Over the years, there have been a few Hollywood car chases featuring Stuttgart's finest. But one of the most memorable involved a 1979 Porsche 928 driven by Tom Cruise in the 1983 movie “Risky Business”, directed by Paul Brickman. Nearly 40 years after the film's release in cinemas, the car was sold for a staggering $1,980,000 USD at the Barrett-Jackson auction last year: a world record for this model.
A multi-million dollar auction
Barrett-Jackson is a US auction house specialising in the sale of collectible cars and motor memorabilia, with the auction taking place online live from the NRG Park in Houston, Texas. Few of the enthusiasts following the bidding could have predicted what happened next. Even in perfect condition, Porsche 928s in the vintage car market rarely fetch more than €50,000. By the end of the auction, however, the arena was engulfed in applause following a mind-boggling final offer of €1,687,000: a figure never seen before for a Porsche 928.
Porsche. There is no substitute
But this was no ordinary 928. It's a piece of cinematic history immortalised by a young Tom Cruise in his first starring role. The scene is unforgettable: having commandeered his father's 928, Cruise quotes the famous company slogan following a thrilling car chase with his antagonist Guido. “Porsche. There is no substitute.”
Porsche and Pirelli
The Pirelli Cinturato P7 radial tyres fitted to this 928 give the Porsche even more star appeal. Having been tested in the World Rally Championship since 1974, the P7 was officially launched onto the market in January 1976, featuring important innovations such as a Zero Degree nylon belt and a super low profile.
Once the cameras stopped rolling
After filming, the 928 – which had been painted in gold especially for the movie – enjoyed a graceful retirement in the air-conditioned rooms of a private collection, before appearing at various exhibitions including the prestigious Porsche Effect exhibition first hosted in February 2018 by the Petersen Automotive Museum of Los Angeles. During its stay in the Californian museum, Chad McQueen (the son of the legendary Steve McQueen) also sat in the driver's seat. This iconic 928 also has the signatures of several members of the film's cast in the cockpit...but only that of Tom Cruise is missing!
