Leonberg, Germany · est. 1981
Porsche-based Gemballa conversions, continued by a later company.
Forthcoming lots
1 forthcoming lot · Monterey 2026
The house
Gemballa’s own history dates its beginnings to 1979, when the original business carried out interior, audio, video and instrument work for BMW and Porsche models. It says the GEMBALLA name was officially registered in 1981, when aerodynamic programmes for the Porsche 911, 924 and 928, a flat-nose 911 design, and an AMG interior project were introduced.
The company history identifies the Avalanche as a 1984 conversion based on the Porsche 930 Turbo. Its model chronology lists the Cyrrus as a 1986 conversion based on the Porsche 930 Turbo Cabrio; the same history records rearward-facing cameras replacing door mirrors in 1986.
For 2002, Gemballa says its 600 hp GTR 600-R, based on the Porsche 996 GT3, recorded an officially timed 7 min 32.5 sec Nordschleife lap and won the GT class at the Sport Auto Tuner Grand Prix. Road & Track also reported the 7 min 32.5 sec Gemballa GTR lap as a production-car record.
Gemballa presented the Mirage GT, based on the Porsche Carrera GT, in 2006. Its current page describes it as a limited edition of 25, while Road & Track reported in 2007 that the company planned to build 25; a completed-production total is not verified here.
Uwe Gemballa disappeared after arriving in South Africa on a February 2010 business trip and was found dead later that year near Pretoria. The original business was liquidated; the active Gemballa GmbH is a later 2010 legal entity in Leonberg, listed under HRB 734926 with Steffen Korbach as managing director. Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH is a separate company and says it is not associated with Gemballa GmbH.
The current company describes its complete vehicles as limited, named Gemballa conversions based on fully renovated imported base vehicles. Its current production-car page lists an Avalanche based on the Porsche 991 Turbo/Turbo S, a Tornado based on the Porsche 958 Cayenne Turbo/Turbo S, and a Mistrale based on the Porsche 970 Panamera Turbo/Turbo S.
Selected milestones
1979
Interior and electronics work
Gemballa’s history places the original business in bespoke BMW and Porsche interior modifications, audio and video equipment, electronic instruments and leather retrims.
1981
The GEMBALLA name
The company says the GEMBALLA name was officially registered and that aerodynamic programmes for the Porsche 911, 924 and 928 followed that year.
1984
Avalanche
The company chronology lists the Avalanche as a conversion based on the Porsche 930 Turbo.
1986
Cyrrus and cameras
The company chronology lists the Cyrrus as a Porsche 930 Turbo Cabrio conversion and records its first use of rearward-facing cameras in place of door mirrors.
2002
GTR 600-R lap claim
Gemballa says the 996 GT3-based GTR 600-R recorded a 7 min 32.5 sec Nordschleife lap and won the GT class at the Sport Auto Tuner Grand Prix.
2006
Mirage GT presented
Gemballa presented the Mirage GT as a Carrera GT-based limited edition. Its stated limit is 25; no completed-production total is used here.
2010
Original company ends; successor begins
Following Uwe Gemballa’s disappearance and death, the original business was liquidated. A later legal entity became GEMBALLA GmbH during 2010.
What defines Gemballa
The current company distinguishes its limited, named complete vehicles from individualisation packages. It describes the complete-vehicle process as full renovation of imported base vehicles in Leonberg.
Gemballa’s history records LED instruments in 1982, steering-wheel audio controls in 1983, and rearward-facing cameras linked to a TV screen in 1986.
The current production page lists announced limits of 25 for Avalanche and Mirage GT, and 30 for Tornado and Mistrale. These figures are not presented here as verified numbers completed.