1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe

I will admit high prices on cars will almost always attract my attention. Or I guess I should say relatively high prices, meaning an obviously high price for that year and model. Those prices stoke my curiosity. I wonder what is so special about them that such an asking price would even be suggested. Unusual colors, interior, very low mileage? Maybe that’s part of the point. Without the very high price I might not take extra notice. After figuring why the price is so high my interest then turns to whether it might actually sell for such a price. That element of curiosity mostly is instructive rather than anything of particular interest, but it can be helpful nonetheless.

That is more or less why we are here and why I’m featuring this Cassis Red Metallic 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe with Burgundy interior. Cassis Red is a very nice color that works well on the 3.2 Carrera’s lines so I likely would have been drawn to this 911 regardless of the price. But the very high asking price caught my eye almost as quickly as the color.

So why such a high price? Because this Carrera has a mere 7,700 miles on it.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe on Classic Driver

Year: 1988
Model: 911 Carrera
Engine: 3.2 liter flat-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 7,700 mi
Price: $99,500

7,700 Mile G50 Carrera 3.2 in Cassis. Superb Original Condition with Original Paint, No Modifications, and Sport Seats.

1988 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Coupe
VIN WP0AB0912JS120852 Engine no. *64102826*
Cassis Metallic with Burgundy Leather Interior

Over the course of its more than five decades of production, the 911 has evolved continuously to reflect changes in technology, motorsports, consumer preferences, Porsche as a company, and yes, even safety regulations. The 1974 U.S. Department of Transportation impact laws presented a difficult challenge to automakers, most of whom struggled to develop an attractive solution to the new 5 mph impact requirements. Porsche’s approach was among the neatest of any automaker, and in typical Porsche fashion, what began as a functional requirement became an iconic part of the Porsche aesthetic. From 1974 to 1989, the accordion or impact bumper cars represented the latest evolution of the Porsche 911. While aesthetically similar, the different iterations of impact bumper cars were mechanically quite different.

The 911 was slated to be replaced by the 928 in the late 70s, a plan that was famously reversed in 1981 by Porsche’s then new CEO Peter Schutz, who instructed Porsche’s engineers to continue to develop the 911 beyond the already competent SC. The result was the Carrera 3.2, introduced for the 1984 model year, and itself developed over the course of its six model years of production. The engine displacement was increased to 3.2 liters, oil-fed chain tensioners, added, and larger brakes were fitted as well. The definitive version of the Carrera 3.2 was produced from 1987 to 1989, featuring the all-new Getrag G50 transmission, hydraulic clutch, and a modest power increase. Torsion bar suspension and unassisted steering remained, keeping the fundamental 911 architecture intact and making this the last of the original style 911s.

This particular car must be among the lowest mileage 911 Carreras available. Showing 7,700 miles on the odometer, and supported by the Carfax, this Porsche represents a near new car in every respect. The original owner purchased the car with special order paint “Cassis Red Metallic” with burgundy leather interior, sunroof, and sport seats. The car had two long-term owners in Hawaii, before making its way to the mainland in 2017. Throughout the years, the car has never been damaged, has never been apart, and remains today essentially as new. Recent service includes the replacement of the fuel pump, a new fuel sending unit, and new alternator. The car also has been fully serviced including all fluids, new Continental tires, new locking lug nuts, a new sunroof assembly and seal, new motor mount, new hood struts, and detailing for the engine compartment. An inoperative odometer was also rectified, with the owner noting that the car was only driven to the shop for repairs when the odometer stopped and that the mileage is therefore very close to the indicated mileage. The car is well optioned, with sport seats, Blaupunkt Reno radio, forged Fuchs alloy wheels, Bilstein sport shock absorbers, hi-fi sound system, sunroof, and California emissions.

Cosmetically, the car presents beautifully. The Cassis Red Metallic paint is stunning, changing intensity of hue from the midday rose color to a sun-setting rich, lustrous violet. Long derided, this color has enjoyed a recent resurgence in interest and popularity, and is now regarded by enthusiasts as a welcome alternative to ubiquitous colors like black and guards red. The paint on this car is essentially as new with factory gloss, wonderful finish, and beautiful detailing around all glass, lenses, and black trim areas. There are a handful of small marks on the paint, including a scratch on the driver’s door, but overall the paint is excellent and displays no evidence of paintwork ever. The paint has been metered and displayed consistent and thin readings, exactly the way an original paint Porsche should meter. The glass is original and in excellent condition. The lighting, lenses, and emblems are all in beautiful condition, showing little to no signs of age or wear. The doors, hood, and trunk show consistent panel gaps and proper fitting, all of which shut with factory precision just as they did on the showroom floor.

The interior is in excellent original condition. The leather on the sport seats remains supple with firm bolsters and consistent sheen and essentially no wear. The original carpeting is in very nice condition owing largely to a complete set of original floor mats (included with the car), which protected the original carpets and show mild use. The dashboard and door cap leather is exceptionally nice, with all gauges and switches essentially as new and nicely detailed. The red lens for the handbrake and brake pad wear light is missing but the interior is otherwise difficult to fault. The headliner, sun visors, rear seats, rear interior panels, and remaining interior trim are all in excellent condition. The Blaupunkt Reno radio is still in place as well. The overall condition and integrity of the interior supports the low indicated mileage and exceptional care this car has received over the past 30 years.

The engine compartment is extremely clean and has not been restored. Showing just slight hints of use, the entire engine compartment is undisturbed and unmodified. The trunk is also pleasingly original, showing no aging, with all structural elements beneath the carpets appearing factory fresh. Underneath the car further supports the low miles revealing a dry and clean chassis, with factory Cosmoline coating still in place.

The car runs and drives as one would expect for such a low mileage undisturbed car. The engine runs well, performing essentially as new, aside from the typical Motronic idle hunting at times. The clutch engages smoothly and positively and the gearbox has good synchromesh. The steering retains the magical light and nimble 911 feel thanks to the 6-inch front wheels, while the chassis and suspension are tight and reassuring. Nestled in the sport seats, sunroof opened, and the open road ahead, there is little that can compare with the engaging sounds of a Carrera 3.2 as it opens up and reveals decades of history and performance heritage behind the Porsche name. This Carrera 3.2 is sold with the original tool roll, jack, and a handful of records for recent work.

This is an extraordinarily rare opportunity to acquire an exceptional example of the ultimate torsion-bar impact bumper 911. A G50 coupe in an unusual color combination with sport seats, this car is among the cleanest, most undisturbed examples currently available and will appeal to the collector looking for something truly different.

I will leave alone whether I think this asking price makes sense. Ultra-low-mileage cars of this age are so few and far between that they can command significant premiums over any other available example and if a buyer decides it’s worth taking the plunge then that’s up to that buyer. You obviously can find a 3.2 Carrera that’s much less expensive and even in excellent condition.

As we’d expect with this mileage and pricing, this 911 is almost entirely original and looking as it left the factory. The only items replaced appear to be standard maintenance items. The paint and interior both are said to be original to the car and both look in excellent condition. The factory sport seats show almost no wear and both the dash and steering wheel look to barely have been touched. With fewer than 8K miles that’s probably actually the case!

Naturally, any buyer should do his homework to verify that the mileage is correct (especially given that the odometer has been replaced) and that this is indeed its original paint and interior. If everything checks out, then this surely is one of the lowest mileage and best condition examples on the market.

-Rob