Luftgekühlt 9 - Air | Water
Gunther Werks

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.

    These photos capture Gunther Werks’ 993 reimaginings up close. In Mare Island’s brick and steel, sculpted carbon, widened hips, and jewel-like details read as both respectful and radical—air-cooled heritage rewritten with modern intent. I lingered on the stance, tight panel gaps, billet hardware, and purposeful cabins; every surface favored engineering over nostalgia. It was my first time seeing them in person, and I met the Gunther Werks team here—the moment my own 993 Tornado journey began, sparked by the precision, theater, and analog soul that defined these builds.

    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.

Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water — Gunther Werks — A light blue Gunther Werks remastered 993 Speedster is displayed in profile on a wooden pallet in an industrial setting. The car features a white side stripe with red 'PORSCHE' lettering, dark grey 5-spok
Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water — Gunther Werks — A low-angle, head-on photograph of a light blue Gunther Werks remastered Porsche 993 Speedster, presented on a thick wooden platform. The car is the centerpiece of an outdoor event in an industrial area,
Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water — Gunther Werks — A low-angle rear view of a light blue Gunther Werks remastered Speedster, a custom Porsche 993-based build, presented on a platform of large wooden beams. The car features a full-width taillight, central
Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water — Gunther Werks — A low-angle, detailed rear view of a light blue Gunther Werks remastered Porsche 993. The shot emphasizes the intricate, centrally-mounted dual exhaust system with gold-colored heat shielding, the custom
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 — Gunther Werks — A high-angle interior view of a Gunther Werks Speedster, a remastered Porsche 993, showcasing its bespoke cockpit. The open-top car features a teal green exterior with a vibrant yellow leather and grey Al
Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water — Gunther Werks — A light blue Gunther Werks remastered Porsche 993 is displayed on a wooden platform at an outdoor car show. The rear engine lid and doors are open, revealing a custom 4.0L engine and a vibrant orange quil
Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water — Gunther Werks — A detailed close-up of of the custom air-cooled Werks-Rothsport Racing 4.0-liter engine bay. The focus is on a large, exposed conical air filter with a custom '4.0L' badge, connected to satin-finished int
Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water — Gunther Werks — A detailed, high-angle close-up of the custom air-cooled Werks-Rothsport Racing 4.0-liter engine. The central focus is a large, oval air filter housing with '4.0L' embossed on its silver top. Symmetrical,
Luftgekühlt 9 — Air | Water — Gunther Werks — A low-angle, rear three-quarter view of a light blue Gunther Werks bespoke Speedster, displayed on a large wooden platform outdoors. The car features prominent carbon-fiber speedster humps, a white side s
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