Certain cars just seem to be evergreen in terms of their appeal to collectors and enthusiasts alike; the Porsche 993 generation of the classic 911 is one of those cars. Values never seem to drop and people always seem ready to buy one should a desirable spec come up for sale. The car shown here is a 1995 model that apparently has never been with anyone aside from its original owner (and the broker tasked with selling it.) The air-cooled 911 that still offers some modern conveniences will forever be a high watermark for some collectors, and this one listed here on eBay will likely check all the right boxes for a buyer ready to spend $98,000 to own it.
Almost six figures is a number that really does seem baffling at times. To some extent, we’ve all been exposed to high prices in the collector car world, whether we like Mopars or Mercedes-Benzes. But there’s a lot you can do with that money, and the question that’s been increasingly on my mind is whether these cars are worth it. You know, we tend to expect some level of a visceral experience when we drive a sports model in exchange for our hard-earned cash. Does the 993 deliver it in spades? For some enthusiasts, the answer is yes, and it has much to do with that classic air-cooled experience.
The gauges harken back to the oldest 356s, and the noise is impossible to replicate in anything other than a 911 that isn’t cooled by water. The shape, too, has a lot to do with the fascination, and many Porsche enthusiasts feel that the 993 was the perfect evolution of the original design. The interiors were simple affairs with not much to break, and while some may call them rudimentary in terms of how basic they are, that’s also considered part of the charm to many Porsche fanatics. This particular 911 remains in stock condition all the way through, with the exception of an aftermarket radio and a tint band on the windshield. The original owner used the car quite regularly, it seems, with over 124,000 miles on the clock (not a criticism – it’s great to see!)
What’s slightly surprising is the lack of detailing that was done in preparation for sale. I still see dust in the engine compartment and the paint looks like it could use a proper paint correction. The 3.6L flat-six produces a healthy 270 b.h.p. and 243 lb.-ft. of torque, and it will still move out smartly. But bear in mind, the A/C system will still feel like its pulling cool air through a straw and current shop rates for vintage Porsches are through the roof. It’s a very real conversation to have with oneself as to whether the abstract charms of air-cooled ownership translate to a six-figure driving experience. Do you think the math makes sense?
I’ve been happily driving my 997 for about eleven years. When I was still working, a guy at one of our regular sales meetings asked me some very knowledgeable questions about my car. He ended up buying a 993 like this one for $60,000. I thought that was a stratospheric price at the time!
HI Joe….I know that car. :) NM
I learned how to drive a manual on a car much like this but was a 1993. Still cant believe my dad let me do that haha, they are awesome!
I owned a 993 cabriolet in the late 90’s. Drove it, as a daily driver, for 5 years. The best car I’ve ever owned. Should have kept it.
Drive it on Mulholland Drive and you will understand. I had the ’97 Black on Black Cabriolet and wish I still had it.
“wish I still had it.””
I say that about my first Porsche, a 1958 356A coupe! I bought it in 1966 for $1,500.
Jeff, I have always loved Porches – from a distance, as I know little about them. I spent some time in the Geneva area a few years ago, and for some reason, that is where these cars really caught my eye. Regardless, thanks for your review of the car but also of the insight specifically into the 993.
To any buyer, the true value of a car is secondary to how hard he or she had to work to earn that money. To someone who works at a menial job, $98,000 seems totally impossible, but to a wealth-fund manager who earns $1 million a year, it’s pocket change.
A high-end buyer must also ask himself, “Will owning a $1 million Ferrari really be ten times as enjoyable as owning this 993.”
A timeless design that doesn’t seem to get old. Black beauty.
If a Ferrari 308 of the late 70’s similar priced makes sense so does this one. It’s a collector’s item, not a car anymore.