The Porsche 918 Spyder is one of the greatest supercars so far this century. And back in 2015, if you ordered a brand-new one with the added Weissach package, you could essentially have it painted any color your heart desired. For one Swiss buyer preparing to hand over more than $1 million, it had to be a hand-painted psychedelic design inspired by some of the legendary Le Mans–winning Porsche 917s from the early 1970s.
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Yet it came with a twist. Instead of choosing Porsche’s iconic Guards Red paint to complement the car’s complex stark-white swirls, he picked Rosso Corsa. As in the Prancing Horse’s Rosso Corsa. That’s right, a Porsche 918 painted Ferrari red. Sacrilege? We’ll let you decide. Not that it will likely matter when this Porsche 918, one of the rarest examples, is offered through RM Sotheby’s in a two-day Sotheby’s Sealed auction opening Wednesday, January 17.
“This is arguably the finest and most lavishly specified 918 Spyder in existence . . . Offered directly from its first and only owner and having been driven less than 800 km (500 miles),” states RM Sotheby’s in its auction notes. In addition to that psychedelic paint job, it’s the car’s exclusivity that undoubtedly sets it apart. Between 2014 and 2016, Porsche built just 918 examples of the 918 Spyder model. This car, No. 680, was delivered in January of 2016.
While many of the Weissach-package 918s received a vinyl wrap in one of the so-called “hippy” liveries (remember the famous “pink pig” design?), No. 680 was one of only three to have this specific livery painted, and the only one to feature that retina-searing red-and-white color scheme.
The car’s customization also included white-painted magnesium Weissach wheels, silver brake calipers, No. 8 racing nomenclature on the doors and hood, and discreet Martini Racing badges on the lower rear fenders. The Spyder’s jaw-dropping interior is trimmed in custom red leather with contrasting white piping on the seats, and the trunk and firewall are dressed in black-quilted fabric. Even the keys are unique, painted matching red and white, and housed in red-leather pouches.
The options alone are said to have totaled more than $192,000. That’s on top of the original cost of roughly $860,000 for the vehicle. Add to that value the sheer overwhelming appeal and collectability of the 918 Spyder. Here was the spiritual successor to the iconic 959 and Carrera GT with hybrid power creating a technical masterpiece. Output comes from a 608 hp 4.6-liter V-8 with electric motors front and rear. The setup delivers a combined 887 hp and more than 940 ft lbs of torque. At its launch, independent testers recorded zero-to-60 mph acceleration in 2.2 seconds and a top speed of 214 mph, while Porsche took the 918 Spyder and set a record-breaking time of 6 minutes, 57 seconds around the Nürburgring track in Germany.
According to RM Sotheby’s, after the owner took delivery of the car from Porsche’s headquarters in Stuttgart, it has spent its life in the Swiss Alps—the town of Gstaad to be exact. In July of last year, with just 760 km (472 miles) on the odometer, it went to the local Gstaad Porsche Center for an oil change and four new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires. The bill came to $15,874.
Will the car sell for close to its $2.35 million high-end estimate? Even in today’s softening supercar market, there’s a strong likelihood. In 2022, at a Bring a Trailer auction, a similar 918—with the Weissach package and 1,000 miles on it—garnered $2.025 million. And only last month, at RM Sotheby’s “The White Collection” sale in Houston, Tex., a 2015 Porsche 918 “Weissach” Spyder sold for $3.94 million. We’ll know for sure whether this car’s psychedelic paint helps fetch a dizzying price when the Sotheby’s Sealed auction ends on January 19.
Click here for more photos of this 2015 Porsche 918 “Weissach” Spyder.
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FAQs
The value of a used 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder ranges from $110,853 to $191,922, based on vehicle condition, mileage, and options. Get a free appraisal here.
How rare is the Porsche 918 Spyder? ›
Only 918 examples of the incredible 918 Spyder were ever made. This one is number 513. Additionally, approximately 300 918 Spyders were sold in the U.S., and just four were delivered to Hong Kong. Spotting one is a rare sight.
How much is the most expensive Porsche 918 Spyder? ›
This record-breaking example has over $96k in bespoke options, and is one of only a very few 918 Spyders with a MSRP of over $1M. Sold via @rmsothebys for $3.9M with only 12 miles on the odometer!
How many 918 Spyders are there? ›
Only 918 models were built, hence the denomination “918,” of which 297 were sent to the US. The 918 Spyder was much better reviewed than the Carrera GT as it is a supercar designed to assist every caliber of driver.
Is a Porsche 918 Spyder faster than a Bugatti? ›
Both manufacturers claim a mid-2.0-second sprint to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour), though the Bugatti's top speed dwarfs the Porsche's – 214 mph (345 kph) to 261 mph (420 kph).
Is the Porsche 918 Spyder Street legal? ›
Is the Porsche 918 Spyder street legal? Absolutely! The 918 was designed, tested, and legalized as a street-legal road car, so you won't have any problems registering the car at your local DMV office.
How many miles per gallon does a Porsche 918 Spyder get? ›
When powered only by the gasoline engine, EPA's official combined city/highway fuel economy is 22 mpg‑US (11 L/100 km; 26 mpg‑imp).
What is special about Porsche 918 Spyder? ›
This super sports car, which is limited to a run of 918 cars, features a high-performance plug-in hybrid drive and combines a combustion engine delivering an output of 608 hp with two electric motors achieving a combined output of 286 hp.
What's the most expensive Porsche? ›
Priceless Collector-Grade Classics
The legendary 1970 Porsche 917K holds the public record, as the Gulf Racing livery #22 from Le Mans sold for an astronomical $14,080,000. Sporting yet another famous livery, the Rothman's 1982 Porsche 956 brought $10,120,000 for its 35-year lap record at the Nürburgring.
Is the 918 Spyder a supercar or hypercar? ›
The 918 Spyder was a plug-in hybrid hypercar that consisted of a high-performance 4.6-litre V8 engine and twin electric motors – a 115 kW electric motor on the rear axle and a 95 kW one on the front.
It hits zero to 60 mph in 2.2 seconds with a top speed of 214 mph. The ultra-rare 2015 Porsche 918 “Weissach” Spyder is heading to Sotheby's Sealed auction which ends on January 20, 2024 and is estimated to go for more than $2.3 million USD.
What happened to the Porsche 918 Spyder? ›
Production of the 918 Spyder may have ended in 2015, but such was the impact it had on Porsche – and the way that sportscars were thought of in general – that it continues to influence Porsche cars of today. Hybrid and fully electric engines are now fixtures across the company's range.
What is the Holy Trinity of Cars? ›
The original Holy Trinity of Hypercars – the McLaren P1, Ferrari LaFerrari, and Porsche 918 Spyder – left an indelible mark on automotive history. Their combination of groundbreaking technology, exhilarating performance, and limited production cemented their legendary status.
What's the fastest 0 to 60? ›
Fastest from the blocks: 0-60 mph
As of today, the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 crushes all with a 0-60 mph time of just 1.66 seconds. That's simply absurd, but keep in mind the Demon was engineered with the single-minded purpose of going fast in a straight line.
Does Porsche still sell the 918 Spyder? ›
Production of the 918 Spyder may have ended in 2015, but such was the impact it had on Porsche – and the way that sportscars were thought of in general – that it continues to influence Porsche cars of today. Hybrid and fully electric engines are now fixtures across the company's range.
How much is a Porsche 918 Spyder 2024? ›
It hits zero to 60 mph in 2.2 seconds with a top speed of 214 mph. The ultra-rare 2015 Porsche 918 “Weissach” Spyder is heading to Sotheby's Sealed auction which ends on January 20, 2024 and is estimated to go for more than $2.3 million USD.
Is the Porsche 918 Spyder a supercar? ›
As one of the most advanced vehicles from Porsche, this supercar has immense horsepower and torque figures that place it in a category all its own.
