Gemballa: Super Tuner for the Porsche Stars
- 42 Comment
I'm continually amazed at what people will spend on a car like a brand new Porsche, only to dump sometimes 2x or 3x more into customizing the car. I haven't ever really gotten into the gross excess that a lot of tuners tend to bolt on to cars to justify the outrageous prices they charge. However, over the years, I have found a few tuners that have grown on a me a bit.
In honor of some of these long-standing Porsche artists (pronounced arrrteeests), I thought I'd do a little 7 Days of Porsche Tuners series. Nothing super formal other than some great pics, some outrageous cars, and more money represented than many of us will see in our lifetimes.
We're kicking things off with one of my favorite (although a bit controversially within my own mind) tuners of all time: Gemballa
Located just 20 km from the Porsche factory in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Uwe Gemballa started making dreams come true about 27 years ago. From the company's web site:
Forty handpicked specialists apply themselves with the utmost dedication to increasing the performance of what is already a highly potent sports car. But they also place enormous emphasis on the smallest details. In a small, almost clinically pure atmosphere, handmade sports cars of the absolute highest calibre are produced in small series. Running gear, engine, aerodynamics and cockpit are formed to create a single entity, which makes driving a Gemballa an utterly groundbreaking automotive experience.
I remember Gemballa Porsches being some of the most outrageous designs both inside and out when I was a kid. To this day, the Avalanche and Mirage remain two of the wildest customized Porsches you can buy. One of the things I've noticed consistently about Gemballa over the years is their attention to the interior details of the car. They have done some of the craziest interior treatments I've ever seen on a Porsche.
Gemballa offers a number of different accessories, customized body kits and performance enhancing modifications for a broad range of Porsche cars. They also have 3 Gemballa supercars, the Avalanche, Mirage GT and GT Aero 3 which are based on the 911, Carrera GT and Cayenne. These supercars are what Gemballa is most known for.
Prices for Gemballa enhancements range from the thousands for "minor" improvements to the hundreds of thousands for a supercar like the Avalanche GTR 650.
Check out the Gemballa Web Site at: Gemballa.com. Also, you have to check out the engine sounds from the avalanche. You can find it on the site or click this link to play it directly: Avalanche Sounds
[Source: Gemballa.com]
42 Comments on this post
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Scott said:
I do not understand how these people get this kind of disposable income! I have to save up just to get new license plate frames. Now I feel sad.
March 24th, 2009 at 7:14 am -
Jeff W said:
Some of the Gemballa cars are over the top, but some are so awesome I would be happy to drive them anytime.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:35 am -
James said:
i listened to the sound link and i wish i could download the engine sounds to my ipod
March 24th, 2009 at 9:48 pm -
James said:
the rear end of the first car you have pictured just makes me shake my head
March 24th, 2009 at 9:49 pm -
Russ said:
gemballa hands down makes the best customization on Porsches.
Very popular in the ME
March 25th, 2009 at 9:24 am -
Andrew said:
ME = Middle East?
March 26th, 2009 at 12:03 pm -
James said:
well jeff even if they are over the top would you still drive one or just forgo the opportunity?
March 31st, 2009 at 8:21 am -
Brad said:
I didnt think the Carrera GT could get anymore stunning looking….wrong! awesome!
April 20th, 2009 at 6:40 am -
Casey W, said:
I have always liked Gemballa. Other porsche tuners like techart do a great job too, but gemballa has always been my favorite. Look at that Cayenne, it almost doesn't look like a family car by porsche. It looks more like something i would actually drive. (not dising the Cayenne, it just isnt my favorite) And that GTR… wow
April 21st, 2009 at 11:27 am -
Jeff W said:
I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to drive one, that is for sure.
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:51 am -
James said:
really?? does a carrera gt really need to be tuned?
April 30th, 2009 at 9:55 pm -
Ben said:
Gemballa is an amazing tuning company, I love the GTR 600! Im really liking the colors in these pictures.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:54 am -
mitchell said:
i have a hard time reading about porsches with all the cool pics.
i dont really care much about tuners – i just love the look and the power. hahaMay 12th, 2009 at 8:10 pm -
Phil S said:
The GTR 600 acceleration would snap your neck.
May 13th, 2009 at 8:30 pm -
Stephen said:
If I only had the income to purchase one of these.
May 14th, 2009 at 12:19 pm -
Stephen said:
Win I hit the lottery ….. these are all mine!
May 15th, 2009 at 6:12 pm -
Stephen said:
I plan to download as much as I can
May 16th, 2009 at 8:34 pm -
Brad said:
Another post i cant help but come back to! That Orange Mirage GT…Sick awesome!
May 21st, 2009 at 6:16 am -
lar said:
anything can get better.
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:35 pm -
maria said:
no boxsters?
May 25th, 2009 at 7:19 pm -
lar said:
GT is hard to beat.
May 25th, 2009 at 7:32 pm -
James said:
i'm liking the black GT. it's got that stealth look
May 31st, 2009 at 9:08 pm -
Brad said:
Yeah why no Boxsters? Its a perfect candidate to get some help in the horsepower department.
June 6th, 2009 at 8:35 am -
Stephen said:
Yes, a new Porsche is expensive and I know most of us can't afford, but if you have the money …… why not add a few more thousands to "trick" it out?
June 6th, 2009 at 1:19 pm -
lar said:
do a nice job without going overboard.
June 6th, 2009 at 2:18 pm -
Stephen said:
I agree, you can spend TOO much "tricking" out your Porsche and then it will look like crap! Simplicity is the best!
June 10th, 2009 at 7:33 pm -
maria said:
really getting to like orange cars.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:32 pm -
R Hicks said:
Wow, I can only dream of owning one like these
July 9th, 2009 at 3:06 am -
maria said:
also like the matte look on 911.
July 9th, 2009 at 8:43 am -
Stephen said:
Maria, I agree with your matte comment
July 15th, 2009 at 10:42 am -
Stephen said:
I'm not too fond of the orange colored car. The car is great, but I don't like the color.
July 18th, 2009 at 4:21 am -
lar said:
lambos have always come in wild colors.nothing wrong with trying something different.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:58 am -
Stephen said:
But orange????? Sorry, but it just reminds me of a pumpkin.
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:15 am -
Galen Wood said:
looks like a gator fan's car, with the blue lights and orange exterior.
July 26th, 2009 at 7:25 pm -
Laura Adams said:
I love the orange lambo! Different strokes as they say.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:50 am -
Kristina Brown said:
I'd love to find myself in the cockpit of a Gemballa!
July 30th, 2009 at 6:05 pm -
Stephen said:
I want to thank everyone for thier comments, questions and insight. I have learned much, thank you!
July 31st, 2009 at 6:40 am -
Laura Adams said:
I can't imagine anything needing changed on a Porsche.
August 6th, 2009 at 4:41 am -
ludwig heimrath said:
loking for exhaustsystem for 996 turbo
October 15th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
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