The ultimate air-cooled Porsche 911 is up for grabs

Currently listed on the Collecting Cars auction platform, this 1996 Porsche 911 GT2 is a hardcore homologation special.

Collecting Cars Porsche 911 GT2

Attention, Porsche fans. Here’s your opportunity to buy one of the most hardcore versions of the 911 sports car made. 

Made in limited numbers, the 993-generation 911 GT2 allowed Porsche to go racing. 

Now, a 1996 example of the GT2 is up for sale on the Collecting Cars auction platform.

Flare-y and scary

Collecting Cars Porsche 911 GT2

During the mid-1990s, the FIA GT Championship was the arena of choice for car manufacturers to prove themselves. With Porsche’s prestigious sports car racing heritage, an entry into the GT2 category was inevitable. 

To homologate the air-cooled 993 for racing, Porsche was required to produce a number of road-going examples. 

The result was the brutal 911 GT2. Badged as the 911 GT, the limited-production car has become a true Porsche icon.

Ultimate street fighter

Collecting Cars Porsche 911 GT2

Porsche began the GT transformation using the then-new 911 Turbo as a base. Starting with the already widened bodywork, Porsche bolted on a set of huge composite wheel arches.

Along with adding extra visual bite, these housed the two-piece Speedline alloy wheels.

Completing the street racer image was a deeper front splitter, with a gigantic spoiler added to the engine lid. This featured intakes to direct air straight into the rear-mounted turbocharged flat-six.

Extreme dieting allowed

Collecting Cars Porsche 911 GT2

Naturally, Porsche ensured the 3.6-l engine also received attention. Power was upped to 430 hp, accompanied by 432 lb-ft of torque. Later post-1997 models would gain a boost to 450 hp.

All versions came with a six-speed manual transmission. However, the 911 Turbo’s all-wheel-drive system was ditched, leaving the GT2 as a fearsome rear-driven machine.

This was all done in the pursuit of saving weight. Thinner glass, no rear seats and a lack of interior comforts helped shed more mass. The result was a car that tipped the scales at just 1,295 kg (2,855 lb).

Such low weight helped the 911 GT2 accelerate from 0-60 mph 3.9 seconds, and charge all the way to 187 mph.

International traveller

Collecting Cars Porsche 911 GT2

The interior of the 911 GT2 reflected the race car origins underneath. Red seatbelts, manual windows, and a lack of sound deadening rammed home the motorsport motives. 

Originally purchased by a Japanese enthusiast, this 911 GT2 comes in Arctic Silver Metallic. Hard-shelled Sport seats were fitted, although these have been replaced with Recaro Pole Position chairs by a later owner. 

From Japan, the GT2 travelled to the United States, before finally arriving in the UK. It is accompanied by a detailed service history, with maintenance last performed in November 2020.

Holy grail Porsche

Collecting Cars Porsche 911 GT2

Having covered just over 26,000 miles from new, this GT2 has clearly been used as Porsche intended. It means a new owner can enjoy it without guilt, rather than locking it away in a collection.

Values for the ultimate air-cooled 911 typically now stretch deep into six figures. A similar car sold for £1.8 million ($2.5 million).

The auction on Collecting Cars is set to run until 22 August. Based on the strength of current bids, this Porsche unicorn is likely to achieve another big sale.

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John Redfern
John Redfern
U.S. Editor with a love of all things Americana. Woodgrain-clad station wagons and ridiculous muscle cars a speciality.

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