GUNTHER WERKS is an American high-performance automotive modification and restoration brand, founded by Peter Nam in 2017 in Huntington Beach, California. As the founder and CEO of Vorsteiner, a world-renowned manufacturer of carbon fiber parts and forged wheels, Nam brought top-tier craftsmanship in carbon fiber manufacturing to GUNTHER WERKS, providing the brand with deep technical expertise from its inception.
The brand name GUNTHER WERKS pays homage to Günther Wendt, a German-American engineer from NASA's Apollo program known for his rigorous and strict pursuit of engineering excellence. This reflects the brand's obsession with ultimate perfection in mechanical engineering. GUNTHER WERKS focuses on thoroughly modernizing and upgrading classic Porsche air-cooled 911 models, particularly the 993 generation. Rather than simple refurbishment or modification, the process involves completely disassembling the vehicle down to the metal chassis and reconstructing it using modern engineering technology and cutting-edge materials. The result is the "Ultimate 993," which integrates retro aesthetics with contemporary performance—creating cars that Porsche never officially mass-produced. The brand’s goal is to continue the evolution of air-cooled engines and build the "cars Porsche never made."
The brand’s origins trace back to Vorsteiner, founded by Peter Nam early in his career, which supplied high-performance carbon fiber parts to luxury cars globally. After accumulating extensive material engineering experience and industry reputation, Nam officially established GUNTHER WERKS in 2017, aiming to operate as an independent manufacturer rather than a traditional modification shop.
Shortly after its establishment, the brand quickly launched its pioneering model, the 400R. Built on the 993-generation 911 and limited to just 25 units worldwide, it caused a sensation among Porsche enthusiasts and collectors with its groundbreaking all-carbon fiber body and powerful performance. Between 2019 and 2021, the brand successively introduced the Project Tornado and Speedster models; the latter was also limited to 25 units and sold out rapidly.
In 2022, the brand released the Turbo model, limited to 75 units globally, marking a significant leap in powertrain technology from naturally aspirated to twin-turbocharged engines. In 2023, GUNTHER WERKS officially announced its entry into the European and UK markets, launching its first right-hand drive model, "Bubblegum." In 2025, the brand unveiled the new flagship GWX and the revolutionary F-26 at Monterey Car Week. By the first half of 2026, the brand released the final convertible Speedster, "Project Endgame," a one-off custom model limited to a single unit. This release marked the perfect conclusion of the Speedster product line and signaled the brand’s full transformation toward higher-level custom body manufacturing projects, such as the GWX.
GUNTHER WERKS does not sell individual modification parts; its business model is exclusively focused on custom vehicle manufacturing. According to official planning, its product line is primarily divided into three core series—Coupe, Speedster, and Turbo—along with subsequent flagship series.
400R / Project Tornado / Coupe Series: This was the brand’s earliest core product line, limited to 25 units globally. Built on the 993 Carrera or Carrera S, it reshaped the rear-wheel-drive layout. The Project Tornado can be regarded as an advanced evolutionary version of the 400R, equipped with an upgraded 4.0L naturally aspirated flat-six engine producing approximately 435 horsepower and 450 N·m of peak torque.
Speedster Series: One of the brand’s most iconic series, also limited to 25 units globally. Modified from the convertible 993, its most distinctive exterior feature is the iconic twin-bump roll cage on the rear seat cover. This series concluded in 2026 with "Project Endgame," a one-off convertible featuring a twin-turbo 4.0L engine with power reaching up to 840 horsepower.
Turbo Series: The brand’s ultimate power regular production series, limited to 75 units globally. Built on the 993 Turbo, its most significant mechanical upgrade is the replacement of the naturally aspirated engine with a twin-turbo system. The track version features a massive fixed rear wing capable of withstanding significant aerodynamic downforce. The basic construction cost starts at approximately $1.45 million.
GWX Series: The brand’s latest flagship project, positioned as an "Exclusive Custom Body Manufacturing Program" and limited to only three units globally. It is equipped with a newly developed 4.0L naturally aspirated flat-six engine outputting 440 horsepower. The series features exclusive paint developed in-house by the brand and showcases exposed herringbone carbon fiber weaving craftsmanship.
F-26 Series: The brand’s most disruptive work, limited to 26 units globally. Its most notable feature is the complete removal of Porsche’s classic frog-eye headlights, replaced by a "Slant Nose" smooth front end similar to that of 935 race cars. It is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0L flat-six engine, with maximum power reaching up to 1,000 horsepower.
GUNTHER WERKS is positioned as an extreme scarcity custom product at the pinnacle of the pyramid, with prices in the million-dollar range. Speedster starting price is close to 1 million US dollars. Turbo basic construction fee starts from 1.45 million US dollars. 400R price is approximately 1.5 million US dollars. F-26 unit price converts to over 47 million Chinese Yuan. GWX price is even over 2 million US dollars.
Despite the high price, the brand still has high demand and low supply: the 25 units each of 400R and Speedster sold out immediately upon release. Although the Turbo is limited to 75 units and expensive, it was fully subscribed immediately upon launch. In the secondary auction market, the resale price of the Speedster once reached as high as 1.13 million US dollars, indicating extremely strong market demand.
Aerospace-Grade Prepreg Carbon Fiber Technology: Leveraging Vorsteiner’s technical expertise, GUNTHER WERKS masters top-tier carbon fiber manufacturing processes. All exterior panels are crafted from aerospace-grade prepreg carbon fiber, cured and formed using high-temperature, high-pressure autoclaves. Compared to traditional carbon fiber, this method increases strength by 20–30% and stiffness by 30%.
Space Frame Reinforcement and Full Carbon Body Panels: The manufacturing process begins by completely disassembling the donor vehicle down to the bare chassis, followed by multi-point welding reinforcement. The chassis is then re-covered with ultra-lightweight carbon fiber body panels, eliminating all unnecessary weight from the original vehicle. As a result, the Project Tornado achieved a weight reduction of 227 kilograms, while the Project Endgame weighs only about 1,200 kilograms—more than 200 kilograms lighter than the original vehicle.
Rothsport Air-Cooled Engine Remanufacturing Technology: The brand collaborates closely with renowned engine manufacturer Rothsport Racing to thoroughly reconstruct Porsche air-cooled flat-six engines. From the naturally aspirated units in the 400R and Speedster (producing approximately 435 horsepower) to the twin-turbocharged powerhouse in the F-26 (reaching up to 1,000 horsepower), the brand has established a complete power ladder for air-cooled engines.
Pushrod Suspension and High-Performance Chassis: All models in the series are equipped with modern, adjustable pushrod suspension systems, combined with competition-level braking systems and forged wheels customized for each specific model. This setup ensures that the immense power output is transmitted to the road surface effectively and controllably.
GUNTHER WERKS' headquarters and manufacturing plant are located in California, USA, but progress in overseas expansion has also been rapid.
North American Market: In addition to the California headquarters, the brand has established its first East Coast showroom in Miami, Florida, operating in partnership with local renowned dealer Prestige Imports, radiating to high-net-worth customer groups in the Southeastern US and Latin America.
European and UK Market: 2023 was the first year the brand entered Europe, participating in the Goodwood Festival of Speed for the first time outside the US, and launching its first right-hand drive model "Bubblegum", officially announcing entry into the UK and continental European markets.
Asian Market: The Hong Kong market received 8 quotas for the Turbo model, indicating the purchasing power of Asian potential customers. Trade data shows the brand's business network already covers Hong Kong.
2026 marks a key milestone for GUNTHER WERKS as it concludes its main product line strategy. With the delivery of "Project Endgame," the final chapter of the Speedster series, the brand will shift its focus entirely to the new "Exclusive Custom Body Manufacturing" platform, GWX, in the coming years. Meanwhile, the F-26, limited to just 26 units globally, will continue to showcase the brand’s exploration of extreme design languages and engineering limits.
At the operational level, GUNTHER WERKS aims to transcend its positioning as a "Porsche modifier," transforming into an independent, top-tier "Body Custom Manufacturer" serving the world’s elite collector community. Although the company has not revealed whether the platform will expand to models beyond the 993 generation (such as the 901, 930, or 964), the engineering prowess it has demonstrated leaves significant room for imagination regarding its future product lineup.
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