He said the emotional pull of the films is part of the point.
“Many of us – and our children – grew up watching the Toy Story films on the big screen. Celebrating this milestone is particularly rewarding – especially knowing that this initiative will ultimately support children and families in need.”
That mix of nostalgia and very expensive craftsmanship is the whole pitch here: beloved animated characters, translated into high-performance cars, then used to raise money for organizations serving children, families, and people in crisis.
How Buzz Lightyear became a 911 GT3 RS
The Buzz Lightyear model is based on a Porsche 911 GT3 RS and borrows its look from the Space Ranger’s suit. The exterior uses a white, green, and purple color scheme, which is subtle only if your definition of subtle includes a fictional astronaut action figure.
Its most obvious custom feature is a rear wing designed to resemble Buzz’s pop-out wings. Porsche also added bespoke “Lightyear” Goodyear tires, custom Space Ranger wheel center caps, and interior details tied to the character.
Inside, the door sill guards light up with Buzz’s signature line: “To Infinity and Beyond.”
Bob Pauley, Production Designer at Pixar Animation Studios and the original designer of Buzz Lightyear, said the project had personal weight.
“For over 30 years, Toy Story has made people of all ages smile,” Pauley said.
He also noted that the collaboration reunited Pixar with the Porsche team behind the Sally Special, the one-off Porsche inspired by Sally Carrera from Disney and Pixar’s Cars.
“Reuniting with the team at Porsche that created the Sally Special from Disney and Pixar’s Cars, and working to create these three all-new Toy Story 5 cars which will hopefully bring joy everywhere they go, is very meaningful and a great way to raise money for a good cause.”
What Jessie and Woody’s custom 911s look like
Jessie’s car is a custom 2026 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS. Porsche developed a new paint color for it called Jessie White Metallic, inspired by the pearl buttons on the cowgirl character’s shirt.
The design also includes:
- A red Targa roof inspired by Jessie’s hat
- Denim-style interior fabric representing her jeans
- Illuminated “YEE HAW!” lettering on the door sill guards
Woody’s one-off model is a 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera T. For that car, Porsche created a special paint process meant to capture the texture and worn look of blue jeans. Porsche says the denim effect is visible within the paint itself.
The cabin carries the western theme further with denim-inspired upholstery, vintage brown leather, cowhide-pattern floor mats, and illuminated door sill guards that read: “Ride Like the Wind!”
Jay Ward, Creative Director at Pixar Animation Studios, said the cars offer another way to bring the franchise into the real world.
“For decades, kids around the world have been discovering the Toy Story films – now with these cars, we’re excited to bring Toy Story into the world in a new way, and in a way I think will be surprising and exciting for fans,” Ward said.
What Toy Story 5 is about
Toy Story 5 arrives exclusively in theaters on June 19. The film brings back Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the group, while introducing a new challenge for Bonnie’s toys.
This time, the disruption comes from a tablet device named Lilypad, which changes the way Bonnie plays. That is a tidy little premise for a franchise that has always been about toys confronting obsolescence, loyalty, and the inconvenient fact that children grow up.
The film stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, and Greta Lee, with Andrew Stanton returning as director.
For Porsche, the project is a showcase of what its Sonderwunsch team can build when given a brief that starts with animated characters and ends with charitable fundraising. For Pixar and Disney, it is another reminder that Toy Story still has unusual reach: across generations, across merchandise aisles, and now, apparently, across the red carpet in three custom 911s.
