Now offered through RM Sotheby’s, this exceptionally preserved 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 represents one of the rarest and most influential interpretations of the 964 platform: Vittorio Strosek’s “Version II” widebody conversion. Produced in very limited numbers, the design occupies an important place in the history of European tuning, with styling themes that anticipated Porsche’s own factory widebody 964s and, later, the 993-generation 911.
Built originally as a German-market Carrera 4 for a Japanese client, the car was completed in May 1990 in Slate Grey Metallic over black leather. Strosek Auto Design equipped it with an extensive selection of its catalogued upgrades, including bespoke widebody coachwork, aerodynamic mirrors, a sport leather steering wheel, H&R competition suspension, body-colored 17-inch three-piece OZ Futura wheels, and the company’s “Super Sound” exhaust system. The result was a cohesive reinterpretation of the 964 rather than an overtly extravagant tuner conversion.
Vittorio Strosek’s approach was shaped by his early industrial-design background and his apprenticeship with the influential Luigi Colani. Rather than treating Porsche’s forms as untouchable, Strosek regarded them as opportunities for aerodynamic and aesthetic development. His work emphasized flowing surfaces, integrated bodywork, and functional refinement. That philosophy reached a particularly mature expression with the Version II 964.
The conversion widened the front and rear fenders while incorporating revised rocker panels and subtly reshaped bumpers. Instead of relying on conspicuous bolt-on components, Strosek blended the modifications into the factory structure, creating a unified silhouette. The original headlamp architecture was retained, while carefully integrated ducts, revised bumper profiles, and aerodynamic mirrors enhanced both appearance and functionality.
The mechanical specification complemented the visual transformation. Strosek-specific H&R suspension lowered the car by approximately 1.5 inches, improving composure and handling, while the lightweight OZ wheels and sport exhaust reinforced its dynamic character. The exhaust also added approximately 10 horsepower, giving the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter flat-six a more purposeful soundtrack.
Following completion, the Porsche was exported to Japan and registered in Shinagawa in November 1990. It was acquired by its long-term owner in April 1992 and remained with that collector for approximately three decades. Records indicate that regular use largely ceased around 2008, with the car accumulating only about 700 kilometers during the subsequent 14 years. When sold at auction in Tokyo in 2022, it showed just 14,188 kilometers.
After arriving in the United States, the car underwent comprehensive recommissioning by European Performance Engineering in Massachusetts. Work included servicing the numbers-matching engine, renewing ignition and fuel-system components, overhauling the brakes, refreshing suspension components, aligning the chassis, servicing the power steering and air conditioning, and fitting new tires. Interior controls, lighting, gauges, and other systems were likewise inspected and restored to proper operation.
Presented with fewer than 15,000 documented kilometers, this Version II Strosek is a compelling survivor from the golden era of European coachbuilding. More than a modified 964, it embodies Strosek’s disciplined vision of how the 911 could be modernized without losing its fundamental identity—a rare example of tuning history where design, engineering, and individuality converge with remarkable coherence.
Source: RM Sotheby’s
