A few days ago, I had the privilege to spend a few hours with my aunt and uncle, two individuals I count high on my nearest and dearest list. While there, we couldn’t help but notice a scale model of a Porsche 964-chassis 911 Cabriolet sitting on the mantle that had come from my childhood home years earlier. struck me that years earlier, the 964 was a bit of a throwaway car and I hadn’t thought much of gifting this model of a 911 that didn’t get a lot of love from enthusiasts at the time. My, how things have changed, as low-mileage specimens like this Cabriolet listed here on eBay for $104,900 go to show us that the once-unloved early 90s 911 is a serious collector’s item.

The 964 had a few quirks that relegated it to the misunderstood department soon after its introduction, but I suspect it had more to do with where it fell in the family tree. Slotted between the well-loved Carrera of the late 80s and the peak air-cooled version of the 911, the 993, there was virtually no hope for the 964 to become a sought-after collectible after its debut. Plus, the introduction of an all-wheel-drive option seemed to have a similar chilling effect as when the water-cooled 996 rolled out.

Of course, that’s all changed. People blame the likes of Magnus Walker and Singer for making the 964 simultaneously scarce and over-priced. I don’t know if it’s as much about the supply being depleted for the sake of seven-figure restomod conversions as it is that 911s simply shot upwards in price and a rising tide lifts all boats. Truthfully, I always felt the 964 was the most perfect expression of the best of the air-cooled 911, with a nicely updated cockpit that feels modern enough to drive every day, while the body lines were suitably old-school.

And obviously, the noises an air-cooled 911 make are unlike any other car made. Even if it’s far from the most powerful sports car on offer at the time, a naturally-aspirated 911 has a certain aesthetic that is impossible to replicate, as we’ve come to find out with the new water-cooled models. This example looks to be in pristine condition, obviously helped by its low mileage of just 16,671 original miles. The price is high, but for the chance to buy an almost as-new 964, it may actually be quite reasonable.