2000 Porsche 911 (996) GT

• On offer from the Stuttgart Collection, an homage to the iconic livery of the German Polizei
• A standard GT3 with the graphics and lights etc. fitted by its owner
• 355bhp, 3.6-litre engine, communicative chassis, superb brakes, perfect control weighting, precise steering
• The famous Polizei cars were modelled by Corgi Toys and Scalextric
• 74,105km from new. Graphics easily removable leaving a very attractive low mileage 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.

Offered as part of The Stuttgart Collection, is this homage to the iconic livery of the German Polizei. Police forces around Europe have famously used performance cars as a way of raising the profile and effectiveness of policing road and autobahn rules and the Germans were no exception and made the livery a brand with even Scalextric models being produced along with Corgi models. This particular left-hand drive 996 GT3 was purchased and graphics applied together with lights to emulate the famous police 911s. What began as just a bit of fun actually became a tool for a UK Police Force to promote young driver awareness courtesy of the owner at the time. This GT3 has travelled just 74,105km and could easily have the graphics removed and be returned to a very attractive low mileage Porsche GT3.