Hidden in a quiet corner of Porsche’s Leipzig facility lives a 718 Boxster S that doesn’t chase apexes—it films them. What started in 2017 as a training project for nine Porsche apprentices became one of the most unusual and capable camera cars in the brand’s ecosystem. And while it’s spent years behind the scenes, this stealthy roadster has quite the résumé.

The idea was born from necessity. The Porsche Experience Center Leipzig hosts countless on-track shoots, from promotional reels to magazine features. The previous “buggy”—a well-worn first-gen Boxster—couldn’t quite keep up with the latest machinery tearing around the circuit. A replacement was needed, one with precision, pace, and Porsche DNA.

Enter the 718 Boxster S. Under the guidance of training supervisor Carsten Pohle, nine apprentices in their second year of training were handed the keys—and a challenge: turn a two-seat sports car into a safe, stable, fully functional mobile film rig. The result is equal parts engineering exercise and creative problem-solving.

First, the roof had to go. The apprentices stripped away the soft-top and added a custom steel roll bar strong enough to support both safety harnesses and camera mounts. Matte black paint cloaks the body to kill reflections—a small but crucial detail when every frame counts.

Then came the mounts. Steel tube frames sprouted from the front, rear, and sides, giving directors a full 360 degrees of filming flexibility. Even the roll bar doubles as a high-mounted camera platform. It’s a Boxster with more rigging points than a Hollywood soundstage.

Inside, safety and practicality rule. Both luggage compartments are padded and fitted with harness systems to secure gear (and occasionally, photographers). A small standing platform between the front seats and rear trunk offers a stable base for shooting on the move, complete with PPE and safety tethers.

But Porsche being Porsche, functionality didn’t stop at the hardware. The apprentices integrated internal wiring that allows cameras to connect directly to a laptop—securely fastened, of course—in the passenger area. An onboard inverter keeps all equipment charged, meaning the Boxster can roll all day without missing a shot.

Since its transformation, the 718 camera car has been a fixture on the Leipzig track, filming everything from driving experiences to media content. It’s even worked for Motor Presse Stuttgart—the publisher behind auto motor und sport—and once found itself filming none other than rally legend Walter Röhrl. Most recently, it was spotted chasing hillclimb specials at the Tutto Bene event near Lake Maggiore.

In true Porsche fashion, this one-off creation blends performance and precision in equal measure. It may not set lap records, but it captures them in stunning clarity. And for the nine apprentices who built it, this blacked-out Boxster represents something bigger than a training project—it’s proof that passion and craftsmanship can turn even a mid-engine sports car into a cinematographer’s dream.

Source: Porsche