Pixar, the people who gave us Toy Story and many other animated favourites, has teamed up with the people who gave us one of the most iconic cars in the automobile industry, Porsche. Together, they are creating a one-of-a-kind 911, the Sally Carrera.
Twenty years after Sally appeared on the big screen in the animated movie Cars, a real-life street-legal version of the Porsche 911 will be auctioned for charity to be held in Austin, Texas.
It will be the first time that Porsche will be participating in the SXSW (South by Southwest) event, which celebrates the convergence of the tech, film and music industries.
Jay Ward, who is the creative director of Franchise at Pixar Animation Studios, said, “The spirit of Sally is giving to others. Our goal is to raise the most money for charity.”
The proceeds from the auction will support Girls Inc., an advocacy group for young women, as well as the USA for UNHCR (United Nation’s High Commissioner for Refugees) to provide aid to children and their families affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
Based on a sketch, it will retain the “Sally Blue” paint, clean bodywork and big, one-of-a-kind wheels inspired by the Turbo design.
A number of Porsche’s concept cars will also be on display, including the real-life model of Porsche’s first virtual car, the Vision GT, which debuted last week in the video game Gran Turismo 7.
Ward and Pixar production designer, Bob Pauley, explains that the first real-life Sally was a 996 that was cut in half (ouch), Their fabrication team, based in El Segundo, California shortened the wheelbase, pushed up the A-pillar, swapped out the wheels and front fenders and, of course, formulated the classic light blue paint that came to define Lightning McQueen’s love interest.
“Blue was the perfect choice because it looks great against the red of McQueen and also against the warm tones of the desert,” said Pauley.
Sally is still a work in progress but the design teams from both companies are giving us a glimpse of what is to come.
