The vehicle was brought to the repair shop on December 31st. It didn’t appear to be in terrible condition when they unloaded it from the flatbed truck and placed it on the ground. The black exterior seemed as if it had just been rained on, and the windows on the driver’s side were covered in plastic to keep out the rain. However, the damage had already been done and the team was aware that dealing with flooded cars was a major headache. Unfortunately, this poor car had been submerged in mud and water for three days.
When they opened the doors, they were greeted with a scene of automotive devastation. Parts of the car had already turned green from the mud and water. The dashboard was covered in a thick layer of mud, the seats were so filthy that you wouldn’t even sit on them, and the smell was reminiscent of a broken refrigerator in the middle of summer.
There was no chance that the insurance company would consider salvaging this Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS. It was destined for the crusher, with everyone involved holding their breath to avoid the stench of the swamp.
The engine was stuck, the car couldn’t run or be driven, and the dashboard remained unlit. It was no longer recognizable as a functioning vehicle. Even the Lego brick Volvo V70 we previously wrote about would be more functional than this heap of garbage on wheels that the owner had likely paid around 190,000 euros ($1,204,298) for just last year. This particular car was equipped with the Weissach package, which added an additional 16,460 euros ($17,698) to the price.
The Weissach package included a titanium roll cage, as well as carbon fiber components for the hood, roof, side mirrors, and rear wing. The rear of the car featured titanium tailpipes in the style of the 935 race car. Inside, there were yellow six-point harnesses and the upper part of the dashboard was covered in Race-Tex material.
As shown in the photos and videos posted on Instagram, the Porsche had been fitted with optional 20-inch forged magnesium wheels, which were available with the Weissach package. If the repair turns out to be a complete failure, the shop will likely make a good deal selling those wheels.
RS Dynamics, a tuning shop located in Solingen, Germany, approximately 497 miles (800 kilometers) away from the location of the flood, took on the challenge. They have made it their mission to revive the Cayman GT4 RS and have named the project “Seacret.” However, before they can bring the Porsche back to life, they must first dismantle it. The car was a victim of a flood that occurred somewhere in Slovenia.
The owner had stored this precious sports car in an underground garage, treating it with the utmost care from the moment it was delivered. Unfortunately, a few months and 471 miles (758 kilometers) later, a natural disaster struck.
On August 3rd and 4th, heavy rainfall caused severe flooding and landslides across most of Slovenia. As a result, the Porsche 718 Cayman ended up submerged in mud and water.
Photo: RS Dynamics | Instagram
The Porsche was eventually extracted from the mud by RS Dynamics, a dealer in Frankfurt. They believe that this car has the potential to be restored and put back on the road, which would be a shame considering it has only driven less than 1,000 miles.
Before it was submerged in floodwater and mud, this sports car boasted an impressive 493 horsepower (500 metric horsepower) and 331 pound-feet (449 Newton meters) of torque. Its 4.0-liter flat-six engine was paired with a seven-speed, dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission.
In its prime, this car could accelerate from zero to 62 mph (or 0 to 100 kph) in just 3.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 196 mph (315 kph). However, those days seem like a distant memory now.
In the comments section, someone jokingly suggests putting the car in rice to dry it out, referencing the common remedy for water-damaged smartphones. Another person humorously remarks that it will come out looking like a Hyundai.
Restoring this car is a challenging task that requires disassembling every component, including the dashboard, seats, and floor mats, for a thorough power wash. However, bringing the 4.0-liter flat-six engine back to life will require more than just a power wash.