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I would like to make an argument for subtlety and I will use this 911 as my cue. Granted this is still a 911 so it’s not like we’re talking about a sleeper sedan or something of that sort. But within the realm of backdated 911 builds I do think this one has taken a much more subtle approach and the result might just be my favorite of the bunch. There are no decals, there is no ducktail spoiler, there are no fancy Recaro seats in the interior. It isn’t crazy wide or a wild color. This 911 is built in such a way that those with only passing familiarity with the car might not even realize it has been modified at all. I think there is appeal in that.
The 911 design is a beautiful design on its own even when stripped of many of its more aggressive cues. These are performance cars, there’s no doubt about that, but that pedigree doesn’t always need to be shouted. Sometimes simply letting an attractive design look its best is enough to stop observers in their tracks. And I do think this 911 accomplishes that quite well. It’s well balanced, appearing both elegant and sporty, maximizing the better parts of the long-hood 911 and the 3.2 Carrera to produce something that might be better than either one on its own.
Last weekend I posted a 911SC Turbo-look Coupe that was of interest to me almost entirely for how it might compare with the car we see here: a 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe equipped with the M491 package. The 911SC was a non-factory conversion performed by one of its early owners utilizing the body, suspension and braking from an ’88 930. In effect, it recreated the M491 package for the 911SC. There are a whole host of factors to be considered with that car, but ultimately it represented a potential opportunity at getting into a Turbo-look 911 for less cost. While I thought the price was a bit too high, it appears it has sold so I guess someone saw the value to be had.
With significant mileage differences between them this M491 Carrera doesn’t make for a direct comparison with the SC, but the price increase is easily apparent. For some, however, that non-factory Turbo-look never really would have been under consideration. It is the real thing they’re after. Here we have the real thing. It’s one of the earlier models when quite a few more were built so it’ll be less expensive than a later G50-equipped Coupe. It’s said to be well documented and in its current condition it looks great!
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.
I almost feel like I’ve taken a hiatus from classic 911s of late. So I shall return to them with this Guards Red 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, located in Massachusetts, with 46,900 miles on it. We see Guards Red pretty frequently on the 3.2 Carrera, less so on the 964, and then even less on the 993. After that? It almost seems to disappear. We do occasionally see red Porsches still today, especially as a PTS option, but it’s certainly a color that seems much less in style than it once did.
Here in the District we’ve been mired in an interminable cloud of rain with plenty of lightning and wind thrown in for good measure. It has been the sort of rain that doesn’t even allow for the barest hint of the sun’s existence. It has me dreaming of the days when blue sky and bright sunshine will return and that has me thinking about Cabriolets again. In the meantime all we can do is plan and wait and try to stay dry.
This is a first. I’ve never seen a 911 like this. The colors, I mean. The typical pairing for a yellow exterior is a black interior. The contrast works well as the two colors accent each other. The combination here is one that most probably would not consider. Here we have a Summer Yellow 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet with Mahogany leather interior and 59,003 miles on it.
I have not heard of Summer Yellow. After some searching my guess is that this is Limonengelb (code: M1A), which only was available in ’87 and ’88 for the 911 and 924. Limonen translates to Lime. Generally when we think of limes we think of green, not yellow. Perhaps that’s why it’s called Summer Yellow. Either way it’s a very happy looking color! It might be better suited on a Beetle than a 911, but it’s a bright happy yellow 911 nonetheless. Do I like the pairing with Mahogany? That I’m not sure about. It certainly seems quite earthy and I’d be interested to see it in person. That this is a Cabriolet, i.e. the top also is Mahogany, really is playing up the contrast between these two colors. Ultimately, I think I’d prefer this combination on a Coupe, where the yellow canvases the entire exterior, rather than a Cabriolet. It should be a very rare combination though.
