air canvas created in collaboration with Porsche’s head designer, Harm Lagaay, and then-CEO Wendelin Wiedeking, and its unique provenance and audacious aesthetics place it in a stratosphere rarely occupied by four-wheeled transport. For collectors in both the fine art and Porsche communities, it represents the ultimate confluence of speed and sculpture.

The Speedster itself has always been a special breed, dating back to the 964-generation of the 911 which, some 25 years after the model’s debut, represented the most radical overhaul the 911 had ever seen. While a total of 936 examples of the 964-platform Speedster were produced for the 1993 and 1994 model years, the one offered here is exceptional: it is one of just fifteen examples adapted by Porsche Exclusive with the highly desirable wide ‘Turbo-Look’ bodywork, instantly granting it true unicorn status.

However, its history with Flatz is what elevates it from merely rare to utterly priceless in terms of cultural significance. Flatz, famous for his audacious and disruptive projects—including, perhaps most notoriously in 2024, the pre-sale of his own tattooed skin posthumously—has often turned to the automobile, and particularly Porsche, for inspiration.

His collaboration with the brand famously resulted in the “Champion Piece” display at the 1993 World Athletics Championships, where 90 911s were arranged in front of Stuttgart’s Neues Schloss.

As a thank you for his creative input, Porsche gifted Flatz this incredible bespoke art project, the Physical Sculpture XI. The artist, who has retained ownership since new, ensured its design was an instant, high-speed statement.

The exterior features a striking paint-to-sample black and yellow finish, a direct nod to the flags of Stuttgart and the state of Baden-Württemberg when the soft-top is up.

Drop that roof, however, and the bright red leather interior is exposed, completing a powerful colour triptych that perfectly reflects the colours of the German flag. The interior modifications are a masterclass in unique customisation, featuring Red Recaro RS seats and a dashboard accented with yellow.

In perhaps the most charmingly idiosyncratic touch, the gearknob, handbrake lever, and bespoke steering wheel are all crafted from German oak, with the gear knob itself proudly capped with a 2 Deutsche Mark coin.

With only 56,583 kilometres showing on the odometer, this machine has been treated as the work of art it is. This piece of rolling history is expected to fetch an appropriately staggering sum at auction, with estimates for the Physical Sculpture XI falling between £700,000 and £1,300,000.

It is a one-of-a-kind example of Porsche’s iconic Speedster, transformed by a prominent artist into a piece of contemporary sculpture that pushes the boundary between motoring and fine art, making it an essential acquisition for any collector looking for true automotive distinction.

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