TURBO SPECIALS
Porsche only made 345 examples of the ultimate air-cooled 911 Turbo. Until 20 years later, that is, when 993 Turbo S number 346 belatedly left Stuttgart. That car was Project Gold, a one-off by Porsche Classic with golden yellow metallic paint inspired by the 991 Turbo S Exclusive Series. Sold at auction in 2018, with proceeds going to the Ferry Porsche Foundation, its £2.3 million hammer price owed more to philanthropy than skyrocketing 993 values. Nonetheless, it showed the esteem in which the Turbo S is held.
“It’s a flowing, one-two uppercut: exuberant until 4,200rpm, utterly explosive thereafter”
The book on the water-cooled Turbo is still being written – we’ll profile the new 992 later in this issue – so using the word ‘ultimate’ feels premature. However, we think the 2011-13 997 Turbo S is the high watermark thus far. A low-volume model like the 993, it boasts ferocious performance, everyday usability and pukka special-edition status. Maybe if we start lobbying now, Porsche Classic will resurrect this former flagship in
