Description
£20K HARTECH 3. 9 CONVERSION | 37K MILES | 17 YEARS SAME OWNER | HUGE PROVENANCE | BILSTEIN
Quite possibly the Cayman Porsche should have built. Every so often we buy a Porsche that reminds us exactly why we do this for a living. This is one of them. On paper, it is a beautifully preserved, exceptionally low-mileage Cayman S with just 37, 000 miles, 17 years in the same ownership and a quite extraordinary two-folder provenance file. But that barely begins to tell the story.
At its heart is a Hartech 3. 9-litre engine conversion costing circa £20, 000. For perspective, we are offering the entire car for £29, 987. And what a car it has created.
The standard Cayman chassis has always been one of Porsche's great achievements: compact dimensions, hydraulic steering, superb balance and wonderful mid-engined adjustability. Give that chassis the torque, response and performance of a properly developed 3. 9-litre flat-six and suddenly it becomes something very special indeed.
This isn't modification for modification's sake. Engine, chassis, suspension and exhaust work together so naturally that you are left wondering why Porsche didn't build something very much like this themselves.
A new exhaust sounds glorious and really allows the 3. 9's character to come through without being obnoxious – purposeful, quality and unmistakably Porsche. The renewed and upgraded Bilstein suspension retains OEM-quality engineering whilst allowing the driver to tailor the car towards comfort or a more focused experience to suit their preference precisely.
And then there is the history. Its previous Porsche Club owner kept the Cayman for an incredible 17 years. This wasn't simply his car; it was clearly his baby. TWO substantial folders of invoices, documentation and provenance accompany it, and its condition genuinely beggars belief.
Originally supplied by Paragon, it has just three previous owners and thoughtful upgrades including cruise control, Zunsport grilles, renewed sticky switches and Kenwood Bluetooth audio.
But none of that quite explains why we bought it. You need to drive it.
I spend my working life around Porsches, from Boxster through GT cars to some of the most valuable air-cooled machinery in the market. I therefore don't say this lightly: this may genuinely be one of the best-driving Porsches I have ever driven.
Without wishing to upset anyone with a 911 ST in the garage, this little Cayman might leave them wondering quite how this much driving focus and visceral enjoyment can be available at this price point.
No, it isn't an ST. But that's rather the point.
