During Monterey Car Week, Galpin Motors pulled the cover off something truly divine: bb-001 “Streets of Gold”, the first U.S.-built bb-Auto commission. Based on a 1986 Porsche Targa, this faith-inspired creation blends German engineering, American craftsmanship, and biblical symbolism into one glittering masterpiece. The debut was nothing short of a pilgrimage, with the Targa making appearances at Motorlux, Werks Reunion Monterey, Casa Lee, and the Monterey Motorsports Festival. Each stop drew enthusiasts eager to see how bb-Auto’s distinctive design language had been reimagined through a spiritual lens.
Commissioned by Alexander Everest, founder of Christ and Cars, “Streets of Gold” takes direct inspiration from the Book of Revelation’s imagery of heaven’s streets paved with gold. The car’s shimmering custom metallic gold paint captures this celestial vision, while every trim piece, emblem, and accent was meticulously refinished to harmonize with the theme. The foundation, a 1986 Porsche G-Body Targa, was transformed with bb-Auto’s signature front and rear styling, giving it a modernized yet unmistakably classic silhouette.
Inside, the symbolism runs even deeper. The gauge cluster is backed with mother-of-pearl and encircled by 24-karat gold bezels, echoing the twelve gates of heaven. Bespoke Sparco seats wrapped in premium leather, Alcantara accents, and a hand-carved acacia wood shift knob (a nod to Noah’s Ark) make the cockpit both luxurious and meaningful. An audiophile-grade Morel Elate Carbon sound system, powered by Mosconi amps with Focal subs, ensures that the driving experience resonates not just physically, but spiritually.
Beneath the rear decklid sits a 4.0L Ed Pink Racing engine, naturally aspirated to deliver 400 horsepower. Paired with Porsche Active Suspension Management, dual oil coolers, Brembo brakes, and Michelin Cup 2 tires wrapped around custom 18-inch HRE wheels, the Targa strikes a balance between raw performance and refined drivability. Every component, even under the hood, was color-matched to maintain the golden motif.
For Everest, this car was a personal act of faith: “I’ve commissioned many custom cars before, but none like this. Only bb-Auto could bring my vision to life. Galpin Auto Sports painted my masterpiece, and it is a rocketship!”
Galpin Motors now holds the exclusive U.S. rights to bb-Auto, the German design house with a storied history of Porsche customization, founded in 1974 by Rainer and Kathrin Buchmann, hence the BB name, which is derived from Buchmann und Buchmann. Together, Galpin’s master technicians and bb-Auto’s visionary designers are forging a new era of bespoke European builds in America.
“Streets of Gold” is more than a restomod Porsche, it’s rolling scripture, a car that turns faith into form and horsepower into a hymn. Equal parts art piece, performance machine, and spiritual statement, this one-off Targa proves that when passion and craftsmanship unite, the result can truly be divine.
