2000 Porsche 911 (996) GT3

Intended primarily for competition, although still fully road legal, the Porsche 911 GT3 can trace its ancestry all the way back through a succession of high-performance models to the legendary 911 Carrera RS of 1973. The car takes its name from the FIA's GT3 category of production sports car racing and has been produced in a variety of versions since its introduction in 1999 when the GT3 badges were applied to the Type 996 iteration of the perennial 911.

The 3.6-litre flat-six engine, though, departed from mainstream Type 996 practice by virtue of its water-cooled cylinders, leaving only the heads cooled by air. Called the 'Metzger' engine after its designer, Hans Metzger, this unit was closely related to that of the Porsche 962 'Sports Prototypes' and the 911 GT1 racer. In the GT3 it produced 355bhp, 59 horsepower more than in the standard 996, which was delivered to the wheels through a strengthened gearbox boasting interchangeable ratios. To make the GT3 fit for circuit use, the brakes, suspension, and wheels were uprated to cope with the substantial increase in performance, whilst aerodynamic downforce was enhanced by a larger front air dam and a distinctive rear spoiler.Weight reduction extended to the removal of the rear seats and most of the sound deadening, rear speakers, sunroof, and air conditioning, though the latter could be ordered as an option, as could a CD/radio. In its original Type 996 incarnation, as seen here, the 911 GT3 was produced up to 2006.

On offer here is a right-hand drive, UK, 996 GT3 finished in Arctic Silver Metallic with the Clubsport package and in absolutely beautiful condition.The car was supplied new by HR Owen on the 26th-03-2000 and has enjoyed some time in a private collection. Impeccably maintained from new, the service history is complete, starting with its initial visit to AFN Reading on 27/12/2001 at 3,812 miles and culminating with the Porsche Centre Glasgow's stamp endorsing the car's 11th service on 20/09/17. The current indicated mileage is 54,015.

The car is fitted with a Tracker and comes with its original wallet containing the handbooks and service history, the newly issued MOT Certificate, and both sets of keys.

The power and torque of the 3.6-litre engine, firmly attached to a communicative chassis, superb brakes, perfect control weighting, precise steering, and the intangible input of generations of grey-haired wizards who deeply understand 'sports cars', all result in one of the most engaging driver's cars of its era. Its success led to a second-generation 996 GT3, the 996 GT3 RS, as well as the subsequent 997 versions. That's an outstanding bloodline.