If you want to get Porsche fans (and sports car enthusiasts in general) engaged in passionate debate, ask them which of the Porsche 911 generations is their favorite. Although the Porsche 911, probably more than any other modern car, carries an instantly recognizable profile from the 1960s all the way into the 21st century, beneath the skin a steady mechanical and electronic evolution has kept the car fresh and endowed each generation with a distinct personality.
Some fans might choose the purity of the first 911, with its air-cooled, SOHC, rear-mounted flat-6 engine that arrived in the U.S. in 1965. Others may pine for the lightweight 1973 911 Carrera RS, with more horsepower, ducktail spoiler and stiffer suspension engineered for racing. The mid-1970s 911 Turbo (930 series), with flared fenders and “whaletail” spoiler, was a ground-breaking sports car when introduced and earned legions of fans.
Many would claim the Type 993 series introduced in 1994 as a favorite, as represented by the 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo shown here that will be offered with No Reserve at Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach Auction, April 24-26.
The 993 Turbo series is often considered the pinnacle of the air-cooled 911 platform. For the first time, a production 911 Turbo was equipped with twin turbochargers on the 3.6-liter flat-6, rated at 408 horsepower in 1997. The powerful engine was backed by a 6-speed manual transmission. The combination of all-wheel-drive, a new multi-link rear suspension and 18-inch hollow-spoke alloy wheels gave the 911 Turbo astonishing handling abilities. The Type 993 was given updated styling with a revised nose and tail for improved aerodynamics. On the Turbo, the rear spoiler was painted in body color for a more integrated look. The brake calipers were painted red.
MotorWeek road-tested a Type 993 Porsche 911 Turbo in 1996. “The latest 911 Turbo has a massive dose of everything that makes driving enjoyable,” they reported. “The fact that it’s still one of the most distinctive machines on the road reflects well not only on Ferrie Porsche’s original design, but on the company’s brightest talents of today.”
Of the Type 993 Turbo 911s, Porsche only built a little more than 5,000 examples from 1995-98. Porsche introduced a water-cooled engine to the 911 platform for 1998, sending the car in a new direction.
That steady evolution has kept the 911 at the forefront of sports car performance well into the 21st century. Porsche built the 1 millionth 911 in 2017, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 911 Turbo in 2024 and today offers a 911 Turbo 50 Years model. The winning bidder on this one-owner 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo at Palm Beach will get an up-close-and-personal history lesson on why the 911 has been such a smashing success since 1965. Register to bid today.
Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham
The winning bidder on this one-owner 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo at Palm Beach will get an up-close-and-personal history lesson on why the 911 has been such a smashing success since 1965.