A Closer Look At Eddie Van Halen’s 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Eddie Van Halen’s sports car collection is unique like his personality but the Porsche 911 GT3 RS is probably the star of his garage.

Although most know Eddie Van Halen as one of the greatest guitarists to have ever lived, gearheads know him as a vivid car enthusiast whose knowledge about cars isn’t confined to just the name. That being said, Eddie Van Halen has a unique car collection comprising custom cars, a Ford engine-powered 1947 Dodge cab-over truck, Chevy classic cars, Audis, Ferraris, Porsche, and other sports cars.

But the one that caught our attention is the recently sold 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, a custom-made example built by Porsche. So what made his Porsche 911 stand out from the ones of other celebrities? Here’s your answer.

Eddie Van Halen’s Custom Porsche 911 GT3 RS Proves He’s A Porschephile

Although most know Van Halen as one of the greatest guitarists in the heavy metal genre, gearheads acknowledge Eddie as a huge car enthusiast for his distinctive fleet of cars. Similar to most icons, even Eddie had a Porsche 911, but unlike most of them, his 911 was unique, for it was customised to his taste.

Eddie’s 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS was finished in GT Silver and equipped with the massive rear spoiler. The black wheels were wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires and yellow brake calipers offer a contrasting look. EVH’s custom 911 GT3 RS was further embellished with carbon fiber door sill plates and subtle touches in the front and rear bumpers, as well as engine mounts. In addition, Porsche placed an illuminated VH logo in the carbon fiber door sills to make this 911 a one-off example.

EVH Drove The 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS More Than 16,000 Miles

Step inside Eddie’s 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and you’ll find some key details of its ownership and the optional goodies the guitarist had equipped his sports car with. The fact that the car’s odometer reads more than 16,167 miles indicates that the 911 GT3 RS was akin to the heavy metal legend and used it regularly.

Back in 2016, in an interview with Caranddriver, Eddie was asked what he loved about his new “hard-core purist’s choice” car. He revealed the 911 GT3 RS’s true personality, saying:

“For one, it’s just so light. But really, it’s the handling. I don’t know how Porsche did it. We raced in the rain at Buttonwillow, which is my favorite track. We raced in the rain, and we never lost it, never spun out. BBI [Autosport] did my suspension. I set it up, so you can feel it go, and you can actually slide the damn car. It’s the first time ever I’ve been able to four-wheel-drift a Porsche. Every other Porsche I’ve ever had, I’ve spun them all. Well, every 911, anyway.”

How Much Is Eddie Van Halen’s Porsche 911 GT3 RS Worth Today?

Also, the device list in the infotainment system shows two iPhone records under his name. The CarFax further reveals four service records during his ownership, which do not prove he’s the sole owner and reveals how well-maintained the car was. Besides these records, the car also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity consisting of an EVH trademark and Eddie’s signature. According to Stephen Becker Automotive Group, Eddie Van Halen’s 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS was sold at $200,000.

Eddie Van Halen’s 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS had carbon fiber touches and its interior came equipped with many optional amenities. Options like the Sound and Light Design package, a six-disc CD/DVD player, Alcantara touches, a larger fuel tank, and the Porsche Dynamic Light system made this 911 GT3 RS different from most Porsches in the used market.

Eddie Van Halen: The Maestro Of Heavy Metal

While Eddie Van Halen is often regarded as the inventor of two-handed guitar tapping, it is far from true. Vittorio Camardese, an Italian guitarist, is considered the inventor of two-handed guitar tapping when he demonstrated it for the first time in 1965 in an Italian TV show. With hard rock and heavy metal revolutionizing music in the 1970s, it should be noted that Eddie Van Halen perfected and popularized two-handed guitar tapping technique.

While Eddie Van Halen helped develop several guitar-related equipment, the most popular is the Musical Instrument Support which holds a US patent number of 4,656,917. Other inventions associated with his name include “Adjustable String Tension Control” with patent number 7,183,475, Guitar Peg head with U.S. Patent No. D388,117 and the famous humbucker pickup carrying a US patent number of D817,385.

With 12 albums, two live show albums, a couple of compilation albums, and 56 singles, Van Halen has a massive discography with which they have gained immense popularity across the globe.

Eddie’s distinctive playing style, inventions, and public appearances have helped him amass a net worth of $100 million. With such a fat amount in his bank account, he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle.

However, Eddie was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2000 with which he lived up to the age of 65 when sadly passed away in 2020. His famous guitar named Frankenstein is preserved in Smithsonian Institution while most of his money was assumably divided among his widow, first wife, children, and brother.

Credits: Sourav Banik / Hotcars