Saskatchewan Porsche dealer commissioned two unique 918s in Gulf racing colours
There has never been a shortage of one-of-a-kind painted race cars in the history of Porsche Motorsports from psychedelic abstracts to even a Pink Pig! But there has never been anything that comes close to the blue and orange Gulf colors on the spectacular Porsche 917 Ks which ran in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and ’71.
But what if the well-known colors are applied to the current-day Porsche 918, asked Vaughn Wyant the owner of Canadian auto dealership. Wyant is president of The Wyant Group which consists of Saskatoon Porsche dealership based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Only in Canada would a car dealer think about contacting the manufacturer with such an outrageous request and taking the company’s reply of “No, it is not possible, Porsche is no longer associated with Gulf and does not have the right to use their team livery” as motivation.
Thus, Wyant decided to find out himself whether what seems impossible really is. When the news of 918 project became known to the public he contacted Porsche AG again wondering whether they would be ready to manufacture two cars if he manages to obtain all the necessary permissions from Gulf? Answer: reluctantly yes.
Then, Wyant needed to persuade the Gulf Canada located in Quebec to approve his project. It was not an easy task, but at some point, they accepted the project and presented it to Gulf International. After lengthy negotiations, the answer was finally ‘yes’ according to the rules established by Gulf.
Having received the approval, Wyant gathered the design team, which made its best effort to imitate the stripes taking into account the changes from 1971 917 to the 918. The photos of the 917 were carefully analyzed in order to take into account all the information about the spacing and other details for the stripes. Some other changes included Interior of the 918, with unique logos on the seat-backs.
At last, Porsche AG found that the design presented by Wyant’s team was acceptable including logos on the seat-backs and agreed to produce two 918s.
Even though they are similar in almost every detail, the two official 918s are unique in their own way and different from each other. There are visible differences like color of the piping on the seats and many others. One can easily distinguish them just looking at the cars.
For those who haven’t seen the original cars, it might take a while before they understand how to differentiate between “the twins.” Here is an interesting trick that might help in finding out how to do so; the vehicle doesn’t carry any green ghosting that makes 918 known as a Hybrid Hypercar by Porsche.
Porsche Centre Saskatchewan claims that these two 918 are the only two vehicles in the world which are “Gulf Livery Period Correct.” “Period correct” is the phrase used to describe the features of the car that were made when Porsche was racing the car during 70s along with the Gulf Oil Company – very carefully.
Some Team Gulf livery 918 are there, as there is someone who got a standard 918 and made it with some decals painted. However, only these two in Canada are the only Gulf Porsches 918 in the world – period, with the proof.
And there’s even rumor going around that one of these two might be available on the market at the moment.
Only in Canada you say!
Why Gulf Racing Colors Matter to Porsche Enthusiasts
It is not about beauty alone – this particular color scheme became famous during the early seventies when the Porsche 917 was introduced and dominated endurance racing for many years to come. The Gulf-liveried Porsche 917K is among the most recognized race cars in the history of racing and is even considered as one of the greatest race cars in the history of endurance racing.
Gulf colors have become an iconic symbol of that era when Porsche became a dominant force in Le Mans racing and to this day, decades later, a Porsche in those particular colors becomes a collectible car, bringing back memories of all those legendary wins. The introduction of two Canadian Porsche 918 Spyders makes one appreciate just how close that connection between Porsche and Gulf has been.
The Porsche 918 Spyder: A Future Classic
The Porsche 918 Spyder was set up for becoming a collectible car way before the special editions that pay homage to Gulf racing colors were ordered. Built between 2013 and 2015, the hybrid supercar featured a naturally-aspirated V8 motor combined with innovative electric motors and providing a total power of 887 hp.
At the time of its release, the 918 Spyder showcased how Porsche envisions the concept of high performance in hybrid form. With its ability to go from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in under three seconds as well as having an ability to drive in a purely electric mode, it became one of the three representatives of the “Holy Trinity” of hybrid hypercars along with Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1.
Only 918 vehicles were produced at all, which already makes each one rather rare. The special editions are even more scarce.
Why These Two Cars Are So Significant
Indeed, many Porsche owners have done Gulf-themed wraps and paint jobs on their vehicles. But one thing that sets these Saskatchewan-based Porsche 918 Spyders apart is the fact that the manufacturer played a significant role in designing the cars.
Instead of doing an after-market job, Wyant sought permission from Gulf and collaborated directly with Porsche to make sure that the design was true to the look of the vintage race cars. This makes the two vehicles truly unique, considering that there is no other Porsche 918 that has been officially blessed by both manufacturers.
Provenance, for many collectors, is just as important as rarity. The provenance of the cars, which involve the cooperation between the two major carmakers and the Saskatchewan Porsche dealership, is unique in itself.
A Unique Piece of Canadian Automotive History
When mentioning exotic hypercars or factory special orders, Canada is certainly not the first nation to pop up on anyone’s mind. Yet, these two Porsche 918 Spyders have turned out to be an exceptional part of both Canadian and Porsche’s automobile history.
This particular project highlights the process through which a dedicated dealer made impossible possible. While at the start it was just a regular question about painting Porsche 918 in Gulf colors, it became two most notable specimens of the model worldwide.
In terms of Saskatchewan province, the cars provided some publicity for their local Porsche dealership. As for the collectors, they have been granted with one of the most exceptional factory authorized Porsche special orders in recent years.
Collectability and Market Value Today
Given that the value of the Porsche 918 Spyder keeps growing, rare versions are drawing much more attention from car collectors. Hypercars produced in limited quantities with verified factory customization options tend to bring much higher prices than their regular counterparts.
Although the final price depends on many factors, including the condition and mileage of the car, the Gulf version of the 918 Spyder is something that not even modern Porsche models could compete with.
If either of the two Saskatchewan cars were sold anywhere publicly, it would draw a lot of attention from collectors around the world.
Legacy of the Gulf 918 Project
Over ten years since the creation of these cars, both of the Gulf Porsche 918 Spyders still stand out as one of the most amazing special edition cars related to the brand in history. This car acts as a perfect link between Porsche’s racing past and its advanced future.
This project is also a good reminder that many of the best stories about cars are born from an idea and not being afraid to hear “no” as the last answer. Thanks to the persistence of a Canadian Porsche dealer, two amazing hypercars entered Porsche’s history books, guaranteeing that the Gulf racing colors would still be impressive to car enthusiasts today.
Both of these 918 Spyders commissioned in Saskatchewan are not only hypercars but also living monuments of one of the greatest motor sport partnerships of all time.