For Sale: 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera in Scotts Valley, California

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1987 Porsche 911 Carrera "911 Sculpture"
VIN: WP0AB091XHS121449

"911 Sculpture" by New York artist Daniel Arsham
Disassembled, restored, and assembled during gallery exhibitions
Bespoke Calcite Blue exterior and tri-blue leather interior
Rebuilt 3.4L flat six engine, 5-speed manual transmission
Color-matched Fuchs alloy wheels
Documented throughout its construction and assembly in ARSHAM MOTORSPORT

While many would consider their own automobiles "works of art," it is rare to find a car that actually has been a subject of an entire automotive-specific art installation. This 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera, used as the foundation for the art piece 911 Sculpture, has now been reimagined by the artist Daniel Arsham and restored according to his vision and art direction. His latest creations, "Arsham-spec" functional Porsches, feature custom interiors that mirror the textures and colors of his sculptures. Through the process of restoration and the reimagination of what cars can represent artistically, Arsham takes the form of a Porsche 911 and breaks it down into an art form, with the reconstruction, colors, and material choices culminating in a final art piece that is both stunning to see as well as to experience to drive. 911 Sculpture is the latest of these projects.

Arsham and Greg Anagostopolous, a trusted mechanic and self-taught artist, constructed and restored the 911 Carrera in the public eye, giving those lucky enough to glimpse the project an inside look of how the 911 Sculpture was restored.

A short artist summary, ARSHAM MOTORSPORT

Daniel Arsham's project, titled Art is the Process, represents a sophisticated convergence of automotive engineering and performance art. Centered on the meticulous deconstruction of a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2, the initial exhibition at Morton Street Partners transformed a standard mechanical procedure into a meditative ritual. Under the guidance of Arsham and close collaborator, mechanic and self-taught artist Greg Anagnostopoulos, the vehicle's individual components were treated as industrial artifacts and displayed on pegboards, effectively turning the gallery into a hybrid space of technical inquiry and artistic exhibition.
The project's second phase occurred during Arsham's retrospective at the Perrotin Gallery in 2023, where the focus shifted toward restoration and reassembly. The car was reimagined with a signature Calcite Blue finish and customized interior details, such as recolored gauge faces, and its reconstruction was performed live within the gallery environment. By introducing professional workshop tools into a traditional high-art setting, the installation emphasized the intrinsic value of manual labor and the creative journey, turning a space of passive contemplation into one of active production.

Through this duality of destruction and creation, the Porsche was transformed into a unique sculpture that challenges standard perceptions of design and utility. Arsham's work invites the viewer to move beyond the contemplation of the final product and instead engage with the temporal and physical labor required to shape a complex machine. This intersection of craft and fine art highlights the beauty inherent in the process itself, redefining the automobile as a vessel for exploring time, labor, and the hidden aesthetics of engineering.

The Restoration

The 911 Sculpture began with an original 50,000 mile 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera specifically acquired for the art installation, with a clear vision in mind. The engine was upgraded from the factory 3.2L specification to a higher compression 3.4L factory setup with new pistons, cylinders, rings, and wrist pins. The cylinder heads were reconditioned with new valve guides, valve seals, and valves according to factory specification, and all of the drivetrain hardware was restored. In addition, new timing chain tensioners, guides, ignition system wiring and hardware were employed, along with an extensive list of restored and replaced components yielding an exceptional vehicle. The 911's suspension and brake system were also restored and rebuilt, ensuring that the handling was exceptional and would remain that way for the foreseeable future.

With a clear vision for its aesthetics, Arsham painted the 911 Carrera in a bespoke color, Calcite Blue, which would remain a running theme throughout the art piece. The Fuchs wheels were painted with the same Calcite Blue on the bodywork, with exterior hardware including door handles, trim, and seals all restored or replaced. New Euro OEM tail lights were installed, and fully restored fog lights completed the look.

The tri-color full leather interior is a place where an immense amount of time was invested. Inspired by Sonderwunch where leather could be applied anywhere a client pleased, Arsham did a wall-to-wall leather interior with even the smallest details, such as the trim and air vents, were covered in matching blue leather. 959-inspired striping for the seats were performed by Justin Placek in Hamburg, Germany. New carpet was installed, along with a unique gauge set specific to Daneil Arsham. A radio delete was performed, new OEM Porsche door sill and retainers were used, and a thermal barrier installed behind the door panels to finish off the doors.

About artist Daniel Arsham

With work known to be at the intersection of art, architecture, and performance, Daniel Arsham has cemented himself in the art world since the early 2000s. Based in New York city, his commentary on a wide range of subjects and matters has extended over two decades with his signature concept, "Fictional Archaeology," taking iconic objects from the present and reimagining them as geological relics from a distant future.

Arsham is well known for being an automotive enthusiast, both seen throughout his work and his automotive collections. One of his most famous series, "Eroded Cars" takes the form of life-size automobile forms that look as if they've been unearthed from a futuristic dig site. Eroded Porsche 911, perhaps his most recognized work in this vein, was created in multiple versions including white quartz and ash. Eroded DeLorean is also another famous work of art by Arsham.

Upon arriving at Canepa, the 911 Sculpture was given the complete "Canepa Difference" process, including a full mechanical inspection and cosmetic detailing. The underside was washed by hand, the paint polished using a multi-foam pad process, and the interior delicately cleaned. Mechanically it was test driven and inspected, and given a clean bill of health overall, making this rolling work of art ready to be enjoyed for the first time since Arsham completed it in 2023.