Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
It is not hugely surprising that the RWB 993 was a bit polarizing; understandable given the now near cult-status of the 993 and the extreme crafting of the body. Today I have a different modified 993 to look at; this time, instead of a Carrera 2 we’re looking at a 911 Turbo that has been externally modified to look like a Ruf but it’s no poser with a claimed 659 rear wheel horsepower. Is this sacrilegious too, or are the modifications just right here?
We’ve featured a few cars of similar intent to the one we see here and they are always difficult to gauge, but one of the persistent criticisms of those cars, especially considering the asking price many sellers seek, is that most of them have retained their stock drivetrain. Given the 911 market, there are cogent reasons for those build decisions as cosmetic details can be reverted to their stock configuration, whereas a car without its engine will never be wholly original again. One solution is to use a 911 with a relatively unloved drivetrain and replace it with something more desirable. This build followed that route utilizing a 1974 911S as its foundation and replacing its 2.7 liter flat-six with the 3.6 liter engine from a 993. Transmission, braking, and suspension received similar upgrades and the interior has been stripped and rebuilt with only the essentials leaving a spartan environment that appears bare but well sorted. With a reported 2550 lb weight this is sure to be screamer and for the well-heeled might make for a very interesting track car.
We’re always on the lookout for low mileage classics here at GCFSB, but it’s rather special when you find vintage motors with under 10,000 miles on the clock. These types of cars can be a window into the past, reminding restorers how these cars were made in the first place or taking collectors back in time to when they first saw a particular machine on the showroom floor. This 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo for sale in Texas is just such an example. With just under 10,000 miles on the odometer, it looks as if it just rolled off the production line in Stuttgart. The idea of turbocharging had been around for some time, but this was the first car that produced the same amount of power with or without a catalyst. Forged pistons, a ceramic port liner and Brembo four piston calipers and ABS came standard. With a 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds, this was a very quick sports car in its day.
This is not déjà vu. Last week we featured this Guards Red 911SC Targa mostly to highlight an available option for those looking for a good quality driver and/or their first opportunity to try out a 911 without breaking the bank. The car we see here, an India Red 1983 Porsche 911SC Targa with 85,667 miles on it, falls into a similar category. The 1983 911SC generally is a good bet for those looking for value as it’s the last year prior to the introduction of the 3.2 Carrera, which tends to command a slight premium, so you get the most 911SC for your buck. This one is also helped by having my personal favorite interior: Cork Leather.
Entering the world of historic racing in general is not something that can be terribly easily achieved, but when you start talking about historic Porsches the dollar signs start increasing rapidly. To race a historic 956 or 962, for example, one reputable Porsche shop quoted me on the order of $5,000 – $6,000 an hour once you factor in crew, tires, brakes, race fuel and rebuilds. That, of course, doesn’t include the purchase price of the car which can easily exceed a million dollars – even for a non-winning chassis. Okay, so not everyone races Group C cars, but even 911s, 912s and 914-6s can be expensive to run competitively – and are increasingly expensive to purchase. One way to step a bit outside of the normal Porsche mold, then, is to look for the many privateer special race cars that were built in the 1960s, such as this DKW/Porsche hybrid “TM Special”: