Photos by Patrick C. Paternie
Driver's Notebook: A Pair of Sparkling Gems
April 1, 2004
Surprise again. This time, bigger and louder was not necessarily
better. Despite having 50 more ponies, the blue Tiptronic car did not feel any
faster than the “merely” 500 hp silver car. Both cars responded to throttle
input almost immediately, the blue car shoving me back in the seat each time I
clicked off a gear change with its steering wheel mounted shift buttons. Each
car began pulling below 2,000 rpm, but the fun really started around 3,000 rpm,
followed by another power boost as the tach needle swung to the 5,000 rpm mark.
As the revs climbed, the deep bass of the less restrictive exhaust system in the
blue car transformed into the metal-rending shriek you associate with a Porsche
GT racer tearing down the Mulsanne Straight. Very cool for the first few runs
through the gears. Not so cool when your ears start ringing, even less cool when
an old man threatens to call the cops. My preference was the less intense system
in the silver car, which still delivered a nice ripsaw snarl at high revs
reminiscent of a 1973 Carrera RS. The silver car also reminded me of those
lightweight early 911s in the way it could be tossed through the corners and dug
its way out of turns when I applied the throttle. The blue car, riding on bigger
wheels, felt a bit too stiffly sprung, porpoising at times through tight bends.
The latter is about the only flaw I could detect in terms of performance and
workmanship on either car, and a little fine-tuning of the adjustable suspension
could probably cure this problem.
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Gemballa’s GT 550 package on this Porsche Turbo Cabriolet includes a biplane
wing and rear bumper. (Click image to enlarge)There were other surprises. While trying to
maintain as low a profile as possible before unwinding the twists and turns of
Benedict Canyon, I encountered a black-and-white Suburban emblazoned with the
seal of the Beverly Hills police department. I envisioned “arrest me” lighting
up my forehead in letters as red as the leather interior of the Gemballa
Cabriolet in which I was premeditating a series of traffic crimes. The last
thing I expected to see was a toothy smile and an appreciative nod as the
Porsche crept past below the open window of a police vehicle. A lot of cars draw
the attention of the cops, but not many can leave such a positive impression,
especially in jaded Beverly Hills. Overall, the biggest surprise about these
Gemballa-modified Porsches is the lack of any unpleasant surprises.
2004 Gemballa GT 550 Twin Turbo Cabriolet
- Engine: 3.6-liter 6-cylinder, turbocharged
- Power: 550 hp at 6,500 rpm
- Torque: 553 ft lbs at 4,300 rpm
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Wheelbase: 92.5 inches
- Curb weight: 3388 lbs
- Base Price:
$182,700
(Porsche Turbo Cabriolet: $128,200;
GT Aero Kit: $6,500;
handling and braking modifications: $26,000;
550-hp engine upgrade: $22,000)
Gemballa Cars North America
310.457.1709
www.gemballausa.com
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