CARS AS ART
The Paul Walker Porsche 997 Carrera GTS

Story and photographs by Harvey Schwartz Charles Carlino, Cars As ART senior designer and owner, located in Delray Beach, Florida, built this Paul Walker Tribute Car off a donor 2005 997, Carrera GTS white coupe with a 3.8 liter Boxster flat six engine and a Tiptronic six-speed transmission. Carlino is a Porsche enthusiast and a fan of Mr. Walker and his movie series ‘Fast and Furious’. As Charles tells it, “Mr. Paul Walker was an inspiration to all auto enthusiasts around the world, by way of his starring roles in the movie series. Paul was a brother to all of us in the Car world and a key representative of the charity ‘Reach Out World Wide’ (ROWW).”

“Unfortunately, we lost Mr. Walker in a horrific accident as passenger in a Porsche Carrera GT, back in 2013. The Car world and the human race have lost a great son,” adds Charles. The Cars As ART 997 GTS Tribute Car is a unique Porsche with custom modifications to the exterior styling, engine, and suspension. These engine modifications include a K&N 57-7001 Air Handler Intake System, Riverside, California, an Agency ‘stainless’ Power Sports Headers, Gilbert, Arizona, Carrera dual mode Sports Exhaust from Seacoast, Sarasota, Florida, with black dual exhaust pipes, and a Carrera 3.8 Engine Management Chip by Haltec, Lexington, Kentucky, for added power and performance. Modifications to the suspension include a set of H & R lowering Sport Springs, Bellingham, WA, for 997’s, and Bilstein Race Shocks for added stability and a stiffer ride. New custom wheels and tires were called for next to match the increase in power and handling so Cars As ART shod the car with Avant Garde M550, 5-spoke wheels in matte black. Up front are 19X8.5 inch wheels and 19X11 inch wheels in the rear. These stunning wheels are wrapped with Michelin 235/35ZR19 inch Pilot Sport N2 tires up front, and Michelin 245/30ZR19 Pilot N2 Sport tires in the rear.

Modifications to the exterior styling include a GT3 Aero Kit by Gruppe 2 of Miami, Florida, made of High-Impact Fiberglass, a complete Ground Effects Kit with a GT3 rear wing spoiler, GT3 front and rear bumpers and side rocker panels. Screw In Tow Hook from Renneline, Milton, VT, LED rear lights conversion by SunCoast of Indian Shores, Florida, including LED conversion module and front LED parking lights conversion, and Carbon Fiber Side View mirror covers by Gruppe 2. All GT3 Graphics and Paul Walker Fund Tribute Decals ‘Reach Out World Wide’ Charity, by Ki Studios in San Diego, California. Charles has taken his tribute Porsche to several car shows in south Florida and gets ‘congratulations’ and ‘great work’ comments from the many fans of Paul Walker that attend these automotive enthusiast events. © Words and pictures by Harvey Schwartz