Words: Nathan Chadwick
Photos: Porsche/Broad Arrow
Five ultra-rare 993s, from homologation heroes to secret builds, that define air-cooled myth
There is a reverence reserved for the Porsche 993 that transcends standard classic car enthusiasm. It borders on religious fervour. As the final iteration of the air-cooled 911, the 993 represents the absolute zenith of a philosophy laid down by Ferdinand Porsche in 1963.
But while you might occasionally spot a standard Carrera or a wide-bodied C4S on a Sunday morning blast, there exists a clandestine, ultra-exclusive tier of 993s. These are the homologation specials, the secretive factory commissions and the mythical unicorns built in microscopic numbers by Porsche’s Exclusive department. To see one in the metal is a privilege, to drive one is to touch automotive divinity. Here are five of the absolute rarest and most bewitching 993s ever to leave the gates of Stuttgart.
1. 993 Turbo S (345 produced)
As the curtain began to fall on the air-cooled era in 1997, Porsche decided to give the 993 Turbo one final, glorious send-off. The Turbo S was the ultimate expression of cross-continental, all-weather pace combined with bespoke luxury.
The boffins at Weissach upgraded the twin KKK turbochargers, fitted a secondary oil cooler and modified the Motronic engine management system to push power output to a dizzying 450bhp. Capable of hitting 60mph in just 3.6 seconds, it was one of the fastest accelerating cars on the planet.
You can spot a Turbo S by its distinctive Aerokit II rear wing, the scooped air intakes in the rear wings, a nod to the legendary 959, and the tell-tale yellow brake calipers gripping massive ventilated discs. Inside, Porsche Exclusive draped virtually every conceivable surface, including the air vent slats and window switches, in leather or carbon fibre. It was, and remains, an opulent, ferociously fast masterpiece.
2. 993 Carrera RS Clubsport (approx. 227 produced)
While the standard 993 Carrera RS was a spectacular machine, the track-focused Clubsport, sometimes referred to as the RSR in specific markets, was something else entirely. It was the absolute zenith of the naturally aspirated air-cooled ethos.
Porsche stripped the interior to the bare metal, deleting the carpets, radio, headlining and sound insulation. In their place went a fully welded-in Matter roll cage, fire-retardant Nomex bucket seats and six-point harnesses. The exterior was dominated by a colossal, adjustable rear wing and a deep front chin spoiler designed to generate genuine aerodynamic downforce.
But the real magic resided over the rear axle. The 3.8-litre flat-six was equipped with Porsche’s ingenious VarioRam intake system, altering the length of the intake runners to boost mid-range torque. It produced 300bhp, but because the Clubsport weighed very little, the throttle response was telepathic. The noise inside the stripped cabin, a raw, metallic, mechanical shriek of valvetrain and induction roar, is an experience that no modern, water-cooled GT3 can truly replicate.
3. 993 GT2 (194 road cars produced)
To fully comprehend the 993 GT2, you must understand the context in which it was born. Built to homologate the 911 for FIA GT2 class racing, Porsche took the twin-turbocharged engine from the four-wheel-drive 993 Turbo, increased output to deliver 430bhp and removed drive to the front wheels.
The result was the original ‘Widowmaker’. Stripped of its sound deadening, rear seats and heavy all-wheel-drive system, the GT2 was a rear-wheel-drive ballistic missile. While 57 is often cited as the initial homologation run, demand led Porsche to build a total of 194 road-legal examples. Visually, it is arguably the most aggressive 911 ever built for the road. The factory cut away the steel wings to accommodate massive Speedline wheels, adding bolt-on composite arch extensions with exposed fasteners.
Driving a 993 GT2 is an exercise in absolute sensory overload. The moment the twin turbochargers spool, the horizon is reeled in with ferocious intensity. It demands respect, skill and bravery in equal measure.
4. 993 Turbo Cabriolet (14 produced)
While Porsche had offered a factory Turbo Cabriolet during the final years of the 930 generation in the late 1980s, the drop-top Turbo vanished from standard production during the 964 and 993 eras. Many assume the concept did not return until the water-cooled 996. In 1995, however, a small number of influential clients approached the Porsche Exclusive department with a specific request for Turbo performance combined with open-top driving.
Porsche obliged, but creating the 993 Turbo Cabriolet was not straightforward. The twin-turbocharged engine from the coupe could not be packaged alongside the folding roof mechanism. The solution was to install the 3.6-litre single-turbo engine from the 964 Turbo.
Priced at a substantial premium, just 14 examples were built. They are identifiable by their prominent rear wings and the characteristic delivery of the single-turbo engine. It is a distinctive and unusual chapter in Porsche’s Exclusive history.
5. 993 Speedster (3 produced)
If you are looking for the absolute holy grail of the 993 generation, the search stops here. For decades, Porsche officially recognised only two 993 Speedsters, neither of which were ever offered to the general public. Recently, however, that mythical number grew to three.
The first was a dark green, narrow-bodied car built in 1995 as a 60th birthday present for Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche. Mated to a Tiptronic gearbox, it was a luxurious, elegant cruiser. The second was commissioned by comedian and prolific Porsche collector Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld sent his 1998 Carrera S Cabriolet back to the factory, where the Porsche Exclusive department spent until 2001 converting it into a true Speedster. Finished in silver, wearing an aggressive wide-body, and fitted with a proper manual transmission, it was long thought to be the final chapter in the 993 Speedster story.
However, in 2024, Porsche unveiled a spectacular third iteration through its bespoke Sonderwunsch (Special Wish) Factory One-Off programme. Commissioned by Italian architect and designer Luca Trazzi, this bespoke Speedster was built from a 1994 Carrera Cabriolet shell over three years. Painted in a striking bespoke colour named “Otto Yellow” (after his dog), it featured the engine, chassis, and brakes from a Carrera RS.
Which of these air-cooled unicorns would you most want in your garage? Let us know in the comments below.
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