‘Most desirable’ Porsche 911 ever built as a ‘one-off’ with whale-tail rear wing and 18in alloys can be yours for £305k
THE MOST desirable one of a kind 1998 Porsche 911 could be yours for £305K.
This stunningly stylish Porsche will be auctioned off by Broad Arrow on October 12.
Images show the striking 993-generation Carrera S ‘factory one-off’ Cabriolet in Guards red looking like perfection.
According to Media Drum World, this 993-generation Porsche 911 Carrera S ‘factory one-off’ Cabriolet was, as the name implies, the only factory-built example to come with a wide-body ‘Turbo Look’ configuration as requested by Harald Otto Karrenberg in 1997.
Karrenberg was considered a Porsche VIP with friends in very high places so his desire for a unique 911 was made a reality.
Completed in 1998 by the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur division, and now with just 10,200 miles on the clock, it will be one of the stars of Broad Arrow’s Chattanooga Auction on October 12th.
The sales event is being held in conjunction with the 2024 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival in Tennessee, which will run from October 11 through 13.
What's the history of the Porsche?
The Porsche automobile brand began in 1948 with the Type 356.
The Porsche name has become synonymous with sports cars and race cars, something company founders Ferdinand Porsche and his son Ferdinand (“Ferry”) set out to build when they started with 200 workers in 1948.
Porsche cars are also commonly used in racing.
To date, Porsche cars have won an estimated 24,000 auto races around the world, including more than 50 class wins at Le Mans.
Harald Otto Karrenberg reportedly treasured the car for over 17 years, meticulously maintaining it while putting only 10,000 miles on the odometer.
In 2018, the car was offered at the RM Sotheby’s Paris auction where it sold for approximately £243,171 to a well-known Porsche collector.
“Here, in place off the 911 Turbo’s large, fixed “whale-tail” rear wing, the car was fitted with the more subtle Carrera S split-grille active rear spoiler,” state reports.
“Other tailored accents include 18-inch hollow-spoke “twist” alloys from the Turbo, along with special Flamenco Red carpeting to contrast with the interior’s black Nappa leather seats.”
“For the purist of air-cooled Porsche 911s, this is the ultimate prize,” says Ray Shaffer, respected Porsche specialist with Broad Arrow and Hagerty Marketplace, when describing the car.
“It is a true one-of-one, and one of the rarest and most desirable creations ever to emerge from Porsche Exclusive.
“Karrenberg petitioned for an example from the then-new 993-generation (the last of the air-cooled 911s) in classic Guards Red. While the car he ordered would have a normally aspirated version of Porsche’s 3.6-liter flat-six engine, Karrenberg wanted the vehicle to have the wide-fendered styling reserved for the more potent Turbo coupe of the day.
“It seems his initial request was declined. But with a little time and a lot of patience, the order was eventually given the green light.”
“Once the car was rolled off the assembly line at Porsche’s Zuffenhausen plant, it was wheeled into the Porsche Exclusive workshop for customization.
“Under its new ownership, the car experienced an equally sheltered life, with fewer than 280 miles added to it during the last six years.
“Records show that, in 2022, the car went to Porsche’s Factory Restoration facility in Asperg, Germany, for an overhaul that resulted in it receiving the coveted Porsche Classic Technical Certificate.
“Work included major maintenance on the engine, convertible top, and suspension.
“I recently drove the car, and it really does feel as good as new. The smoothness of the ride, the response of the engine, and the way everything just works. This really is a time capsule.”