• Recent matching Michelin Pilot Sports on unmarked wheels
• Only 80,793 miles
The Appeal
The 993 generation of 911 is thought by many to be the finest of the breed and it’s the last of the air-cooled models that the purists love.
Original Porsche 911 993s are a rare find and this unmodified example is finished in the perfect shade of Schwarz Metallic (Z8) that and sets off the original gold-centre Porsche wheels perfectly.
The standout feature is the condition – the current owner reckons it hasn’t been resprayed and we have no reason to doubt this – with the paintwork being remarkably free from scratches and chips. The panel gaps are perfect too and the comprehensive service history indicates fastidious owners.
The light grey leather interior backs this up, being in immaculate condition with next to no wear on the driver’s seat bolster. It offsets the black dashboard and black paintwork a treat and is a very pleasant place to be.
The Tiptronic gearbox (with steering-wheel mounted controls) means that this Carrera will be an easy classic to live with, too, thanks to no heavy clutch to worry about in traffic.
Four previous owners are detailed in the V5C with the current owner only having covered a small mileage in the car.
Thanks to also owning an Aston Martin, a Land Rover and a variety of scooters, he hasn’t had time to use it enough and hence decided to offer it for sale.
Originally registered to AFN Porsche dealer in London, and then owned by owners in Salisbury and Henley-on-Thames (ie posher parts of the country!) the vehicle was serviced almost exclusively at Porsche main dealers with only two exceptions when it visited Porsche specialists.
This 993 has a comprehensive service history, stamped in the original service booklet as follows:
13.10.94 – delivered by AFN Porsche, London
25.01.96 – AFN Porsche service – 7,868 miles
24.01.97 – AFN Porsche service – 8,147 miles
23.02.98 – AFN Porsche service – 17,368 miles
19.02.99 – AFN Porsche service – 20,249 miles
10.07.00 – AFN Porsche service – 23,653 miles
13.09.01 – AFN Porsche service – 25,279 miles
24.09.02 – AFN Porsche service – 28,669 miles
11.09.03 – 9-Eleven service – 32,914 miles
31.08.04 – Northway Porsche service – 44,979 miles
25.08.05 – Northway Porsche service – 51,786 miles
25.08.06 – Northway Porsche service – 56,452 miles
27.09.07 – Northway Porsche service – 60,557 miles
27.08.08 – Northway Porsche service – 66,354 miles
24.09.09 – Northway Porsche service – 69,051 miles
09.09.10 – Northway Porsche service – 69,702 miles
12.09.12 – Northway Porsche service – 70,438 miles
03.09.13 – Northway Porsche service – 70,727 miles
16.09.14 – Northway Porsche service – 70,801 miles
15.09.16 – Northway Porsche service – 71,108 miles
07.09.17 – Northway Porsche service – 71,387 miles
29.08.18 – Northway Porsche service – 71,622 miles
31.10.19 – Northway Porsche service – 71,825 miles
23.10.20 – Unit 11 Porsche service – 76,171 miles
An additional six stamps detail the brake fluid changes (the last by Unit 11 Porsche in October 2020), together with six stamps for the Long-Life Guarantee Condition Report.
The service books are supplied in the original black leather Porsche wallet, together with three spare keys two alarm key fobs (and a third spare casing) and the original key number tags. A thick ring-binder contains all the servicing invoices.
Opening the sturdy doors – which feel like they should be part of a safe not a mere vehicle - the standout feature is the condition and quality of the interior.
It’s stunning and looks as if it has been driven straight out of a showroom in 1994. The usual wear and tear on the driver’s seat bolster is noticeable by its absence while even the bezel around the ignition key – which is common 911 wearpoint – is unmarked.
The interior looks barely worn and the pale grey leather feels supple and smells great. The steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake leather are flawless, while the only evidence of the 80,000 miles is a slight trace of wear to the edge of the brake pedal. It doesn’t need replacing.
The headlining is untorn and in good condition – there is evidence of a trace of moisture around the electric sunroof aperture, so it will be worth checking the seals or drain points (though these all looked in fine condition so it could be an old stain).
The binnacle is dominated by the rev counter, with all five analogue VDO instruments working fine and indicating nothing untoward. A raft of warning lights illuminate with ignition on and they extinguish when the flat-six cranks into life.
There are no cracks in the dashboard top or in any of the plastic trim and no aftermarket additions sully the originality. The original tape deck (with a four-tape holder in the centre console) has been updated with a period-looking Continental CD DAB plus head unit that doesn’t look at all out of place and offers a USB port.
It is rare to find the condition of a modern car interior this good, let alone one in a classic Porsche and everywhere you look has been clearly cherished and well-cared for.
• Body looks incredibly straight with tight shutlines
• Low mileage tallies with condition
It’s difficult to know where to start on the exterior, such is the condition of the bodywork.
The current owner thinks the paintwork is all original and it’s in exceptional condition so it could well be the case. The only minor scratch we spotted on the entire body was around the engine cover release knob on the passenger side door jamb.
And this was a pretty minor mark not visible with the door closed. The unblemished paintwork could be in concours condition with very little work. It has probably benefited from being garaged for much of its life.
It’s a spectacular colour in the metal, too, changing hues from deep black to cashmere to dark grey depending on the sunlight intensity – it has real depth to the metallic sparkle.
Equally impressive are the five spoked Porsche alloys which feature smart gold centres and silver powder coated outers (they’re not polished so will be far easier to maintain).
The Porsche centre caps are without fault on each wheel, while the Michelin Pilot Sport tyres are 205/50-17 (dated week 7, 2021) size on the front and 255/40-17 on the rear (dated week 49, 2020).
Many classics grumble at the constant repositioning of the vehicle for the photos and the starter motors often complain, but not this Porsche.
It started at the first twist of the key and settled down to that sewing-machine idle with a slight gruff tone that air-cooled 911s are renowned for. The four-speed Tiptronic gearbox engaged gears smoothly and the power-steering worked without issue. It’s hard to believe its 28 years old – it felt like a new car.
The drilled discs on all four corners look to be in good condition, as do the brake calipers, while the only two advisories on the most recent MoT were front brake pads wearing thin and a rear lower oil leak (which I couldn’t see any evidence of when I looked at the underside).
The bodywork and interior are in pretty exceptional condition and it was very difficult to fault – I found a bolt-on bracket with surface rust on it on the bootlid (a five-minute job with a black aerosol) and some tiny bubbling on the offside rear window trim. This is nitpicking.
The engine bay was clean and tidy and had its full complement of original warning labels – it could easily be brought up to concours with a detailed valet.
All the electrics – from the sunroof to the cool electric rear spoiler – all worked smoothly without any fuss. Judging by the very frequent servicing and detailed maintenance records, there’s little doubt that this 993 has been well cared for.UnefJy4bNQoOm0jwI3nGjmPdQddBKM7HcvnXCMMQ.jpeg1.66 MB
Summary
As the 993 approaches its thirtieth birthday it’s gaining much more of an enthusiast following and with good reason – this is the last generation of the air-cooled Porsche and it’s understated looks have aged beautifully.
The sheer quality of the build stands out a mile compared to the previous 964. The doors shut with a solid thunk and the quality of all the materials is in another league compared to a plasticky modern car. Everything you touch feels special and premium.
The addition of the four-speed Tiptronic gearbox make this a very useable classic with all the benefits of that classic air-cooled soundtrack without the fuss of having to press a clutch and worry about what gear you’re in.
Equally the Carrera’s smooth power delivery isn’t going to catch out the unwary (unlike the sometimes laggy Turbo models).
If you’re going to invest in a classic Porsche, then the stunning colour combination of this example, backed up by its impeccable service history and first-rate condition makes it a very tempting prospect.
While it could easily be used as a daily driver, the condition is such that it really wouldn’t take much work to make it concours and take pride of place on a Porsche Club GB rally field.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
