Porsche 996 Art Car: A tribute to Walter Röhrl for a good cause
By Richard Lindhorst (originally published on Elferspot)
Walter Röhrl's quotes on the car's bodywork, along with his signature: Boxer Motor continues its charity projects with a Porsche 996 Carrera 4 Cabriolet. Following the auction of a Pop Art-style Porsche 928 for charity in 2025, artist Christian Rott has designed an open-top 911 this year as a tribute to the rally legend. Röhrl and his long-time co-driver Christian Geistdörfer support the initiative and have signed the car. The unique vehicle will be auctioned on December 6, 2026, via AURENA. The proceeds will be split equally between the Tübingen Association for Children with Cancer and the Rhino Revolution organization.
After the Porsche 928 comes an open-top 911.
Last year, we reported on an early Porsche 928 that Christoph Schlagenhauf of Boxer Motor, together with Christian Rott, transformed into an art car. What began as a stalled restoration project became a colorful, one-of-a-kind piece, raised for children with cancer. The auction brought in €46,000. Now, the collaboration between the Porsche specialist from Dotternhausen and the artist is entering its next phase.
Behind this lies the desire to realize such projects regularly. If his business situation allows, Schlagenhauf would like to support at least one good cause per year. He is particularly drawn to the combination of automobiles and art. Schlagenhauf's wish is that, over the years, a dedicated series could emerge, inspired by the famous BMW Art Cars.
“I provide the car, you do your work” – this simple division of labor already formed the foundation of the 928's success. Rott and Schlagenhauf therefore didn't have to think twice about a new edition. The artist, by his own account, has dedicated himself primarily to art for the past ten years, focusing exclusively on the automotive sector. Together, they developed a new thematic approach for the 996: a tribute to Walter Röhrl and his rally career.
Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer are godparents
The livery combines quotes from the former rally world champion, features his portrait on the hood, and incorporates numerous brand logos from his motorsport career. Comic book characters are also included, harking back to the 1970s and 80s, the decade in which Röhrl celebrated his greatest rally successes. His career thus provides the thematic framework for Rott's design.
Röhrl and his long-time co-driver Christian Geistdörfer were secured as patrons by the initiators. Both signed the convertible and support the charity project. Rott took a different approach to materials this time. While acrylic paint was used for the 928, the artist used conventional car paint for the 996. This distinguishes the second Art Car from its predecessor in terms of execution.
The basis: A Porsche 996 Carrera 4 Cabriolet from the sunny state of California.
Schlagenhauf bought the Porsche from a Porsche enthusiast near Berlin. They knew each other from a previous car purchase. The convertible was originally delivered to California. It has all-wheel drive, a six-speed manual transmission, and original black leather upholstery.
According to Schlagenhauf, the car is accident-free and, apart from the artistic design, still has its original paint. The vehicle underwent a thorough inspection at the Boxer Motor workshop, where known weaknesses of the model series were addressed and a major service was performed. A new vehicle inspection and emissions test will also be carried out before handover.
The auction proceeds will support children in Germany and South Africa.
Half of the proceeds will go to the Tübingen Association for Children with Cancer, which supports affected children and their families. Boxer Motor will use the other half to support a Rhino Revolution project for the first time: a school near South Africa's Kruger National Park.
The contact was facilitated by Boxer-Motor customer Hans Jürgen Deuerer, who has supported the school project for some time and has visited the site several times. Schlagenhauf is personally familiar with both projects. His connection to the local people was an important factor in his selection. "AURENA is handling the auction and waiving its commission," Schlagenhauf emphasizes. The entire auction proceeds will thus benefit both organizations.
The Porsche 996 Art Car will be auctioned on St. Nicholas Day.
The online auction is already underway. The winning bid is scheduled for Sunday, December 6, 2026. Anyone wishing to get a personal impression of the Porsche 996 Art Car beforehand can view it on Friday, December 4, at Boxer Motor, Robert-Koch-Straße 7–8 in Dotternhausen. Following the €46,000 raised for the Porsche 928, the open-top successor is now expected to facilitate the next donation.
