Gemballa Mirage Turbo
The Gemballa Mirage was the most extreme expression of 1980s supercar excess — a Porsche 911 Turbo transformed beyond recognition into a wide-bodied, twin-turbocharged monster that made the Ferrari F40 look understated. Created by Uwe Gemballa at his workshop in Leonberg, near Stuttgart, the Mirage was as controversial as it was fast.
Gemballa's formula was straightforward in concept but extreme in execution: take a Porsche 911 Turbo (930 or later 964/993), dramatically widen the body with bespoke fiberglass or carbon fiber panels, install a heavily modified twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, and furnish the interior with the most opulent materials money could buy. The result was a car that looked nothing like the Porsche it was based on.
The bodywork was the Mirage's most striking feature. The massive flared fenders, aggressive front bumper with additional air intakes, deep side skirts, and elaborate rear wing transformed the 911's familiar silhouette into something far more dramatic. The Mirage was significantly wider than the standard 911 Turbo, and the stance was lowered and aggressive. Love it or hate it, the Mirage was impossible to ignore.
Underneath the dramatic bodywork, Gemballa's engine modifications were equally ambitious. The standard 911 Turbo's flat-six was bored and stroked, fitted with larger twin turbochargers, upgraded intercoolers, and custom engine management. Output varied by specification, but 650 hp was a common figure, with some late-model cars producing over 700 hp. In a car weighing around 1,350 kg, this provided truly savage acceleration.
The Mirage was aimed at the Middle Eastern and American markets, where customers demanded the most extreme, most visible, most expensive cars available. Prices started around $500,000 — more than double the cost of a standard 911 Turbo — and could easily exceed that with options. The interior could be trimmed in virtually any material the customer desired, from exotic leathers to gold-plated switchgear.
Gemballa produced a relatively small number of Mirages over the company's history. Each car was essentially a bespoke creation, tailored to the individual customer's specifications. This exclusivity, combined with the dramatic styling and extreme performance, has made the Mirage a collectible among enthusiasts of 1980s and 1990s supercar culture.
The Gemballa story took a dark turn in 2010 when Uwe Gemballa was murdered in South Africa under mysterious circumstances. The company was eventually revived under new ownership, but the original Mirage remains the most iconic Gemballa creation — a car that perfectly embodied the excess and ambition of its era.
The Gemballa Mirage is an extremely rare, high-value collectible. Provenance is critical — verify the car's history through Gemballa (now operating under new ownership) if possible. The Porsche 911 mechanicals underneath are well-understood, but the Gemballa-specific modifications (turbo systems, bodywork, interior) require specialist knowledge. The fiberglass/carbon bodywork can be difficult and expensive to repair. Modified engine internals should be inspected by a Porsche specialist familiar with forced-induction builds. Check for matching documentation between the donor Porsche VIN and Gemballa records. The 1980s and early 1990s models based on the 930 are the most iconic.
Exact production numbers unknown — estimated at fewer than 100 units across all years and variants. Each Mirage was essentially a bespoke build based on donor Porsche 911 Turbo (930, 964, or 993). Power outputs varied from approximately 550 hp to over 700 hp depending on specification. Later models included the Avalanche (based on 996/997) which continued the extreme widebody tradition.