Porsche has built many, many, MANY special 911s over the years, but these three Toy Story commissions may be among the coolest ever. These were created to celebrate the release of Toy Story 5. One car embodies Woody in denim, another Jessie with cowgirl flourishes, and the third, fittingly a GT3, is Buzz Lightyear, featuring a number of ‘spaceman’ touches.
The cars were auctioned off for $3 million (about R50m) to an anonymous Porsche collector. The proceeds will be split among Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the American Red Cross, and Starlight Children’s Foundation.
When we first learned about the project – the incredible cars and the work these charities do for children and families – we knew it was a natural fit. Our passion for unique Porsches and giving back runs as deep as our love of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the rest of the Toy Story 5 characters. Seeing the teams at Porsche and Pixar come together with their creativity and resources to bless and inspire others is something that is easy to get behind, matching our resources with theirs to expand the potential impact. It truly hits on all cylinders for us, and we hope it inspires others to do the same
– Anonymous buyer
Sonderwunsch goes Toy Story
Porsche’s Sonderwunsch department, which caters to customers who find the standard options list insufficient, handled the customisation of the trio. For this project, Porsche collaborated with Disney and Pixar to transform three animated characters into three real 911s.
A cartoon character can feature exaggerated colors and simplified shapes. A road car must convey the concept without becoming a comical parody. Porsche’s solution involved using base models that already suited the characters, then layering on character-specific finishes and details. This ensured the design was instantly recognizable without appearing superficial.
Buzz Lightyear
Buzz Lightyear is a 911 GT3 RS, which seems the most obvious and therefore correct match in the line-up. The GT3 RS is already fairly extrovert, with its large fixed rear wing and track-focused stance. Porsche and Disney embraced this, transforming the wing into a visual reference to Buzz’s deployable space-ranger wings.
The color scheme is pure Buzz, with white, green, and purple applied to the car in a way that mimics the character’s suit. Porsche also fitted custom ‘Lightyear’ tyres. Inside, the cabin receives the character-led treatment that Sonderwunsch excels at, with the theme conveyed through materials and trim.
Jessie the GTS
Jessie is represented by a 911 Targa 4 GTS. It might be the cleverest of the three because the Targa body provides designers with a natural canvas. Porsche replaced the Targa designation with Jessie’s name on that bar, a neat detail.
A newly developed pearl-effect white paint matches the pearl buttons on Jessie’s shirt. On the door sill guards, the word “yeehaw” appears. It is a small touch that works.
Inside, the western theme continues with denim and cowhide elements. The open-top feel and the car’s visual structure suit the character better than a more aggressive hard-top would have.
Woody finish
A 911 Carrera T makes sense as the Woody of the trio as the Carrera T is the lighter, simplest member of the current 911 range, much like Woody himself.
The standout feature is the denim-like paint finish, designed to mimic the worn texture of Woody’s jeans. Instead of simply choosing blue, Porsche created a surface treatment that conveys the reference more convincingly. The cabin features vintage-inspired leather, with character details integrated into the rest of the interior.
The donation
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America states the money will help create more mentoring relationships and stronger communities. The American Red Cross says the support will go where the need is greatest, including disaster relief, blood services, military community support, and other critical programs. Starlight Children’s Foundation reports the donation will help expand work that brings play and joy to children in hospital, including toy deliveries and themed hospital gowns.
Disney and Pixar described the collaboration as part of a shared belief in storytelling that gives back, which fits the Toy Story franchise. These special editions will be remembered for the right reason.
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