Porsche 911 Panamericana Special  Tribute To 356 Race Car

Porsche 911 Panamericana Special Tribute To 356 Race Car

70 years later, Porsche created a Porsche 911 S Cabriolet inspired by the legendary 356 S Cabriolet that made history in Mexico.

This 911 brings to life the spirit of the 356 with an array of customized features. Both the interior and exterior showcase elements and details such as the side lollipop with the number 11, headrest with individual embroidery, the rear lid grill painted in white, and decorative logos of the Carrera Panamericana.

The car is also equipped with 20/21" Turbo wheels, painted in Gentian Blue Metallic, and a convertible top in Graffiti Gray.

Memories of a legend.

In 1952, Porsche participated for the first time in the 'Carrera Panamericana’ with a young man named Herbert Linge as the race team mechanic. 70 years later, his story became a legend and turned the Porsche356 into an icon.


Watch the video and experience Herbert's memories. The ones that inspired Porsche to build the new '911 Carrera Panamericana Special.'

Porsche 911 Panamericana Special 

Porsche - PanamericanaPorsche - PanamericanaPorsche - Panamericana

70 years later, we create a Porsche 911 S Cabriolet inspired by the legendary 356 S Cabriolet that made history in Mexico.

This 911 brings to life the spirit of the 356 with an array of customized features. Both the interior and exterior showcase elements and details such as the side lollipop with the number 11, headrest with individual embroidery, the rear lid grill painted in white, and decorative logos of the Carrera Panamericana.

The car is also equipped with 20/21" Turbo wheels, painted in Gentian Blue Metallic, and a convertible top in Graffiti Gray.

An icon. An unrivaled design.

Grant Larson, Director of Special Projects at Porsche, is one of the brand's most well-known designers and responsible for bringing the Porsche '911 CarreraPanamericana Special' to life.


Learn about the process behind building this iconic car inspired by the 356 S Cabriolet that participated for the first time in the notorious 1952 Carrera Panamericana race.

The route.

Stretching from south to north, La Carrera Panamericana is much more than a race against time–it’s a journey fueled by passion and sportsmanship. A gathering that brings us together for one week to share our passion for Porsche.

This edition will have seven stages. Starting in Veracruz, along the Gulf of Mexico, we will travel north to Oaxaca before arriving in the magical capital, Mexico City. Going at full speed, we will reach Querétaro, Morelia, and Guanajuato, located in the heart of the country. Finally, after an intense week, our last stop will be Durango.

The histrory.

Porsche - A new challenge.

A new challenge.

The international press called the original version of “La Carrera Panamericana”, the most challenging race in the world. A 3,000-kilometer journey across Mexico where more than half of the competitors failed to cross the finish line due to the harsh roads conditions and dangers that occurred in each stage. There were many obstacles such as cliffs, huge potholes and even hundreds of fans very close to the road. It was a brutal week that required a sporting spirit and a passion for speed.

Porsche - Two engines. One great dream.

Two engines. One great dream.

The Porsche team consisted of two cars. There was number 10, a Porsche 356 S Coupé 1500 cc, driven by Conde Graf Berkheim and Herbert Linge, the copilot and only mechanic of both Porsches. And number 11, a 356 S Cabriolet, driven by racing veteran prince Fürst von Metternich and diplomat Baron Manuel De Teffé. They were all ready to make history.

Porsche - Our secret weapon.

Our secret weapon.

The Porsche team had a secret tool, which was a novelty at the time: an automatic gearbox. As the driver braked and deaccelerated hard for a corner with his left foot, he could accelerate with the right foot, causing an automatic downshift and the desired boost. La CarreraPanamericana, in addition to being one of the biggest competitions at the time, was the ideal testing ground for the teams’ new technologies.

Porsche - Exceeding the goal.

Exceeding the goal.

After a tough week, the Porsche wearing the number 11 crossed the finished line. The 356 S Cabriolet dealt with mechanical problems and went through 32 tires but that didn’t stop the car from proving what the Porsche team is capable of. It won its category and finished eighth overall in the race, reaching unthinkable speeds (averaging 169 km/hr!) during that era of racing. The world witnessed Porschemake a name for itself, and the entire 356 ended up dented. Not because of the road but because of the hundreds of Mexicans who jumped on top to celebrate.

Info from Porsche.

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