At Carelli Design, we know greatness
doesn't come from following rules, but
from believing in possibilities.
Never follow and never do the expected.
Carelli Design C928 Porsche
The new C928 would wind-up
sporting a variety of extensive
modifications and upgrades. Among
the most obvious was an extensive
reconfiguration of the interior
appointments, a redesign of the vehicle’s
doors and the creation of a handsome
new trunk for luggage, as a result
of the vehicle’s new
convertible top.
Carelli Design C928 Porsche
The C928’s new interior
featured lush Connelly leather
hides out of England, a luxury
previously engaged only by the
automakers Rolls Royce
and Jaguar.
Carelli Design C928 Porsche
When in the down position, the
new convertible top is skillfully
stored entirely in its own concealed
storage compartment, a feature
relatively common by today’s standards
but nearly unprecedented in the
late 70’s and early 80’s.
Carelli Design C928 Porsche
Engineering a convertible top
was the first challenge. Designing
it to disappear into a totally concealed
chamber required extensive engineering
since none of this existed in the original
coupe, or any other Porsche for
that matter.
Carelli Design C928 Porsche
Those who knew something about
the 928’s new chassis, in particular
Porsche’s own hardcore engineers
were all quick to point out that any
attempt to modify the 928’s existing
chassis (a unibody structure based on
monoblock technology) would be a
near-impossible task.
Carelli Design C928 Porsche
With an annual production of over
15,000 units, and a workforce of some
4200, Porsche seemed gigantic when
compared to small automakers, particularly
those of Italian and English persuasion
which produce a mere 50 to 2,000 cars
annually. Big or small, Porsche appeared
to Carelli Design as a Giant, and for
Carelli International’s founder and CEO,
Vittorio G. Carelli, it was a perfect fit.
Carelli Design C928 Porsche
Carelli Design assumed responsibility
for the entire project, during which
Carelli Design’s MESA team assumed
responsibility for the entire research,
engineering, eventual vehicle design as
well as the production of eight completed
prototypes. Completion was on-time with a
final project development cost in excess
of 2.5 million dollars, followed by
an enormously successful round of
international debuts beginning in 1981
at the AutoExpo in Los Angeles
California.
Carelli Design C928 Porsche
The success of the C928 project
brought acclamation and worldwide
recognition to Carelli Design’s C928
MESA team. Nearly every auto publication
from around the world acknowledged Carelli
Design as a new creative powerhouse
—having demonstrated its ability
to beautifully style highly complex
products in harmony with their
maternal makers.
Carelli Design C928 Porsche
The C928 project perhaps would
have never seen the light of day,
if it were not for the company’s
early business activities and integral
ties with the legendary automobile
manufacturer itself. It may even be
said that it was Vittorio Carelli’s
early unrelenting fascination with
the Porsche automobile that
Carelli International exists today.
Carelli Design C928 Porsche
Today, our company contributes
much of its ideology and engineering
principals to those early years
influenced by Porsche methodology
and philosophy.
In the spring of 1979, Porsche Audi of North America and Carelli International Corporation launched an aggressive effort to develop a special limited series 928 convertible. The model would eventually become known as the Carelli Design C928 Porsche Convertible.
The Challenge
The new C928 would wind-up sporting a variety of extensive modifications and upgrades. Among the most obvious was an extensive reconfiguration of the interior appointments, a redesign of the vehicle’s doors and the creation of a handsome new trunk for luggage, as a result of the vehicle’s new convertible top. The C928’s new interior featured lush Connelly leather hides out of England, a luxury only previously engaged by the automakers Rolls Royce and Jaguar. When in the down position, the new convertible top is skillfully stored entirely in its own concealed storage compartment, a feature relatively common by today’s standards but nearly unprecedented in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Engineering a convertible top was the first challenge. Designing it to disappear into a totally concealed chamber required extensive engineering since none of this existed in the original coupe, or any other Porsche for that matter. Those who knew something about the 928’s new chassis, in particular Porsche’s own hardcore engineers were all quick to point out that any attempt to modify the 928’s existing chassis (a unibody structure based on monoblock technology) would be a near-impossible task.
The Result
Completion was followed by an enormously successful round of international debuts beginning in 1981 at the AutoExpo in Los Angeles California.
Nearly every auto publication from around the world
acknowledged Carelli Design as a new creative powerhouse having
demonstrated its ability to beautifully style highly
complex products in harmony with their maternal makers.
Why the Carelli Design C928 Porsche?
The company, Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche AG has often been described as the smallest among auto factories, and while that might be true within Germany, international comparisons prove otherwise. At the time of the C928 project, Porsche’s production was approximately 15,000 units annually, with a work force of some 4,200 employed. That could seem gigantic when compared to other small automakers, particularly those of Italian and English persuasion with annual productions of 50 to 2,000 units. Truth be told, Porsche’s 928 coupe received a lukewarm reception from their traditional steadfast customer base. The special limited series Carelli Design C928 Porsche convertible was a major attempt to boost, or rather draw attention to the 928 product. Carelli Design had already been in the creative spotlight, receiving positive press on custom one-of-a-kind vehicles. The price tag for owning a custom Carelli Design vehicle in 1979 would often cost their new proud owner as much as $350,000.
Extensive Modifications and Upgrades.
The new c928 would wind-up sporting a variety of extensive modifications and upgrades. Among the most obvious was an extensive reconfiguration of the interior appointments, a redesign of the vehicle’s doors and the creation of a handsome new trunk for luggage, as a result of the vehicle’s new convertible top.
Connelly Hides of England. The C928’s
new interior featured lush Connelly leather hides out
of England, a luxury previously engaged only by the
automakers Rolls Royce and Jaguar.
Concealed Storage. When in the down position, the new convertible top is skillfully stored entirely in its own concealed storage compartment, a feature relatively common by today’s standards but nearly unprecedented in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
Innovative Triumphs. Engineering a convertible top was the first challenge. Designing it to disappear into a totally concealed chamber required extensive engineering since none of this existed in the original coupe, or any other Porsche for that matter.
A Near-impossible Task. Those who knew something about the 928’s new chassis, in particular Porsche’s own hardcore engineers were all quick to point out that any attempt to modify the 928’s existing chassis (a unibody structure based on monoblock technology) would be a near-impossible task.
An Extraordinary Design Opportunity.
With an annual production of over 15,000 units, and a workforce of some 4,200 employed, Porsche seemed gigantic when compared to small automakers, particularly those of Italian and English persuasion which produce a mere 50 to 2,000 units annually. Big or small, Porsche appeared to the Carelli Design team as a Giant, and for Carelli International’s founder and CEO, Vittorio G. Carelli, it proved to be a perfect fit.
Carelli Design Assumed Responsibility for the Entire Project. Carelli Design assumed responsibility for the entire project, during which Carelli Design’s MESA team assumed responsibility for the entire research, engineering, eventual vehicle design as well as the production of eight completed prototypes (Carelli Design C928 Porsche vehicles). Completion was on-time with a final project development cost in excess of 2.5 million dollars, followed by an enormously successful round of international debuts beginning in 1981 at the AutoExpo in Los Angeles California.
Products in Harmony with their Maternal Makers.
The success of the C928 project brought acclamation
and worldwide recognition to Carelli Design’s
C928 MESA team. Nearly every auto publication from around
the world acknowledged Carelli Design as a new creative
powerhouse—having demonstrated its ability to
beautifully style highly complex products in harmony
with their maternal makers.
An Unrelenting Fascination with Porsche.
The C928 project perhaps would have never seen the light
of day, if it were not for the company’s early
business activities and integral ties with the legendary
automobile manufacturer itself. It may even be said
that it was Vittorio Carelli’s early unrelenting
fascination with the Porsche automobile that Carelli
International exists today.
Today, our company contributes much of its ideology
and engineering principals to those early years influenced
by Porsche methodology and philosophy.
Options, Accessories and Related
We apologize—this information is no longer made
available.
Vehicle model: Carelli Design C928 Porsche
Chassis type: two seat convertible
Final unit cost: $80,000.00 (U.S. Dollars, excluding taxes)
Quantity of vehicles constructed: 8 units (excluding prototypes)
Engine
No. of cylinders: V-8 water cooled
Displacement: 4.5 liters
Horsepower: 230
Rated at RPM: 5,250
Transmission
Type: 3 speed automatic or 5 speed manual (optional)
Chassis
Front suspension: independent, double A-arms with coil
springs
Rear suspension: independent WEISSACH axle
Steering: power assisted (hydraulic) rack and pinion
Brakes: dual diagonal circuits, calipers front and rear,
disc vented
Stability control: stabilizers front and rear Ø
28/22.5mm
Wheels: 16" alloy front and rear
Tires: Pirelli P7
Frame: C928 triangular space added for rigidity
Weight: 3290 lbs /1480 kg (with automatic transmission)
Coach
Construction: all steel and aluminum
Exterior: acrylic enamel finish
Interior: Connolly leather and 100% wool carpeting
Seats: 6 way, power operated
Windows: power operated
Safety: central warning system
Convertible top: 2-ply European auto cloth canvas
We reserve the right of modification to materials and
or specifications without prior notice. Mention of non-Carelli
products is for informational purposes and constitutes
neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. Carelli
International Corporation assumes no responsibility
with regard to the selection, performance, or use of
these products.
Revised December 2022
Publication Ref. 8242.9261 EN form 9261.1/V125
The Story Behind the Carelli Design C928 Porsche
The company, Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche AG has often been
described as the smallest among auto factories and
while that might be true within Germany, international
comparisons prove otherwise. At the time of the C928
project, Porsche’s production was approximately 15,000 units annually. That could seem gigantic when compared to small automakers, particularly those of Italian and English persuasion with annual productions of 50 to 2,000 units. Big or small, Porsche appeared to Carelli Design as a giant and for Carelli International’s founder and CEO, Vittorio G. Carelli, it was a perfect fit.
From a Modest Beginning to the Creative Spotlight
To the surprise of many, Carelli International began as a small independent service center of Porsche automobiles. The Carelli name quickly became a prominent enterprise with a reputation for technical excellence. Vittorio Carelli had acquired a profound understanding about every nut-and-bolt of the Porsche product. His technical aptitude, attention to detail, and steadfast scrutiny to deliver exacting perfection were already evident during his early childhood. In 1978, the Carelli enterprise set forth on independent design ventures, which soon provided for the creation of a full-scale transportation design facility located in Costa Mesa, California. The modern facility was dedicated entirely to vehicle transportation design and often referred to as Carelli Design. Our Journey from the Beginning
The C928 project would have perhaps never seen the light of day if it were not for the company’s early business activities and integral ties with the legendary automobile manufacturer itself. It may even be said that it was Vittorio Carelli’s early fascination with the Porsche automobile that is responsible for the modern existence of Carelli International today. Our company contributes much of its ideology and engineering principles to those early years influenced by Porsche. The eventual success of the C928 Porsche design brought acclamation and worldwide recognition to the company’s small team of inspired designers and engineers, at the time a mere 28 employees in all. More
about Carelli Design
The Company
Carelli Design, a unit of Carelli International, provides product and experience design, mechanical and software engineering, brand innovation, advertising, photography, audio and visual communication, film, and internet development, across multiple technologies, platforms and media. Carelli International operates several subsidiaries. EuroSystem Systems & Technology, a technology unit of Carelli International, specializes in the design, manufacture and distribution of ultra high-end commercial reverse osmosis purification for the medical, pharmaceutical and food service industry. Vittorio Carelli International S.A.R.L. Paris France, reassigned to U.S. operations in 1993, specializes in the design, manufacture and distribution of luxury items. 50 years of applied experience has earned the Carelli name a reputation for excellence in everything it elects to engage. Clients include Coca-Cola, Sony, Motorola, Starbucks, Disney, Porsche, GE, China Unicom, and many other Fortune 500 companies.
More about Carelli Design
C928
Research & Design
Take a look into the research and design studios responsible
for creating the Carelli Design C928 Porsche with this
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Why
the C928—and why Porsche?
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Design C928 Porsche (2.8MB PDF) Adobe's Acrobat Reader
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Navigate your way through a number of scenes with the
Carelli Design C928 Porsche. Each file is approximately
250KB and requires Apple QuickTime. QuickTime is a free
download direct from Apple. Download
Apple QuickTime
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Awards from the Industrial Designers Society of America,
the International Interior Design Association, the American
Institute of Architects, and many others have supported
our contributions to industrial product design. We continue
to be committed to developing products and solutions
that meet the demands of our clients while appealing
to the emotional desires of consumers. We are equally
committed to bigger issues—humanity, equality,
and bettering the world we live in.
