Gemballa Porsche Tuning: Wild Designs and High Performance

For decades, the name Gemballa has been synonymous with some of the most visually distinctive and powerful aftermarket modifications for Porsche vehicles. Known for pushing design boundaries and extracting significant performance gains, Gemballa carved a unique, and at times controversial, niche in the high-performance tuning world. This post explores the history, philosophy, and notable creations of this German tuning house.

Quick Answers

• What is Gemballa? – Gemballa is a German company renowned for aftermarket tuning and extensive modification of Porsche cars. Their vehicles typically feature bespoke aerodynamic body kits, lavish custom interiors, and substantial performance upgrades.
• Who founded Gemballa? – Uwe Gemballa founded the company in 1981 in Leonberg, Germany.
• Are Gemballa cars still made? – Yes. Following Uwe Gemballa's death in 2010 and the subsequent insolvency of the original company, the brand rights and assets were acquired, leading to the formation of Gemballa GmbH, which continues to produce modified cars. Separately, Uwe Gemballa's son, Marc Philipp, established Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH (MPM), focusing on unique off-road capable supercars.
• What is Gemballa best known for? – Gemballa is recognized for its often extreme and flamboyant aerodynamic styling, highly customized interiors, significant engine power increases, and creating some of the most talked-about modified Porsches.
• Does Gemballa only modify Porsches? – While Porsche models are Gemballa's primary focus and represent the vast majority of their work, they have, on occasion, undertaken projects involving other high-end marques like Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes-Benz.

The Origins: Uwe Gemballa's Vision

Founded in 1981 by Uwe Gemballa in Leonberg, Germany, the company initially specialized in high-quality custom interiors and advanced car audio systems for various luxury vehicles. However, Gemballa soon expanded its focus to comprehensive vehicle conversions, with Porsche models becoming the primary canvas for their engineering and design efforts. From early on, Uwe Gemballa established a reputation for creating modifications that were anything but subtle, aiming to transform Porsche cars into unique statements of performance and style.

Design Philosophy and Signature Style

Gemballa's approach to vehicle modification has always been characterized by a desire to stand out:

• Aerodynamics and Bodywork: Gemballa vehicles are often instantly recognizable due to their extensive aerodynamic packages. These frequently include widebody kits, aggressive front and rear bumpers, unique side skirts, large rear wings, and distinctive air intakes and vents. While designed to enhance aerodynamic performance, these modifications also contribute significantly to the cars' aggressive and often polarizing visual impact.
• Performance Enhancements: Beyond aesthetics, Gemballa has consistently focused on extracting more power from Porsche's already capable engines. This involves turbocharger upgrades, exhaust system modifications, engine management recalibration, and sometimes more extensive engine work, resulting in substantial horsepower and torque increases.
• Custom Interiors: True to its origins, Gemballa has always offered highly customized interiors. This can range from bespoke leather upholstery in vibrant colors to redesigned dashboards, high-end multimedia installations, and unique trim detailing, tailored to individual customer preferences.
• Exclusivity: Gemballa conversions are typically produced in limited numbers, adding to their exclusivity and appeal for a specific clientele seeking unique, high-performance vehicles.

Notable Gemballa Models

Over the years, Gemballa has produced numerous memorable vehicles:

• Gemballa Avalanche & Cyrrus:

Based on various Porsche 911 Turbo generations (Avalanche for coupes, Cyrrus often for convertibles), these models from the 1980s and onwards became iconic for their slant-nose designs (on some versions), wide fender flares, distinctive side strakes, and potent engine upgrades.

• Gemballa Mirage GT:

Perhaps one of Gemballa's most famous creations, the Mirage GT was based on the Porsche Carrera GT. It featured heavily modified carbon fiber bodywork, a signature roof-mounted air intake, a distinctive rear wing, a unique exhaust system, and power boosted to around 670 hp. Production was extremely limited.

• Gemballa Tornado:

This was Gemballa's take on the Porsche Cayenne SUV, transforming it with aggressive widebody kits, large wheels, and significant engine power increases, offering a more performance-oriented and visually striking version of the luxury SUV.

• Gemballa Aero and GTP Series:

Gemballa also applied its modification expertise to models like the Porsche Panamera (e.g., GTP 720) and newer 911 generations, continuing to offer comprehensive packages focusing on aesthetics and performance.

Turbulence and Continuation

The Gemballa story took a difficult turn in 2010 with the disappearance and tragic death of its founder, Uwe Gemballa. This event led to the insolvency of the original company.

However, the Gemballa brand was subsequently revived. Investor Steffen Korbach acquired the brand rights and assets, and a new company, Gemballa GmbH, was established under CEO Andreas Schwarz. This company continues to operate from Leonberg, producing modified Porsche vehicles and developing new models.

More recently, Uwe Gemballa's son, Marc Philipp Gemballa, launched his own independent venture, Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH (MPM). This separate company has focused on creating highly specialized, off-road capable supercars, such as the "Marsien," which is inspired by the Paris-Dakar winning Porsche 959 and based on the Porsche 992 Turbo S platform. It is important to distinguish between these two separate entities currently operating with links to the Gemballa name.

Final Verdict

Gemballa has undeniably left a significant mark on the Porsche tuning landscape. Known for its audacious designs, high-quality craftsmanship, and focus on extreme performance, the brand has catered to a clientele seeking to make a bold statement. While the dramatic events of 2010 marked a turning point, the Gemballa name persists through Gemballa GmbH, continuing to offer Porsche modifications, while Marc Philipp Gemballa's MPM forges a new path with its unique off-road supercar concepts. For enthusiasts of modified Porsches, Gemballa remains a name associated with some of the most extravagant and powerful transformations the automotive world has seen.