Richard Hammond’s first reaction to the Gunther Werks Porsche establishes exactly what kind of experience this is going to be: fascination mixed with the uncomfortable realization that an $850,000 conversion still requires someone to supply the donor 993. Once that additional cost is considered, Hammond effectively treats this as a million-dollar Porsche, making the central question less about whether it is impressive and more about whether it feels sufficiently extraordinary to justify such an extreme transformation.
The mechanical overview is brief but gives the drive useful context. Hammond identifies the carbon-fiber body, bespoke adjustable suspension and extensively reworked four-liter flat-six, along with the claimed 850-horsepower output. More importantly, he connects those modifications to the traditional rear-engine character that originally attracted him to older 911s, describing the way acceleration shifts weight rearward and can make the steering feel lighter over a crest. His enthusiasm works because he focuses on sensations rather than simply reciting expensive components.
That approach becomes particularly valuable when Hammond explains what distinguishes this restomod from attempts to make an old Porsche behave like a modern one. Thin seat padding, limited sound deadening, analog instruments, suspension feedback and plenty of mechanical noise are presented as deliberate features rather than shortcomings waiting to be engineered away. His description of the car as feeling even more like a 993 than a standard 993 neatly captures the philosophy: exaggerate the characteristics enthusiasts already associate with the original rather than sanitize them.
There is also a worthwhile question about what actually remains of the donor vehicle. With a new carbon-fiber body, bespoke suspension, heavily rebuilt engine and customized interior, Hammond openly wonders why a 993 donor is necessary at all. He does not investigate that question far enough to provide an answer, but raising it gives the piece a welcome note of skepticism amid the excitement. At this price, more explanation of the construction process and exactly what Gunther Werks retains from the original car would have made the feature substantially more informative.
As a driving review, the limitations are similarly clear. Hammond repeatedly conveys rawness, steering feel, noise and personality, but there is little systematic examination of performance despite the headline-grabbing power figure. There are no meaningful demonstrations of acceleration, braking, handling limits or different suspension settings, and very little discussion of how usable such an uncompromising setup is on ordinary roads. The enormous rear wing also receives plenty of visual attention and a joke, but little technical explanation.
The Clarkson delivery premise gives the outing an entertaining sense of purpose without overwhelming the car itself. Hammond's jokes about burning enough fuel to make the Porsche lighter for Clarkson and leaving the windows closed add the familiar mischievous tone, while the deliberately mangled pub names turn an otherwise mundane handoff into a running gag. The lengthy vehicle-cleaning sponsorship interrupts the momentum, however, and the promised delivery ultimately ends with the Porsche simply being left in a pub car park rather than producing an interaction between the two presenters.
Pros
- Hammond communicates the distinctive rear-engine steering and weight-transfer sensations in accessible, enthusiast-focused terms.
- The discussion clearly explains why this restomod is intended to amplify the 993’s rawness rather than modernize it away.
- Questioning what remains of the required donor car adds useful skepticism to an otherwise highly enthusiastic presentation.
- The Clarkson delivery setup and Hammond’s humor give a straightforward driving feature additional personality.
Cons
- The extraordinary price and extensive reconstruction deserve considerably more detail about what is retained from the donor 993.
- An 850-horsepower car receives surprisingly little substantive performance testing or technical examination.
- The extended sponsored cleaning segment noticeably interrupts the driving feature.
- Clarkson’s involvement is more of a destination hook than a genuine collaboration, since the handoff does not include him.
Hammond is at his best when translating an exotic Porsche into specific sensations, and his explanation of why deliberate rawness can be desirable gives the feature more substance than a simple million-dollar-car showcase. The limited technical depth and anticlimactic Clarkson handoff keep it from becoming a definitive examination of the Gunther Werks creation, but the combination of enthusiasm, skepticism and humor makes the short drive consistently engaging.
