The Porsche Boxster, while undeniably an amazing vehicle, has long been known for its issues with IMS bearing failure and other mechanical problems. As a result, prices on the first-generation Boxster have dropped significantly, making them incredibly affordable. The low price tag comes with a risk—they might blow up without warning. Enter Trent Bell from Project Six @project_six, who has found a solution to make these Boxsters more reliable and far more thrilling to drive than when they rolled out of the factory.

Trent’s breakthrough came when he realized that the manual gearboxes in first-generation Boxsters could bolt directly to the Audi 01E transmission, allowing the Boxster’s transaxle to connect seamlessly with longitudinally mounted Audi engines. This brilliant build merges the raw power of Audi’s V8 with Porsche’s precision handling, delivering the ultimate driving experience. With explosive power, smooth and responsive shifting, and razor-sharp cornering, this package is hard to beat. It’s a budget-friendly build that offers high-end performance without the high-end price tag.

These Project Six Boxsters not only combine all of the best experiences of the V8 and the Boxter, but also cooperate with the factory gauges, air conditioning systems, and weighs 70 pounds less since the V8 is a lighter engine. The conversion itself is relatively inexpensive, pricing in around $8,000 plus the cost of the engine, which most Audi 4.2L V8’s are cheap themselves, ranging from $500 – $3000 at a local parts yard.

Watch more about the first completed Project Six Storm S below!