Luftgekühlt 9 - Air | Water
911 Whale Tails & Other Spoilers

April 29–30, 2023

Luftgekühlt 9 and Air | Water unfolded over April 29–30, 2023, at Mare Island, the historic naval base in Vallejo, just north of San Francisco. The location holds a particular significance for me, as my grandfather worked in this shipyard during World War II. The setting's brick, cranes, and dry docks framed a rare cross-section of Porsche history: more than 1,000 cars and 12,000 guests across the weekend. Saturday centered on the air-cooled 911 legacy—especially the G-model in its 60th year—while Sunday expanded into Air | Water, connecting eras and build styles in one narrative space. The curation was cinematic, turning an industrial shipyard into a gallery where patina, provenance, and personality shared the same passion.
This photo gallery pays homage to all rear spoilers, from iconic whale tails to ducktails, and everything in between and beyond. I traced the lineage from classic ducktail tributes to broad tea-tray Turbo profiles, noting how each contour balances cooling and downforce. Narrow-bodied hot rods wore subtle lips; period-correct 930s parked their hardware proudly under towering lids. Water-cooled GT cars added swan-neck wings, proof that function still shapes Porsche's silhouette. In Mare Island's wind and rusted steel, these spoilers read like punctuation—each one altering the 911's stance and intent.
Luftgekühlt originated in 2014, when racer Patrick Long and creative director Howie Idelson hosted a small gathering of air-cooled Porsches in the parking lot at Deus Ex Machina in Venice, California. The name means "air-cooled", but the idea was bigger: curate cars like art, stage them in character-rich spaces, and invite a community to mingle stories with machinery. From that intimate start, the event scaled into a roving exhibition with hyper-considered placement, distinctive branding, and an inclusive spirit that welcomes purists and outliers alike. It is really something special, everyone across the spectrum coming together to celebrate a shared love for Porsche's heritage, old and new.

Luftgekuhlt 9 - Air | Water - 911 Whale Tails & Other Spoilers

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a red 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera, featuring a prominent 'whale tail' spoiler and distinctive Martini Racing livery stripes. The car is parked in an asphalt lo

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A Speed Yellow Porsche 993 Turbo is being directed by a staff member in an orange safety vest at a car meet in a large parking lot. The car is captured from a low, front three-quarter a

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A low-angle, rear three-quarter view of a vibrant yellow Porsche 993 911 GT2, featuring a massive rear wing and widebody fenders. The car is parked in a line with other classic and mode

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A Speed Yellow Porsche 911 Turbo from the 993 generation is captured from a rear three-quarter angle as it makes a turn on an urban street. The car features its iconic 'whale tail' spoi

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A magenta, rally-style Porsche 911 Carrera is parked at a car show, viewed from the rear three-quarter angle. The car is modified with a lifted suspension, color-matched Fuchs-style whe

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a black Porsche 911 Turbo (993) at the head of a long line of various classic and modern Porsches, all waiting on a distinctive white steel truss bridge. Th

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a gold metallic Porsche 911 SC with a whale tail spoiler, parked on asphalt at an outdoor car event. The industrial setting includes a large gantry crane st

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a white, widebody Porsche 993, featuring prominent riveted fender flares and a large fixed rear spoiler. The car is parked on an asphalt street next to a br

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a classic red Porsche 911 Turbo (930) parked on an asphalt street next to a large brick building. The car's prominent 'whale tail' spoiler and wide rear fen

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a Riviera Blue Porsche 911 Carrera RS (993) parked on a paved lot during an overcast day. The car features its distinctive large rear wing, multi-piece Spee

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A low-angle, front three-quarter view of a Riviera Blue Porsche 911 Carrera RS (993) parked on a concrete lot at an industrial shipyard. The car features a large rear wing, Speedline for Porsche RS wheels with red brake calipers, and a prominent front spoiler. In the background, large yellow cranes, industrial buildings, and the sail of the USS Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) submarine are visible under an overcast sky. — front three-quarter, low — Shipyard, Industrial port, Concrete lot, Submarine, Cranes — April 29–30, 2023

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A Riviera Blue Porsche 911 Carrera RS (993) is parked on a concrete lot in an industrial setting, possibly Mare Island. The car is modified for performance, featuring a large rear wing, three-piece Speedline wheels with red brake calipers, and an interior with a roll cage and blue Recaro racing seats. In the background, a massive steel superstructure looms over the scene, and a concrete structure with the insignia for the USS Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) is visible to the right. — front three-quarter view — industrial park, paved lot, steel superstructure, concrete ramp, chain-link fence — April 29–30, 2023

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a Riviera Blue Porsche 911 Carrera RS (993) parked on a paved surface. The car is equipped with a large rear wing, a visible roll cage, and multi-piece Speedline for Porsche RS wheels with red Porsche-branded brake calipers. The setting appears to be an outdoor event with buildings and trees in the background. — low, rear three-quarter — paved lot, outdoor event, buildings, trees — April 29–30, 2023

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear view of a RUF Turbo R, based on the Porsche 993 chassis, finished in a solid light grey color. The car is parked on a paved surface at what appears to be an outdoor car event, wi

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A light grey RUF Turbo R, based on the Porsche 993 chassis, is parked on a concrete lot in an industrial shipyard. The car, shown from a low front three-quarter angle, features distinct

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A detailed rear three-quarter view of a RUF Turbo R in a light stone grey color, parked on a rough concrete surface against a textured concrete wall. The image highlights the car's dist

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A white Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 with a prominent 'whale tail' spoiler is parked at an outdoor car gathering. The car features orange 'Carrera' side graphics, orange-centered Fuchs-style

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A vibrant light blue Porsche 911 Carrera RSR tribute is parked in an industrial alley next to a building with weathered, orange corrugated metal siding. The car is shown from a rear thr

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear view of a light blue Gunther Werks Speedster, a restomod based on the Porsche 993 chassis, parked on a wooden platform. The car features a prominent ducktail spoiler with carbon-

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A Gunther Werks remastered 993 Speedster is parked at a low angle in front of a red brick industrial building. The car features a custom front bumper with carbon-fiber accents, dark fiv

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A low-angle, direct rear view of a vibrant yellow Porsche 911 GT (993), staged on a wooden plank display platform. The car's prominent rear wing with large endplates and integrated air

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A head-on, low-angle shot of a vibrant red Porsche 911 GT2 (993) presented on a custom platform made of stacked wooden beams. The car is the central exhibit inside a large, industrial w

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A direct rear view of a vibrant red Porsche 911 GT2 (993) on display. The car is parked on a distinctive yellow wooden plank platform inside a spacious, industrial warehouse setting. It

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A metallic blue Porsche 911 Turbo (930) is presented on a low wooden display platform inside a spacious industrial warehouse. The car is shown from a rear three-quarter view, emphasizin

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A metallic blue Porsche 911 Turbo (930) is showcased on a wooden platform at the Luftgekühlt car event, held inside a vast industrial warehouse. The car features color-matched Fuchs whe

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a Porsche 962 C race car in its iconic Rothmans livery, featuring the number 1. The car is presented on a low, wood-framed platform inside a large industria

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear view of a silver Gunther Werks remastered Porsche 993, showcased on a wooden platform inside a large, industrial-style warehouse during an automotive event. The car features wide

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — An orange 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera with black side script and Fuchs-style wheels is parked in the foreground of an industrial lot. Behind it, a lime green Porsche 911 Carrera with a duc

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A vibrant lime green mid-1970s Porsche 911 Carrera is parked at a low angle in front of a rustic industrial building with red brick and weathered white wood walls. The car features clas

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A vibrant orange 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera is parked at a front-three-quarters angle in an industrial setting. The car features black 'Carrera' side graphics, a prominent 'ducktail' rear

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A low-angle, rear three-quarter view of a long line of Porsche 911s parked diagonally at a car meet in an industrial setting. The foreground is dominated by a silver Porsche 993 on blac

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a black Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6, chassis 964, parked on an asphalt lot. The car is distinguished by its wide fenders, large 'whale tail' spoiler, and multi-pi

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A black 1993-1994 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6 (964) is parked on an asphalt lot in an industrial setting. The car features a tan leather interior, a prominent 'whale tail' spoiler, and multi-

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A silver Porsche 911 Carrera (993 generation) is parked at a bustling outdoor car event, viewed from the rear three-quarter angle. The car is equipped with a 'whale tail' spoiler and 18

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear view of a silver Porsche 911 Carrera 3.6 (993 generation) parked on cracked asphalt at what appears to be a car gathering. The car features a fixed rear spoiler, dual exhaust tip

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A silver Porsche 911 Carrera of the 993 generation is parked at a car gathering, viewed from the rear three-quarter angle. The car is modified with a large rear spoiler, multi-piece dee

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A classic Porsche 911 Carrera, finished in black with gold "Carrera" side graphics and matching gold Fuchs-style wheels. The car is modified with a prominent "whale tail" spoiler, a rol

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a classic black Porsche 911 Carrera, likely a G-body model from the 1980s, parked on an asphalt surface next to a concrete curb. The car features its iconic

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A detailed rear three-quarter view of a Porsche 911 (993) in a vibrant green finish, parked indoors at what appears to be an automotive event. The car features a prominent 'whale tail'

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear view of a black Porsche 911 Turbo of the 993 generation, parked on asphalt at a sunny outdoor car event. The car features its characteristic full-width taillight bar and fixed 'w

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A black Porsche 911 Turbo, likely a 964 generation, is parked in the foreground at an outdoor car show on a waterfront pier. The car features gold BBS multi-spoke wheels, a large 'whale

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A rear three-quarter view of a white G-body Porsche 911 Carrera RS homage, parked on asphalt next to a chain-link fence. The car features wide fender flares, a large "whale tail" spoile

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water 911 — Whale Tails & Other Spoilers — A profile view of a metallic red Porsche 911 Carrera RS (993) parked at a sunny, outdoor car meet next to the water. The car features multi-piece 'RS' wheels with yellow brake calipers and a prominent rear spoiler. A blue widebody Porsche is parked behind it, and numerous spectators are gathered around, with a drawbridge visible in the background across the water. — side profile — car meet, waterfront, parking lot, marina, bridge — April 29–30, 2023