Our story begins when Peachstate member, Atique Shah, was invited by Porsche Cars North America and both local dealers to attend a dinner featuring a multi-media presentation of the new Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid in 2013. Who wouldn't have had the strong desire to possess this masterpiece of automobile design and engineering technology just as Atique did.

Several months later, Atique was again contacted by PCNA, telling him that he was invited to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, where the car was being presented in the southeast, to have an up close and personal look at an actual 918 Spyder. At that time, there were only two of these cars in the US.

Wanting his 918 to be very special, just as was his GT3, Atique had originally chosen a signal red car with the Martini Racing graphics effect that was being offered to potential buyers, along with Strasburg Racing graphics. Sometime later and with Hennessy Porsche North Atlanta General Manager, Mark Venti, he was shown a conceptual rendering on the computer of a 918 in the Gulf Oil blue and orange livery, made quite famous to Porsche racing fans by the invincible Porsche 917 of the late sixties and early seventies. After further consideration, Atique asked Mark if it would be possible for him to order a 918 like that.

Atique's attempt to have his car painted in the Gulf Oil livery began. After waiting for months, the response was no from PCNA, as well as Porsche AG in Germany. "I was told if I wanted to continue with this pursuit, I would have to take it upon myself to obtain the rights and permissions," Atique said

Atique spent months writing letters, emails and making phone calls and finally, after nearly a year, he was able to obtain the rights, permissions and exclusivity he wanted from Gulf Oil, now owned by Standard Oil of California.

There are a couple of items that make Atique's 918 even more unique. The Gulf logos can remain in place on the front hood and doors, or they can be replaced by the car numbers "2" driven to victory at the Daytona 24 Hours race in 1970 by Pedro Rodriguez and Leo Kinnunen, or "22" made famous in the popular Porsche cult movie Le Mans, starring the late and former Peachstate member, Steve McQueen.Atique also chose to keep all the acid green color accents as a tribute to Porsche embracing the green or hybrid technology, so important in today's world of mass mobility.

After being asked if he bought his 918 strictly as an investment, Atique replied that he wanted to truly enjoy owning such a special 918 and had no intention of selling it any time soon. Peachstaters who attended the Hennessy Porsche North Atlanta Grand Re-opening party in January and our Members Appreciation party in February were able to have a first hand look at this beautiful and very unique Porsche on display on the mezzanine level.

Story by Mike Williford Photos by George Pearl and Mike Williford