Every car enthusiast has their favorite generation of Porsche 911- to some, the lively and revvy early cars are the best, whereas others seek the ultimate performance and comfort from the newest models off the production line. But if you were to take a pole, there is no doubt that the 993 would be at, or very near, the top of the list. Standing as the final air-cooled 911 to roll out of Stuttgart, the 993 combines many of the characteristics people look for in a vintage 911, with the performance, reliability, and comfort that we have become accustomed to in more recent years. All of this is then wrapped in a stunning body that draws on many of the classic 911 design cues but has been modernized to bridge the gap between the air-cooled generation and the forthcoming water-cooled cars. Sold in the United States between 1995 and 1998, the 993 was a fairly limited production car stateside, and as they were so good, many of them have been driven extensively and not kept to the high standard they deserve.
This 1996 993 Carrera is an outstanding example of the coveted model and has been kept in fantastic shape throughout its 27-year life. Showing just 32,865 miles, this car was under the care of a single owner until 2021 and is finished in the famous Porsche color of Guards Red which fits the subtle curves and wide rear arches fantastically. This car has been fitted with a set of 17” Turbo-Twist wheels, a desirable upgrade for this car; these lightweight alloys were developed for the 993 Turbo-as the name implies- and do a great job of filling the wheel wells and giving the car a proper stance.
Inside the car, the seats are finished in Cashmere leather, which is paired with a black dashboard and steering wheel. This car was clearly optioned as a great long-distance cruiser and has been fitted from the factory with both power seats and the Comfort Package which equips the car with power windows, a sunroof, and lightly tinted glass, along with a host of other convenience features. The Hi-Fi sound system was also selected on this car with the original Becker for Porsche stereo in the dashboard which can be used to control the 6-CD changer sitting in the front boot.
Powering the 993 Carrera is a 3.6-liter M64 Flat-6 engine that produces 272 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque and loves to pull hard all the way to the 7,000 rpm redline. This example has been fitted with the 4-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox which was produced by ZF exclusively for Porsche. The Tiptronic is designed to act like a standard automatic transmission but can be placed into “M” mode by sliding the shifter to the side, where it will then let you control the gears by either a push of the shift lever or thumb buttons on the steering wheel. For the time, this was a very advanced gearbox and provided the best of both worlds for someone looking to use a 993 as a daily driver, while also finding joy in spirited backroads driving when the opportunity presents itself.
It is no secret that the values of great Porsche 911s have been skyrocketing in recent years. Their combination of classic design, exciting driving dynamics, and legendary dependability make them pretty much the ultimate sports car. The 993 is leading that charge with quality examples multiplying in value over the past decade. Finding a 993 like this one, in arguably the most appealing color combination, with single long-term ownership and such low miles is a difficult task and only getting harder as the years go by.
