Gemballa and RUF stand as one of the greatest tuning companies for Porsche models — they’re so serious about the cars they make, that they’re not even branded Porsche anymore. Usually, Gemballa is all about style, while RUF makes headlines with obsessive engineering. Back in the ‘90s, one model blended the best of both worlds — the Gemballa Extremo Biturbo. This extremely rare 1-of-2 classic supercar with 600 horsepower had been spotted abandoned in Dubai at one point, before heading to auction with Bonhams. The interesting part is how the car came to be in the first place.
Based on the Porsche 993 Turbo, the first production Porsche model to feature twin-turbos and permanent all-wheel drive, the Gemballa Extremo Biturbo was originally commissioned by the tire company, Fulda. Finished in black, the first Extremo Biturbo was spotted by a wealthy Sheikh from the Middle East — he had to have it.
However, since Fulda didn’t want to sell it, the collector asked Gemballa to build him his own. The second Extremo Biturbo was finished in yellow and pushed power even further to 600 horsepower from the stock car’s 402 horsepower, and the first Biturbo’s 500 horsepower. Unfortunately, it seems it wasn’t enough to hold the Sheikh’s attention, as pictures of the supercar lying abandoned in Dubai surfaced.
The Extremo Biturbo was sold in an auction recently to another serious car collector, who in the process of restoring it, realized that half the car was actually made of RUF parts. The car’s engine and drivetrain are all RUF, making this Gemballa-RUF one of the few collaborations out there.
With carbon fiber body panels and roof, 600 horsepower, and most importantly, this one-of-a-kind story behind it, the Gemballa Extremo Biturbo is worth a lot more than what it sold for previously. As we understand it, it’s with Curated, a vintage supercar specialist in Miami, and you can be sure the new owner won’t make the same mistake as before.
