1997 Porsche 911 (993) Carrera 2S - Manual

The air-cooled Porsche 993 Carrera was arguably Porsche’s finest ever incarnation of the legendary 911 Series. 993 is the company's internal name for the version of the Porsche 911 model manufactured and sold between late 1993 and early 1998, replacing the 964 and before the 996. Its discontinuation marked the end of air-cooled Porsches, with the 993 being not just the last air-cooled 911, but also the last of the hand-built 911 series. 25 years on, it still looks modern - a truly timeless design.

In 1995, Porsche switched to the Varioram-equipped M64/21(22) engine. Varioram adjusts the length of the air intake ducts in line with the engine revolutions and the speed of the car increasing the power output to 285bhp giving the 993 Carrera improved performance.

The wide, turbo-bodied 911 Carrera 'S' offered a higher level of equipment both inside and out. Nothing was overlooked. The suspension was lowered by 10mm at the front and 20mm at the back. The Carrera 2S shares it’s bodyshell with the Turbo, giving the car its wide stance yet retaining the all-important naturally-aspirated engine. Its spoiler is split down the middle and painted the same colour as the car, and the model designation appears on the engine compartment lid and on the tachometer. The handbrake lever, door entry guards, instrument bezels and ball-shaped gear knob were also unique.

However the biggest change under the skin of the 993 was the new multi-link rear suspension, giving greater driver confidence, less road noise and excellent ride quality. Designed to give a level of passive rear-wheel steering (the 'Weissach effect'), thus controlling the way the suspension behaved under cornering, braking and acceleration, it transformed the 911. It was also the first 911 to be equipped with power steering and an advanced ABS system.

This beautiful Carrera 2S was originally supplied by Porsche Austria on 2nd July 1997 to a high net-worth individual with homes in the UK, Austria, and an estate in the Bahamas. It boasts an excellent Porsche Main Dealer and Porsche specialist service history with stacks of invoices and paperwork for maintenance in addition to its original leather driver’s bookpack. It is a genuine 'C16' UK-spec car and comes with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity confirming its original build specification, a specification that includes possibly the longest list of optional extras that we’ve ever seen.

R814 TST is one of just 251 manual gearbox Carrera 2S Porsches delivered to the UK, and this one is believed to be one of just four in this specification. Finished in Porsche’s classic Guards Red with a seldom seen Cashmere and Black with Porsche script leather interior, this 993 has covered a mere 22,122 miles from new with just two former UK-keepers. Despite the minimal mileage, our perfectionist vendor decided to have the whole car resprayed due to a couple of minor stone chips and blemishes, and this was completed in October 2023, ensuring that the paintwork is as perfect as it can be. Mechanically, the car runs and drives really well, benefitting from a recent major service by Porsche marque expert Redline and the history file inspires confidence.

Just as the Turbo and other low-build 993 variants have become highly collectable, the 'S' versions of the 993 have rightfully excited Porsche enthusiasts for many years. This is a rare opportunity for the discerning collector to get their hands on what might just be the very best example of the last of the air-cooled Porsche 911s in an incredibly extensive specification.

At Iconic Auctioneers, we are very fortunate to deal with such high-quality motorcars, and this 993 is simply exceptional. The mileage, the rarity, the desirability, the history and the specification are simply phenomenal, and all on offer at a very reasonable guide.