Rinspeed Porsche 969 Turbo

From an automotive perspective, the 1980s in Europe were characterized by one trend in particular: tuning. Ever wilder extensions and spoiler add-ons adorned both well-behaved production cars and sports cars from Porsche, Lamborghini or Ferrari. Some tuners outdid themselves from car show to car show with their creations. Among them was Rinspeed, a company founded in Switzerland in 1977. The team around founder Frank M. Rinderknecht began with the import of sunroofs from the USA and the production of vehicles for handicapped people. They quickly made a name for wild conversions as well. Most of these made their annual debut at the Geneva Motor Show starting in 1979. For example, they built a Volkswagen Golf I with gullwing doors, turbo engine and the interior of a Porsche 928, the Aliporta. While tuning vehicles were initially the focus of the company, from the early 1990s it turned to concept cars that packaged new innovations in a sensational way.

969 debuted at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show

Since the mid-2000s, Rinspeed creations have also stood for sustainability, electric drives and autonomous concepts. The tuning division was sold to Mansory in 2008. But back to the 1980s. In 1985, Rinspeed presented the 969 Turbo in Geneva. This was a converted Porsche 911 Turbo whose design was clearly inspired by the Ferrari Testarossa. In addition to Rinspeed, other tuning companies at the time also adopted the unusual design of the side extensions with cooling fins that Ferrari had given to their mid-engined sports car ex works. On the 969, the Swiss tuner combined this styling element with an independent slant nose with the pop-up headlights of the Porsche 944. The entire rear section had been reshaped into a small notchback with integrated air vents and spoiler lip. The taillights of the 944 sat underneath. Above the rear window, Rinspeed also added a roof spoiler. The wheel arches were fitted with 16-inch wheels from Gotti or BBS.

Unusual interior

The interior in particular reflects the era. Various components of a Pioneer stereo system are integrated into the center console. It can also be operated via a panel in the steering wheel. Loudspeakers are installed in both the doors and the parcel shelf behind the rear seats. Such HiFi installations were en vogue in the tuning scene of those days. In addition, there were electrically adjustable Recaro sports seats. Donald L. Weber saw the Rinspeed 969 at the Geneva Motor Show in 1985, fell in love with it and negotiated the purchase while still at the stand. In the end, he bought the exhibition car and another example of the small series, which had been renamed R69 at the time of completion. He sold the second car again as early as 1989. However, the 969 Turbo in white metallic stayed in his collection until today.

One of 12 copies at Gooding & Company

Now Gooding & Company is offering the car in an auction as part of Monterey Car Week. The accompanying paperwork identifies the base car as a 1984 Porsche 911 Turbo with the 3.3-liter, 300 hp six-cylinder boxer engine, first delivered in Switzerland. Rinspeed made no changes to the drivetrain. So the manual four-speed gearbox was retained. After the conversion, only around 9,800 miles have been clocked up to date. At the auction, experts expect a hammer price of between US$ 125,000 and US$ 150,000. A fair price for one of only twelve examples of the Rinspeed 969 built, which was offered as a Coupé and Cabriolet.

Images: Gooding & Company, Mike Maez