Should you spec a new Porsche with an old racing livery?

Porsche’s options list has long been the stuff of legend – and nightmare. From leather-wrapped air vents to olive wood steering wheels, there’s very little the Stuttgart taste police will arrest you for. 

Newly launching from July 2019 is the ‘Second Skin’ configurator, which will let buyers of 911s, Boxsters and Caymans to add liveries paying homage to classic racing Porsches of the past. So far, there’s Martini stripes, 917-inspired Salzburg lines, and some downright dodgy fluro-stripes. 

Worryingly, it won’t just be ex-Le Mans winners getting the road-going paint job treatment. According to Porsche “in addition to classic designs stemming from motorsports, it will also be possible to implement designs inspired by, for instance, fashion and the arts. Genuine and previously unavailable Porsche colours will also be available for selection.” Uh-oh. 

To give Second Skin some up-to-date Le Mans chops, a car wearing the treatment is competing in the 2019 running of the 24-hour classic, featuring a design by New York artist Richard Phillips.

You’ll be able to spec your very own from July 2019, and each commission will cost a relatively affordable €4,000. Which makes those illuminated carbon fibre kickplates and leather sun-visors look like much better value…