Founded in the late 1970s by Uwe Gemballa, Gemballa Automobil Interieur quickly became renowned for its exquisite automotive interiors. Initially working with Volkswagens, by the 1980s, Gemballa’s interiors were regarded as some of the finest, if not the finest, available—transforming European automobiles from Porsche to Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and even Rolls-Royce into lavish, bespoke works of art. Beyond their sumptuous leatherwork, Gemballa interiors were renowned for incorporating the latest in technological innovations, from digital instruments and televisions to state-of-the-art audio systems, making each creation a cutting-edge masterpiece.

In addition to its legendary interiors, Gemballa also executed remarkable full conversions, predominantly on Porsche models. To support the development of these bespoke, time-intensive creations, Gemballa offered a specialized parts program, primarily for the Porsche 911, 944, and 928. This included refined interior trim enhancements, along with exterior upgrades such as bumpers, spoilers, and body moldings. Upon ordering, a Gemballa Porsche would be fully disassembled, repainted, and re-bodied with custom moldings, interiors, and advanced audio, with minor performance tuning often entrusted to RUF, located just down the road.

Beginning life as a performance-minded Porsche 928 S, chassis 840480 was completed at Zuffenhausen on New Year’s Day 1981, finished as it presents today in Wine Red Metallic over Beige leather trim, and equipped with a stronger battery, three-speed automatic transmission, eight-way power seats, sport shock absorbers, and an electric sliding sunroof. Sometime following its completion, the car received extensive modifications in the style of Gemballa’s 928 Widebody Version I, including fitment of BBS RS 16-inch rims. Inside, other subtle Gemballa-style enhancements include white-face gauges, a Phillips stereo unit, and a beige Gemballa-embossed steering wheel.

In a time when limited-edition Porsches seem to debut daily, truly unique automotive masterpieces become rare treasures. This stunning 928 S, enveloped in the distinctive style of one of its era's most captivating aftermarket manufacturers and driven just 171 kilometers (~107 miles) at time of cataloguing, offers a rare chance to own one of these true gems.