1998 Porsche 911 (993) Turbo (factory 'S' spec)

Factory enhanced to 'Turbo S' specification by Porsche at the request of a collector Right-hand drive and just 42,000 miles Comprehensive main-dealer service history Offers great value given its tempting guide price The 993 was the final generation of air-cooled 911s, and as such will always have a special place in the affections of Porsche enthusiasts. It is also widely said to be the last of the 911s that were built whilst engineering integrity overruled accounting pressures at Porsche. Twenty years on, it still looks modern - a truly timeless design. The model was launched in the autumn of 1994 and was claimed to be 80% new. The bodywork was altogether more curvaceous, with a number of new panels and the overall look was much smoother and more integrated but, importantly, this new style was still every inch a 911 in the traditional manner. The new model introduced a 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'), affecting 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. The 993 Turbo, introduced in mid-1995, retained a tight hold on the torch of the most powerful 911 variant whilst continuing the general development and improvements to the breed as a whole. Amongst the new features on the 993 Turbo was an electronically controlled, viscous coupling, all-wheel-drive system, something Porsche had not offered on a turbocharged model since the 959 and a system that greatly improved the driveability of the Turbo and made the outer limits of this amazing car's handling that bit more approachable. The most revered Turbo model of the 993-generation is the Turbo 'S', introduced as the first-ever model of its kind in 1997. The Turbo S was a big step up over the standard 911 Turbo in terms of performance and price, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds, it could hit 100 mph from a standstill in 8.9 seconds. The specification included a number of unique features including yellow brake callipers, a bespoke rear spoiler, polished five-spoke Turbo S wheels, an 'Aerokit' front spoiler, an air intake in the rear wings, and four exhaust pipes at the rear. Inside, the 911 Turbo S luxuriated in carbon fibre trim dramatically contrasting with the softest of leathers. The Turbo S was special and getting your name on the waiting list to buy one was nigh on impossible unless you were very closely related to a Dealer Principal! Production was limited to a total of just 345 examples, all built by Porsche's Exclusive department, with the UK receiving an allocation of only 26 RHD cars. Last year, Silverstone Auctions were privileged to have been asked to sell a UK-supplied 993 Turbo S, and we were delighted to see it achieve a remarkable ú253,125. The car presented here is a 1998 Porsche 911 (993) Turbo which was enhanced to 'S' specification by Porsche, at the factory, via their Exclusive Department, at the request of a prominent Porsche collector. Consequently, it was fitted with all the correct and distinctive features of a Turbo S, including the M64.60 engine with the larger KKK16 twin turbochargers, giving the requisite 450 bhp, plus all the aerodynamic, visual and interior enhancements (to European market specification). The car is believed to have 43 M-code options fitted, being one of the very last 993 Turbo models produced. The car was dispatched on July 1998, through LSM Distributors Ltd., to its first owner in South Africa where it became the 9th Porsche in his collection. Subsequently, the car was bought by our vendor, himself a car enthusiast and collector, and kept in the UK. This striking car, in desirable Arctic Silver paintwork, has covered just 68,000 kilometres (42,000 miles) and has been comprehensively main-dealer serviced from new. It drives and performs as well as you'd expect from such a 'halo' Porsche model. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a very special car, at what is a very tempting guide price, especially when you consider you get all the equivalent specification, performance and appearance of a ú200,000-plus model which, in RHD form, are very few in number and are hardly ever offered for sale on the open market.