Though Porsche is one of the most successful and profitable brands around, it wasn’t always the case. The company was on the up through the 1980s, buoyed by success on the race track, by the 1990s it was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Two Japanese brands showed Porsche the path to its financial independence. First, Mazda’s new MX-5 revealed a nascent market for small convertibles, while a consultation with Toyota - specifically regarding “just-in-time” manufacturing - allowed Porsche to make its cars more quickly, more efficiently, and more profitably.

With the MX-5 in mind and the 911 growing ever more expensive, Porsche decided to produce a throwback to its 1950s offerings: a small, affordable, mid-engined convertible. A 550 Spyder-inspired design by Grant Larson became the Boxster, which - with Toyota’s lessons in mind - Porsche developed alongside Pinky Lai’s radical 996-generation 911.

The two cars share significant characteristics. They are so similar in design that it can be hard to tell them apart head-on, until you reach the slightly larger windscreen of the 996, but the differences become obvious further back. The cars share an engine - a horizontally opposed, or “boxer”, six-cylinder, but the capacity differs: the Boxster uses a 2.5-litre unit, compared to the 3.4-litre item found in the 911.

When released in 1996, the Boxster was an instant hit. It became Porsche’s best-selling car overnight and if not for the Cayenne SUV in 2003 it would have stayed there. It’s for this reason that the 986 is regarded as the car that saved Porsche.

Unusually, this Boxster was actually built in Finland in 1999, at the Uusikaupunki plant by Valmet. Porsche contracted Valmet to build Boxsters from 1997 through to 2011, to keep up with demand.

Supplied new in March 1999 in its original Ocean Blue colour, this Boxster is one of the first generation of cars, with the 201hp, 2.5-litre engine found throughout the range.

It’s had ten owners over the last 21 years, with the most recent claiming ownership in September 2019. A well-meant gift, the Boxster has unfortunately proven surplus to requirements and now needs a new home.

The MOT history shows no major concerns. It has been flagged a few times for tyre wear and lighting - the offside headlight unit is clearly newer than the nearside - but there’s been no indication of any serious structural issues or corrosion. On top of that, the vehicle has just passed an MOT, giving any new owner complete peace of mind!

Aside from the MOT history, most recent emissions test - a clear pass - and a recent vehicle health check from ATS, there’s also a fair amount of service history and paperwork to show brake fluid and corrosion checks, all of which can be seen in the gallery below.

Other than that replacement headlight, service items, and wear and tear components like brake parts and tyres, this Boxster appears to be in great condition.

There is a valuation for the cherished registration mark, N444TTP, at £400, which the seller has indicated is included in this sale.

In the cabin the Boxster is pure Porsche. The tachometer dominates the binnacle, with the speedometer relegated to the left opposite the oil temperature and fuel gauges - though there’s also a digital speed readout in the centre.

Everything in the cabin is in decent condition. All the switches operate as they should, and all the information displays work. The controls for the stereo are showing their age more than anything else on the car, with the originally grey rubber becoming discoloured and worn - though it is the original stereo too.

Much of the interior trim is in good condition too. The driver’s side floor mat shows a stain of some type, but generally there’s few marks and no obvious damage, even behind the seats. Similarly the seats, grey part-leather items, show no wear or damage.

Though early Boxsters like this one have no glovebox, they do have a holder under the steering wheel for the book pack, as well as zip-able storage above the engine, behind the seats. Oh, and they have two boots. The rear boot is in generally clean, good condition despite being the location of the engine coolant and oil filler caps - ripe for fluid spilling mishaps. You’ll find the battery and brake fluid reservoir in the front boot - or “frunk” - along with the spare wheel and wheel change tools. This is also in good condition.

It’s pretty hard to tell that this Boxster is over 20 years old from the outside. The paint is good condition overall, apart from some chips on the bonnet. Elsewhere, there’s no evidence of parking dings or scrapes, and even the nose of the car - the most exposed to impacts from road stones - is chip free. 

You will find minor marks here and there, but it’s far less than you’d expect on a 112,000-mile sports car. The largest we could spot was over the nearside rear wheel arch, and about the size of a rather small lentil.

The wheels are in good order and are looking good for the vehicles age. Also looking great are the decals - a subtle black-on-blue affair - with no rips, tears, or bubbling. The roof is in generally good condition, as is the plastic rear window.

Underneath the Boxster is generally clean and unblemished aside from some surface rust. The under-trays which tidy up the airflow under the car are all intact and mostly appear undamaged, though one deflector ahead of the nearside front wheel is cracked, as is a portion around the engine bay.

A short drive revealed no obvious issues with this Boxster. There were no undue noises, and nothing apparent in the way the car drives or handles, despite the provocation of ambulance-friendly speed bumps.

The five-speed manual gearbox is nice to operate, with no resistance from either it or the clutch through the gears. At the relatively low road speeds, the engine pulled well with no hesitation or drama. The brakes slowed the car appropriately, with no noises or yaw.

Similarly, the power-operated roof - an important part of the picture, and costly component if it fails - functions perfectly, opening and closing without issue.

One point of note is the occasional squeak on engine start up. This brief noise is characteristic of early Boxster, to the point of having the name “Boxster Squeal”. It suggests nothing more major than a starter motor replacement (an inexpensive part) at worst.

The Boxster on its own is an enduring icon. It’s a well-made, entry level sports car from a manufacturer known for its racing exploits - particularly in endurance racing, where vehicles have to last - and a first step for many in a long-term relationship with the Porsche brand. The name still continues to this day, with the most recent 718 Boxster still clearly following the original design.

That aside, the Boxster is a pretty rapid car with a reputation for excellent handling, married to the joy of open-top motoring.