1993 Porsche 968 Club Sport

• Porsche GB runs an annual, national Classic Restoration Competition open to its Official Centres and their esteemed automotive partners
• Previous winners, Porsche Centre Leicester, took part again in 2015/2016 deciding to restore an example of the revered 968 CS
• Choosing a very solid car, sold by the group originally, and with a comprehensive history file, its original stamped-up service book and many invoices, a team of Porsche technicians and approved body-shop Chartwell set about creating the ultimate restored 968 CS
• No area was left untouched, costing cú55,000 and using many hundreds of hours, the car is now as good as it could be, with the restoration all fully documented
• Highly revered as one of the best-handling Porsche models ever
• Track-focused run-out model adopting the philosophy of 'less is more', with the addition of race-style seats and a sunroof

Long-term Porsche devotees will be all too familiar with the 968, introduced to the world back in 1991, and as it turned out, was to be the end of the line for Porsche's enduring front-engined four-cylinder model line. The 968 was developed directly from the 944, which meant adopting its well-honed and well-proven running gear, whilst presenting a fresh design aesthetic that made it feel like a significantly new model.

The standard 968 was a great all-round sports car, but as a last 'hurrah' to this enduring lineage Porsche wanted to create a car tailored more for the pure enthusiast and, in particular, one that would excel in competition. In late 1992, the 968 'Club Sport' was introduced and, whilst it was mechanically identical to the standard 968 and shared the same 3.0-litre engine (producing 225lb-ft of torque and 240bhp) and 6-speed gearbox (situated at the rear axle, which helped give the car it's excellent weight distribution), it differed in a number of important ways.

This track-focused run-out model adopted the philosophy of 'less is more' by removing all luxury-related equipment from the basic build specification. With the no-frills approach, less weight and clever suspension, Porsche could now focus media attention on the Club Sport's fast road and track abilities. As soon as the press got hold of the Clubsport and discovered what a brilliant drivers' car it was, the credibility of the 968 went through the roof. Even Walter Rohrl reckoned it was the best handling car that Porsche made. The CS achieved a 'Performance Car of The Year' award in 1993 from Performance Car magazine in the UK.

In total, just 1,923 CS examples were produced worldwide, of which only 179 were UK right-hand drive models, making the Club Sport a very rare Porsche indeed.

Every year Porsche GB runs a national Classic Restoration Competition open to its Official Centres and their esteemed automotive partners. Having won overall in 2014 in the Turbo/Targa group, Porsche Centre Leicester took part again in 2015/2016, deciding to complete a full and comprehensive restoration of the revered 968 CS.

A long-standing Sales Manager managed to source a very solid and genuine Black (A1A1) UK (C16)-supplied 968 CS, originally sold within the group by Sytner in 1993. Adding to its integrity, the car came with a comprehensive history file, its original stamped-up service book, a COA, and many invoices, verifying its conservative mileage of 87,000.

The car was promptly disassembled, assessed and the project began. The engine, gearbox, clutch, driveshafts, suspension, and wiring loom were all removed, evaluated, and fully rebuilt. The bodywork was attended to by specialists Chartwell, again to exacting standards - with the car eventually winning in the Body and Paint category.

No area was left untouched, with the project costing cú55,000 and filling many hundreds of hours, the car is now as good as it could be, with the restoration all fully documented in a presentation brochure and numerous files. The car was used by Porsche Centre Leicester at various industry events where their skills could be showcased. A 968 Club Sport like no other - restored by its maker.

This car has formed part of a significant collection for the past few years. In preparation for the sale, the engine will be flushed, filled with fresh oil and a new filter fitted, the fuel tank drained, flushed and filled with 20 litres of fuel, fitted with a new battery and issued with a fresh MOT Certificate. A safety check will also be carried out along with an inspection report included in the history file.