Porsche 911 GT3 Paint Protection Film

protect your car paint

Based on Porsche’s flagship 2-door sports car, the Porsche 911 GT3 is nothing short of exhilarating. With the 992 models pushing out 502hp and with top speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour, it’s just as home on the track as it is in your driveway. With beautiful features like the swan-neck rear wing, wide fender flares, and 21 inch wheels, the 992 GT3 looks stunning in any color and from any angle.

Porsche 911 History

First produced in September of 1964, the Porsche 911 featured the same flat six boxer style engine as the 356 before it, producing around 130 horsepower. Initially badged as the Porsche 901, only 82 of the 901 were made before French manufacturer Peugeot claimed that France had rights to any 3-digit vehicle name with a zero in the middle. Thus, the 911 was born.

Numerous improvements and model varieties were introduced over the years, including the 912, the 4-cylinder variant that was made to directly replace the 356 SC and appeal to the United States market. These cars came with a 4-speed manual transmission with an optional 5-speed at additional cost.

As time progressed, so did the technology in the 911. By the early 1970s, the 911S was in production, as well as the 911ST designed more for racing. With a weight of just 2,310lbs., these lightweight cars were given an added spoiler under the front bumper and a small wing on the back to add downforce and stability under higher speeds. Shortly thereafter, the Carrera RS was introduced, named after the 356 Carrera. This name was sourced from the Carrera Panamericana races in the 1950s in Mexico, in which the Porsche vehicles brought home victories in their class. 

With added stiffness, a larger 2.7L engine, ducktail spoiler, larger brakes, and wider wheels, the Carrera RS was truly designed for racing. In the Sport Lightweight form, the Carrera RS weighed 220lbs. lighter than the RS Touring due to use of thin gauge steel and thinner glass.

By the late 70s, Porsche had solidified their place in motorsports, and was trying to achieve bigger and better things. In 1975, Porsche introduced the first turbocharged 911. Marketed as the 930 Turbo Carrera in North America, this new turbocharged 911 featured wider wheel arches to fit wider tires, as well as the “whale tail” rear spoiler. The 3.0L engine was coupled with a 4-speed manual, and with the production of the first 400 units, it qualified Porsche for the FIA Group 4 racing competition. Evolving into the 934 for racing, and eventually the iconic 935 was built to race in FIA Group 5 racing. Fitted with the iconic “slant nose,” this car produced nearly 500 horsepower and it won many races well into the 1980s until racing regulations were changed.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, numerous new models and variants of the 911 were introduced, with each one bringing new features and technology to the roads. From four-wheel-drive, more horsepower, and the Tiptronic automatic transmission, allowing the 911 to become faster and more reliable. At the end of the 1990s, two major changes were brought to the 911. This included the introduction of a water-cooled flat six engine and the first major redesign in the overall body shell of the 911. Porsche enthusiasts and traditionalists marked it as the end of the true and original 911.

The First GT3

The 996 variant introduced in 1998 included over a dozen variations to the 911, including the club racing GT3 and GT3 RS, along with the 996 Turbo and GT2. This first GT3 model was based on their GT3 class racing car, and included thinner windows, deletion of the rear seats, and more lightweight materials. With focus on handling and performance, the GT3 harkens back to the 1973 911 Carrera RS. The 996 used a naturally aspirated 3.6L flat-six producing about 360 horsepower, and was later improved to 381 horsepower at the end of the 996 revisions.

The 997 GT3 was released in 2006, and aimed to improve upon what had already been set by the 996 GT3 and the 997 911 Turbo. Testing done by Excellence Magazine showed that the 0-62 time was 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 194 miles per hour.

In 2013, the 991 series 911 GT3 was released at the Geneva Motor Show, featuring a new 3.8L direct fuel injection flat-six cranking out 469 horsepower, coupled with the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch transmission. Numerous components, including the crankshaft, valvetrain, transmission, and more were specifically designed or adapted to be used in the 991 GT3, and even more were made when the 991.2 facelift was revealed in 2017. This facelift was fitted with a larger 4.0L flat-six with a 9,000rpm redline, an adjusted spoiler position to allow for better and more effective downforce, and the buyer option of a manual or dual-clutch gearbox.

The 992 GT3

Revealed in February 2021, the 992 generation of the 911 GT3 brought new updates to the styling, suspension, and aerodynamics. Remaining largely the same under the hood, the 992 GT3 kept the same 4.0L flat-six from the previous 991 generation, but with an increased power output of 503 horsepower and 347 lb-ft. of torque. With the addition of swan-neck arms to the rear wing, the downforce has increased over previous GT3 models. Available in a 7-speed PDK or in a 6-speed manual, the 992 GT3 is available in any configuration for any driver.

With numerous interior options for seat colors, stitching, embossing, and even custom 3D fit seats, drivers can truly tailor their experience to make it as comfortable or as track-ready as they wish. This includes the exterior color too. Porsche’s Paint to Sample program allows prospective Porsche buyers to customize their paint color using a previously made Porsche paint color or even one they’ve dreamt up themselves. A very lengthy process, often taking upwards of 8-10 months, the Paint to Sample program creates some truly one-of-a-kind vehicles in strikingly unique colors.

The Automotive Elegance Full Vehicle Protection Process

Upon arriving at the Automotive Elegance shop here in Andover, our clients are greeted by our Sales Team, going over the full vehicle to determine the desired coverage and any potential damage or other issues with the vehicle to be noted before install. This includes things like scratches, existing chips, unique body panels, or other modifications or damage to the vehicle.

After choosing their desired package, the client leaves their keys in the hands of our Sales Team and heads off while we get to work on protecting their vehicle. Once the keys are brought downstairs to our Detail Team, the big time work can begin. The Detailers bring the car around back and into our Wash Bay to begin the prep process.

Washing and prepping Porsche 911 GT3 for PPF installation

Our prep process starts with a thorough rinse down of the vehicle, removing surface dirt and other debris. Next, the Detailers tackle the wheels, cleaning the surface with a wheel and tire cleaner and scrubbing off any brake dust with special wheel brushes designed to keep the surfaces from getting scratched. Each wheel is rinsed thoroughly before moving on to cleaning the rest of the exterior of the vehicle.

Using a power washer, the Detailers will attach a foam cannon and thoroughly soap up the vehicle. Using a two-bucket system to rinse and re-soap their microfiber mitts, they will agitate the foam on the surface of the vehicle to help break up and wipe away any dirt, grime, or other surface contaminants across the entire exterior of the vehicle. They will pay special attention to areas of a vehicle known to collect more contaminants, like the front end, rocker panels, or rear bumper if the vehicle has previously been driven a few hundred miles before coming to the shop.

Prep of Porsche 911 GT3 for paint protection film installation

After a thorough rinse, the detailers will either reapply another round of foam if they feel as though the car needs to be cleaned more, or will move on to using a waterless wash to act as a lubricant to claybar the car. These clay bars are designed to pick up any remaining dirt or contaminants out of any grooves or texture in the vehicle’s paint, leaving the surface dirt-free and incredibly smooth. After this, the vehicle is rinsed clean and dried using compressed air and microfiber towels to ensure a smooth and dry surface for installers to begin work.

Paint Protection film application to a Porsche 911 GT3

Once moved into one of our installation bays, an installer can begin work on applying XPEL Paint Protection Film to the vehicle. Most installers choose to start with the hood, as it’s one of the largest pieces of film to install, but that is not always the case. Each installer chooses to start where they feel most comfortable.

The installer will use two different solutions to aid in their installation. The first is a slip solution, made with water and a small amount of soap. They generally tend to prefer baby shampoo, as it is a very gentle soap. The second is a tacking solution made with water and isopropyl alcohol. This tacking solution helps the adhesive on the back of the film to adhere to the painted surfaces by activating the adhesive.

PPF 911 GT3

Each piece of film is prepared by our Design Center team using XPEL’s Design Access Program (DAP) Software. The precisely measured pieces are printed using large Graphtec plotters that cut the film precisely on large sheets. These sheets are then weeded by our Design Team, taking away all of the excess film around the pieces to be put on the car. Each sheet is then rolled and delivered to the installer and placed inside the vehicle being worked on.

The panel on the vehicle is generally cleaned with some of the slip soap solution and compressed air to ensure a contaminant-free surface before installation. The area is then re-soaked with slip solution and the piece of film is laid overtop, where the installer will use their squeegee to help guide it into place and adhere it to the panel.

The installer’s squeegee is a 4”x3” piece of silicone, often found in colors like pink, blue, or black that helps them to not only remove the solution from beneath the film, but also to press it on to the panel of the vehicle to make it adhere better. Often, they will be seen holding the squeegee in their mouth when moving film or using both of their hands, as it’s easier than trying to find somewhere to put it down. 

Working piece by piece around the entire vehicle, the installer applies all of the pieces of film, covering things like small trim pieces, side view mirrors, door handles, and even the rear wing. Some of the unique features on the 992 GT3 include covering the rear spoiler, dual layers of PPF on the rear fender flares, and wrapping all available edges to ensure a seamless install with even less chance of potentially peeling down the line.

Once the vehicle has received all of the pieces of PPF, it’s ready for the final detail process. The Detail Team finishes by cleaning the windows, applying a layer of XPEL Ceramic Boost, and shining the tires. Looking showroom or museum ready, the vehicle heads to the front line of parking outside the shop, ready to be picked up and head home.

XPEL Ultimate Plus Paint Protection Film is the perfect accompaniment to a powerful flat-six engine. Allowing the deep flake of the paint to shine through while giving an unrivaled gloss finish and superior protection, XPEL PPF is the best way to protect your investment while keeping it looking new. 

Call us! Here at Automotive Elegance, we specialize in Paint Protection Film, Ceramic Coatings, and Window Tints using products from XPEL. Recipients of the XPEL US Dealer of the Year Award in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, we’ve protected it all! Visit us a https://www.automotiveelegancellc.com/ to schedule a booking.