Air | Water — Gunther Werks
Orange County Fairgrounds

April 27, 2024

  • Air | Water 2024 landed on Saturday, April 27, at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. Gates opened at 9 a.m. and the fairgrounds filled quickly—indoor halls and outdoor plazas stitched together into one Porsche skyline. I moved between owner-driven entries and more curated “hero” placements, the mix spanning seven decades in a single walk. Under clear coastal light, you could read the contrasts: patina beside paint-to-sample, narrow bodies against modern wide hips, club plates near track rubber. It felt like a full-spectrum roll call—air-cooled lineage meeting its water-cooled descendants on neutral ground.

    I made a beeline for the two fully exposed carbon-fiber exoskeleton builds—one wearing its native weave, the other tinted a deep blue. Without paint, the story is all structure: book-matched seams, weave alignment across arches and sills, fasteners sitting proud like punctuation. The blue car bent the afternoon light differently—cooler reflections, the tint adding depth to the layup—while the clear weave read like a technical drawing brought to life. Up close, you catch the billet hardware, the tight panel gaps, the way the body lines stay honest even with the added width. Side-by-side, they bracket the same thesis: modern materials and obsessive fitment in service of analog feel, not spectacle. That’s the Gunther Werks pitch distilled—and in this light, it’s undeniable.

    Air | Water grew out of the Luftgekühlt playbook. In 2023, the team extended the Mare Island weekend with a Sunday program that welcomed water-cooled Porsches alongside the air-cooled faithful—proof that the format could bridge generations. In 2024, it became a stand-alone show at the Orange County Fairgrounds, and by 2025, the concept returned there with the same blend of owner cars and spotlighted features. It’s the same curatorial DNA—Patrick Long and the Luft crew—applied at a larger scale: open, inclusive, and story-driven, with placement and lighting used to bring visitors closer to the machines.


Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A rear three-quarter view of a Gunther Werks Speedster Remastered, a custom Porsche 993-based build, finished in a vibrant Amethyst Metallic. The car is displayed on a grassy lawn at an o
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A custom widebody Porsche 993 Speedster in a vibrant magenta metallic finish is parked on a grassy field at an outdoor car show. The car features an exposed carbon-fiber hood stripe, a lo
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A Gunther Werks Speedster Remastered, based on a Porsche 993, is showcased in a vibrant Amethyst Metallic finish at an outdoor car event. The vehicle is parked on a grassy lawn, drawing a
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A low-angle, head-on view of a custom Porsche 993 Speedster finished in a sparkling Amethyst Metallic paint. The car, parked on a grassy field, features an exposed carbon-fiber hood accen
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — Interior view of a Gunther Werks 993 Speedster Remastered, showcasing an extensive use of exposed carbon fiber on the dashboard, door sills, and steering wheel. The cockpit features a cus
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A low-angle, close-up view of the rear quarter of a custom Gunther Werks Porsche 993 Speedster, finished in a vibrant Amethyst Metallic. The car features a prominent ducktail spoiler with
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A front three-quarter view of a Gunther Werks Speedster Remastered, a custom Porsche 911 based on the 993 chassis, displayed on a grassy field at an outdoor car show. The vehicle features
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A front view of a custom Porsche 993 Speedster with a full gloss carbon-fiber body, parked on a grassy field at an outdoor car show. The car features vibrant metallic purple accents on th
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A vibrant magenta Gunther Werks remastered Porsche 993 is displayed on a grassy field at an outdoor car show. Its front hood and rear engine cover are open, revealing the custom 4.0L engi
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A vibrant magenta Porsche 911 (993) with its hood open is the centerpiece at a sunny outdoor car show, parked on a grassy lawn. Spectators gather around to admire the custom build, which
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A detailed high-angle view of the engine bay of a custom-built, air-cooled Porsche 911, finished in a vibrant magenta. The highly modified unther Werks-Rothsport Racing 4.0-liter engine f
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A rear three-quarter view of a Gunther Werks Speedster Remastered, based on a Porsche 993, on display at an outdoor car show. The car features a striking blue-tinted carbon-fiber body, a
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A low-angle rear view of a Gunther Werks remastered Porsche 993, showcasing its wide, full carbon-fiber body finished in a deep blue tinted clear coat. The car features an integrated duck
Air | Water 2024 — Gunther Werks — Orange County Fairgrounds — A low-angle, rear three-quarter view of a Gunther Werks 993 Speedster Remastered, showcasing its full blue-tinted carbon-fiber bodywork. The car is parked outdoors on a sunny day, with br