One-off Porsche 911 built as a road-legal replica of the Disney Cars character Sally Carrera sells at charity auction for a record $3.6m

Porsche and Pixar teamed up to create the one-of-a-kind replica to sell at auction to raise funds for charity
The $3.6m (£3m) paid by a telephone bidder on Saturday is the most ever for a new Porsche sold at auction
It is based on the current Carrera GTS but with bespoke and exclusive features based on the movie character
Every penny of the sale will be split between Girls Inc, a charity inspiring young women, and UNHCR, an organisation offering support to Ukrainian refugees

Updated: 04:03 EDT, 24 August 2022

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Porsche has turned a movie character into real life by creating a road-going version of Sally Carrera, the blue 911 from Disney film franchise, Cars - then immediately sold it to raise money for charity.

The one-of-a-kind motor was offered at auction during Monterey Car Week in California over the weekend and was bought with a winning bid of $3.6million (£3million).

It is the largest price paid for a new Porsche sold at auction with every penny donated to two different charities, one of which provides aid to Ukrainian refugees.

An animated drive: Porsche at the weekend raised $3.6million for two charities by selling a special one-off 911 it has produced as a road-going replica of Sally Carrera from hit film franchise, Cars

The one-off creation is part of a collaboration between Porsche and Pixar Animation Studios.

Called the 911 Sally Special, it's a like-for-like replica of Sally Carrera, the love interest of racing car Lightning McQueen in the popular movie franchise.

The one-off car was offered to the highest bidder by RM Sotheby's on Saturday and achieved the highest figure ever for a brand-new Porsche under the hammer.

Proceeds from the $3.6million sale will be donated in full to Girls Inc, a charity inspiring young women across the US and Canada, and USA for UNHCR, an organisation that supports those who have been forced out of war-torn Ukraine.

Called the 911 Sally Special, it's a like-for-like replica of Sally Carrera, the love interest of racing car Lightning McQueen in the popular movie franchise

When working on the project, Porsche already had a pretty good starting point for reference, having built a full-scale Sally Carrera replica (left) in 2006 to celebrate its appearance in the first film. That car is now retained in its museum

The Porsche Sally Special was one of the star attractions in RM Sotheby's Monterey Car Week sale hosted on Saturday night

Plans for the unique character recreation as a road-legal car began in November 2021 and lasted 10 months, bringing together both directors and members from the original movie's production crew and Porsche's in-house team that looks after exclusive and bespoke vehicles.

The German sports car giant already has a pretty good starting point, having built a full-scale Sally Carrera replica in 2006 to celebrate its appearance in the first film that is now retained in its museum.

While the movie character is based on the 996 generation of the 911 sports car produced between 1997 and 2004, the Sally Special creation is the latest iteration of Porsche's flagship model in Carrera GTS guise, which customers can buy in showrooms today for £114,800.

That means it gets a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-litre, flat-six engine generating 473bhp linked to a seven-speed manual gearbox.

In standard trim, the GTS can accelerate from zero to 62mph in around four seconds and has a top speed of 193mph.

The original movie character is based on the 996 generation of the 911 sports car produced between 1997 and 2004. The Sally Special creation is the latest iteration of Porsche's flagship model in Carrera GTS guise, which costs £114,800

At the back of the car is a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-litre, flat-six engine generating 473bhp linked to a seven-speed manual gearbox. In standard trim, the GTS can accelerate from zero to 62mph in around four seconds and has a top speed of 193mph

Generation-correct alloy wheels were also made for the car with special tyre valve caps featuring the Cars logo

Included in the auction lot was a second set of wheels with a bespoke rack for holding them, just in case the owner wanted to drive the bespoke motor and not damage the one-of-a-kind alloys that were specially manufactured for this project

A like-for-like unique colour, Sally Blue Metallic, was created from samples of the movie replica model, which is exclusive to this car and can't be ordered by any future customers.

There are a few other subtle design touches, including a unique rear lower bumper section that incorporates a pair of exhaust outlets instead of the quad tips with the standard GTS.

The design team even incorporated the hidden tattoo the Cars film character reveals in the movie underneath her active rear spoiler.

Generation-correct alloy wheels were also made for the car with special tyre valve caps featuring the Cars logo.

Porsche's design team has gone to extraordinary lengths to make the Porsche Sally Special as close to the film car as possible, including the hidden tattoo the Cars character reveals in the movie underneath her active rear spoiler

Inside, the cabin also gets a number of 'Sally Special' nameplates on the door sills and across the dashboard on the passenger side, while the door insets are etched with the Cars film motif

Even the bespoke colour-matching key has the character's name embossed onto it

Porsche has even changed the 'Drive Mode' dial on the steering wheel to 'Kachow! Mode' to incorporate the famous catchphrase of Lightning McQueen

Inside, the cabin also gets a number of 'Sally Special' nameplates on the door sills and across the dashboard on the passenger side, while the door insets are etched with the Cars film motif. Even the colour-matching key has the character's name embossed onto it.

The 'Drive Mode' dial on the steering wheel - which tweaks the performance of the sports car on the move - also had an exclusive modification in this bespoke model, with the name changed to 'Kachow! Mode' to incorporate the famous catchphrase of Lightning McQueen.

Porsche says the project has been a tremendous success and its availability caused a significant stir in hours leading up to the sale and during the 'charged atmosphere of the packed bidding hall' at the weekend.

The seven-figure winning offer was made by a telephone bidder, with auction house RM Sotheby's confirming it is the highest amount ever paid for a new Porsche at the block.

Pictured from left to right: Kjell Gruner from Porsche North America, Bonnie Hunt, the voice of Sally Carrera and Pixar's Jay Ward and Bob Pauley

All proceeds from the $3.6m sale will be donated in full to Girls Inc, a charity inspiring young women across the US and Canada, and USA for UNHCR, an organisation that supports those who have been forced out of war-torn Ukraine

Bonnie Hunt, who provides the voice of Sally Carrera in the films, was in attendance for the sale and even on stage during the live bidding.

'What a night and what a result! It’s fantastic to see a car inspired by my character in Cars do so much good,' she said.

'I’ve loved playing the role of Sally for the past 16 years, she has a special place in my heart, and it’s wonderful that her personality and values continue to inspire new generations today.

'The car looked amazing, and I know the team put their heart and souls into creating it. I am thrilled for the new owner who has something very special, and completely unique.'

The seven-figure winning offer was made by a telephone bidder, with auction house RM Sotheby's confirming it is the highest amount ever paid for a new Porsche at the block. The new owner also got their hands on a matching bespoke watch (pictured)

The unique colour, Sally Blue Metallic, was created from samples of the movie replica model. The palette is now exclusive to this car and can't be ordered by any future customers

The car's buyer not only gets their hands on a unique Porsche car but a matching bespoke watch in its own presentation box lined in the same material as the 911's interior.

The auction lot also included a book showing the vehicle's design process, a special car cover that looks like the character, and a second set of wheels with a bespoke rack for holding them.

'I’d like to express my gratitude and profound congratulations to the winning bidder,' said Kjell Gruner, Porsche Cars North America’s President and CEO, after the auction had been wrapped up.

'This generous act has made a difference for two important charities and to the lives of those they’ll help. In return, I hope the bidder is very happy to have secured a special and unique piece of our and Pixar’s history.'

The winning bidder also received a book showing the vehicle's design process and a special car cover that looks like the character

There are a few subtle design touches, including a unique rear lower bumper section that incorporates a pair of exhaust outlets instead of the quad tips with the standard GTS