Pepita and Porsche goes hand-in-hand. After all, the iconic black and white pattern has been spicing up Porsche interiors since the twilight years of the 356, and it was first made an official option on the 911 as far back as 1965. In celebration of 60 years of Pepita, motorcycle racer, fashion designer and event organiser Chiara Aichele has created a very special 1966 Porsche 911 S in collaboration with the people at Early911s. However, this eye-catching sports car isn’t just designed to look pretty; it’s the ambassador for Chiara Aichele’s new project Rare.Sphere, which aims to breathe new life into the classic and collector car scene. We sat down for a chat to find out more.
“I’ve always had a passion for vehicles. It started with motorcycles and continued with cars. I just like the fact that vehicles used to have real character and individual design,” says Chiara as she explains the origin of her obsession with all things on wheels. Naturally, we all have favourites, and like countless other petrol heads, Chiara gravitated to the 911. “Sporty, light, small and an absolutely timeless design that is unmistakable.” These are the reasons why Porsche’s rear-engined wonder appeals to her so deeply, but as for her pick of the many different 911 variants? “I think a classic F model coupe without a lot of frills — preferably with the look where you can see that the vehicle has already experienced something in its life,” Chiara answers, revealing her soft spot for patina.
Once you’ve experienced a 911, it’s very hard to forget their unique character, and Chiara made it her mission to add one to her driveway as soon as possible. “The goal has always been to drive my own Porsche before I turn 30! That has driven me incredibly over the last few years. In February 2025, the time had come and I had the opportunity to buy a car. Now I'm totally in love with a 1974 Targa in Peru red — although I never wanted a red car and always fancied a coupé.” As we all know, though, sometimes it’s the car that picks the driver, not the other way around.
However, today’s focus isn’t Chiara’s lovely Targa, but a real show-stopper of a 911 S, built in collaboration with Early911s in Wuppertal. We had to know the origins of this fantastic project. “The 'Pepita' was conceived as an ambassador for RARE.SPHERE and is a tribute to the Pepita pattern. A lot of signature design elements from Porsche designers are included, for example, Stephen Murket insisted on the much more modern Pepita pattern with the additional blue tones,” Chiara reveals. As one would expect, the cabin is decked-out in houndstooth, from the door cards and lower section of the dash, to the seats.
Not constrained to the interior alone, the Pepita pattern extends forward onto the bonnet before gradually ‘dissolving’, while the rear bumper is also decked out in Pepita. Small emblems celebrating the pattern’s 60th anniversary can be seen on the rear decklid and behind the front wheel arches. The aforementioned pops of blue add some colour to the car, both mixed into the Pepita itself, and adorning the ‘PORSCHE’ script at the rear and on the polished Fuchs wheels. There’s even a custom houndstooth boombox made from old luggage, so you can continue the Pepita party when it comes time to leave the road. Can there be such a thing as too much Pepita? “In this case, a clear no!” Chiara answers definitively, and we have to agree, as it seems on this art car, the more Pepita the merrier!
However, as we touched on earlier, the ‘Pepita 911’ was built as an ambassador for Rare.Sphere, which Chiara created alongside a team of individualists as “a movement that connects the social media car scene with the real car scene. Emotions and special stories of vehicles and drivers are made visible and vehicles that go viral online are shown and staged in real life. The mission is to make the classic car scene more tangible, to connect online and analog, to reach young people and to connect communities.” Chiara continues, “I am particularly keen to rejuvenate the classic car scene and make it more open and relaxed — It doesn't always have to be the ‘Over the Hill’ scene.”
To that end, Chiara feels social media is the key to keeping the car scene alive and well. “If it can't be seen online, it wouldn't be there. The longer you resist it, the more you lose out. I myself usually see or find events and activities online and then have the goal: I want to go there!” However, it seems there also needs to be a slight change in mindset in this hobby which can often be set in its old ways, as Chiara explains. “Being open and rethinking is an absolute must. No vehicle or idea is, in my opinion, categorically excluded because it doesn't fit into the concept or not every screw is 100% original.”
With one stunner of a special 911 under her belt, we had to know what the future has in store for Chiara, and which vehicles she would like to transform next. “This year it's the “Pepita” which will be around for a while. In my eyes, the 70s and 80s are the most exciting, as long as the vehicle can be driven; a pure “museum vehicle” would not fit into the concept.”
To end, we asked Chiara what her dream road trip ride and destination would look like. “Off the top of my head? An old Fiat Panda 4x4, spikes on it and off to the North Cape… but that wouldn't be the only idea…” Answered like a true Classic Driver. We can’t wait to see what she does next!
Photos by Rémi Dargegen
