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Cars > Auction

One of the rarest Porsches you’ve never heard of is up for sale

A 993-series 911 convertible, to be precise

This 993 convertible truly is more than meets the eye. PHOTO FROM PORSCHE

Porsche has a long and illustrious history of creating special editions and limited-production runs that make the already desirable machines from Zuffenhausen even more tempting for rich speed lovers and wealthy collectors.

From colorful cars for the Thai market to the brand-new and super-limited 911 GT3 R Rennsport, there’s no lack of choice if you fancy a Porsche that’s a bit more rare, but the model currently for sale at an unassuming German dealership might just be up there with the rarest of them all.

Currently listed next to bog-standard used cars on the Porsche Zentrum Leipzig website is this beautiful blue machine, a 1995 993-series 911 Turbo Cabriolet.

Proper Porsche fans will now scratch their heads and go: “Wait a second…there never was a 993 Turbo Convertible!” And they’re kind of right. Officially, there never was one, but thanks to one particular Porsche dealer, a limited-production run was created by the firm’s Exclusive division.

This car is the result of a Porsche dealer's excitement for a model that did not exist yet. PHOTOS FROM PORSCHE

The story behind this machine goes a little like this: The year was 1994, and influential Munich-based Porsche dealer Fritz Haberl was excited about the new 993 Convertible. His only criticism was that he wished it had a little more oomph, and he wondered if a turbo version might liven things up. The main obstacle to his plan was the fact that the 993 Turbo itself didn’t come out until 1995, so what to do?

In his case, he made use of his good connections in the carmaker, and picked up the phone to Weissach. Porsche Exclusive listened to his request, did some thinking, and then agreed to build him what he wanted, providing he ordered at least 12 cars. Haberl not only agreed, but actually ordered 14 convertibles, a move that turned out to be a good business decision.

Admittedly, only diehard Porsche fans will be able to recognize the difference. PHOTOS FROM PORSCHE

All of the cars were sold pretty much before the final price was even known, with six going to German customers and eight to international ones. One of them is now for sale for an eye-watering amount of money, but it seems to be worth itat least from an investment point of view.

If you merely glance at this car, you may even mistake it for a standard 993 convertible, as it doesn’t make use of the usual 993 Turbo wide-body. Only the big rear wing hints at this not being a normal Elfer.

The previous owner must have really, really liked blue. PHOTOS FROM PORSCHE

The next surprise awaits under the hood. Instead of the 3.6-liter biturbo block (408hp) from the 993, this blue thunder uses a 3.6-liter single-turbo M64/50 engine (360hp) from the 964 Turbo to race toward the horizon.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual box, and thanks to the lack of all-wheel drive, this version is actually 100kg lighter than the 993 Turbo Coupe, weighing just 1,395kg. The brakes were also ported over from the 964 Turbo, as was the instrument panel.

So, 964 gauges and engine in a 993. Is this a Frankenporsche? PHOTOS FROM PORSCHE

The car currently for sale has covered a mere 30,000km from new, and was first registered in March 1995. The three previous owners obviously looked after it rather well, as the condition is given as excellent, and the pictures support that assessment. This is a proper 90s dream in blue, complete with blue leather and a blue Nokia car phone.

The only other thing that might turn blue here is your face when you hear the price, and start gasping for air: €1,220,000 (P72,650,000). That’s a lot of cash for a little car, but seeing as one sold for even more at auction last year, we think it might actually be a sensible investment.

Interested? Contact the dealership here.



Frank Schuengel

Frank is a German e-commerce executive who loves his wife, a Filipina, so much he decided to base himself in Manila. He has interesting thoughts on Philippine motoring. He writes the aptly named ‘Frankly’ column.



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