As you might know, the 993 run was the last generation of air-cooled 911’s which was produced and sold between January 1994 and early 1998. It’s considered by some to be the pinnacle of 911 design and its fantastic driving attributes certainly help its reputation.
The 993 was much improved over, and quite different from, its predecessor, the 964. The 993 not only underwent a significant development in optical terms but also in technically (e.g. it was the first 911 to receive a six-speed transmission). According to Porsche, every part of the car was engineering and designed from the ground up including the engine and only 20% of its parts were carried over from the previous generation.
The 993 rarely causes serious concern when well-maintained however once the micro-thin zinc layer has been penetrated, rust can appear. Especially the cheap Porsche 993 (on www.mobile.de and other platforms) often suffer from poor repairs, recognizable by uneven gaps or compressions in the front spoiler area.
The British designer, Tony Hatter, is responsible for the look of the 993. His goal was to revise the shape and flow of the 911 body that Porsche lovers (including himself) felt had become, to some extent, a little clumsy with the 964. The result was well received all around the Porsche community. The well-balanced layout became popular right away.
As with every 911 generation, the 993 had several variants. Here at The Collectors Circle, we focus on rare breeds which is why we’re taking a closer look at a top-notch piece, the Porsche 993 GT2.
Porsche 993 GT2 Clubsport
The GT2 was the hardcore, race-focused version of the 993 Turbo, using essentially the same 3.6 L twin-turbocharged engine, but slightly modified with increased power output. The car was made to compete in the FIA GT2 racing class. To qualify the car for the track circuit, a limited number of street-legal variants had to be produced for homologation purposes. Based on 993 Turbo underpinnings, the GT2 differed visually via bolt-on fender flares (see our pictures below), aerodynamic panels with air intakes for additional brake cooling and, last but not least, the impressive rear wing. Furthermore, the GT2 is considerably lighter (by more than 300kg) than the 993 Turbo with a total weight of 1,295kg. The weight saving was achieved using aluminum body panels, lightweight racing seats, and the deletion of many of the interior fittings.
When it comes to the performance numbers, the 993 GT motor was a beast. The 3.6-litre air-cooled flat-six engine produced around 430 PS initially (450 PS in later models) which was good enough to reach a top speed of 301km/h.
The acceleration was jaw dropping back then and is still breathtaking to date, in all honesty. It takes the 993 GT2 only 3.9 seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km/h – and we are talking about a car that is around 25 years old! Fun fact here: a 993 GT2 was used as the safety car during the 1995 Formula One season.
Nowadays, these road-legal racing machines are highly prized and valued by our customers and collectors all around the world. When introduced in 1994, the GT2 was the most expensive car in Porsche’s product line. And because of its power, track-honed reliability and its status as the final air-cooled 911, the GT2 commands a massive premium at car auctions.
There was never an official production number released by Porsche. Some Porsche Guru’s (us included) assume there were 172 units of the Porsche 993 GT2 built of which a total number of only 57 cars were made road-legal. Among this already very exclusive circle of 57 cars there is an even more rare community. 20 of the 57 road-legal cars were produced in a second – and last – badge with upgraded engine power (450 PS) called GT2 “Clubsport” which make them the last Porsche models with air-cooled engines. According to some sources in our Porsche network, out of the 20 Clubsports only 7 still exist, making the 993 GT2 Clubsport somewhat of a unicorn among Porsche lovers. At the same time, the car is a symbol of an era at Porsche and it’s a must have for every Porsche collector.
List price in 1995 was 268.000 Deutschmark (former German currency), while now the current market price is around EUR 1.1 to 1.5 million, depending on the condition of the car etc. Back in September 2016, a Porsche 993 GT2 from 1995 was sold at an auction of RM Sotheby’s in London for GBP 1,848,000, (approx. EUR 2,193,000 at the time) making it the most expensive GT2 ever sold.
Once again we have to thank Dario Fontana (follow his Instagram @dario.fontana) for shooting such amazing pictures of the 993 GT2 Clubsport and the 993 Carrera RS (picture 11 and after). It’s rare enough to see just one of these cars but we were lucky enough to have to have both for this photo shoot.
If this doesn’t make you heart beat faster, I don’t know what else will…
Summary
Brand:
Porsche
Model:
993 GT2 Clubsport
Price:
current market price is around EUR 1,100,000 to 1,500,000 depending on the condition of the car and the model.
Limitation:
Never official released but it is assumed that there are only 57 road legal 993 GT2s
When to drive:
Everywhere you can! The car is an eye-catcher and deserves to be driven around instead of sitting in a garage for years.
What we love about the car:
The Porsche 993 GT2 is an absolute racing machine although the car is around 25 years old. At the same time, it’s a symbol of an era of Porsche and as the last air-cooled racing machine. It’s a must have for every Porsche collector.
© Images: Dario Fontana (Instagram account: @dario.fontana for the The Collectors Circle
IMPORTANT NOTE: The car shown in the pictures is NOT the one we are offering for sale.
