Saskatchewan Porsche dealer commissioned two unique 918s in Gulf racing colours
There has been no shortage of uniquely painted race cars throughout the history of Porsche Motorsports with psychedelic abstracts and even a Pink Pig! However, none can be compared to the blue and orange Gulf colors featured on the fabulous Porsche 917 Ks that ran the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and ’71.
What if they put the famous colors on the modern day Porsche 918 thought Canadian auto dealership owner, Vaughn Wyant and so decided to find out! Wyant is president of The Wyant Group that includes the Saskatoon Porsche dealership located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Now only in Canada would a car dealer dare approach the manufacturer with such an ambitious request and furthermore take the company’s response of “It is not possible, Porsche is no longer associated with Gulf and does not have permission to use their team livery” as encouragement.
So, Wyant, decided to see for himself if the impossible really was. So when news of the 918 project became public he approached Porsche AG again asking would they be willing to build two cars if he were able to get the proper permissions from Gulf? Answer: reluctantly yes.
Afterwards, Wyant had to convince Quebec-based Gulf Canada to back him. This was difficult, but eventually they liked the idea and brought Wyant’s proposal to Gulf International. Following long discussions, the answer was finally “yes” in accordance with rules set by Gulf.
With the approval in his pocket, Wyant assembled a design team to replicate as precisely as possible given the changes between the 1971 917 and the 918. The photos of the 917 were studied to make sure that proper spacing and all other details would be taken into account when designing the stripes. Changes also included Interior of the 918, with distinctive logos on the seat-backs.
Eventually, Porsche AG approved of the design put forward by Wyant’s team, even down to logos on the seat-backs, and agreed to manufacture the two cars.
While they look alike in most details, the two factory-authorized 918s differ from each other and therefore have their own uniqueness. It is easy to spot such features as color of the piping on the seats, but there are also many subtler differences. Those who are familiar with them can distinguish them easily just looking at them.
For those who have not seen the originals, it could take a while to figure out how to spot the differences in “the twins.” Here is an interesting clue for those having trouble doing that; one of the vehicles does not have any green ghosting that identifies the 918 as being a Hybrid Hypercar made by Porsche.
According to Porsche Centre Saskatchewan, these two 918s are the only two “Gulf Livery Period Correct” vehicles in the world like them. “Period correct” refers to elements of the car from when Porsche raced the vehicle during the 70s in conjunction with the Gulf Oil Company – meticulously done.
There are some Team Gulf livery 918s, as there is one person who bought a regular 918 and had it painted with decals. However, the two in Canada are the only 918 Gulf Porsches in the world, period, documented with evidence.
And rumor has it, one of them may even be on the market right now.
Only in Canada you say!