2003 Porsche 911

The 996 GT3 Mk1 coupe was in production from 1999 to 2003, and similar to Porsche’s previous 911 models, sports a focus on racing. It is a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive car that seats two people.

In 1973 Porsche launched the 911 2.7 RS, which started a tradition of stripped out, lightweights 911s that were more at home on the track than the road. However, by the late 1990s, Porsche realised that there was demand for what was a road car with even sharper reactions than the standard 911. This formed the idea of the GT3 and when it arrived, many were surprised that it was in fact 30kg heavier than the stock 911. With an engine based on the block of the GT1 racing car, and displacing 3.6-litres, the GT3 had lighter pistons, titanium conrods, dry sump lubrication and a cable-operated six-speed gearbox with interchangeable gear ratios. When new, the 996 GT3 cost £76,500.

The Porsche 996 GT3 Mk1 was released with a flat-six 3.6-litre engine, compared to the 3.0-litre version of the original 996. The GT3 engine is very similar to the completely water-cooled Porsche 962 racing car's engine, which is based on the same crankcase. The engine is naturally aspirated and the ‘split’ crankcase uses separate water jackets added onto each side to cool banks of three cylinders with water pumped through the radiator. The Mk1 marks the final Porsche to have a throttle cable and no driver aids except ABS.

The GT3 Mk1 is considered by many enthusiasts to offer a raw driving experience, as the car was designed with track driving in mind, in comparison to the later Mk2, which offered a ‘softer’ driving experience. Finding parts is no problem as they are readily available on the internet from many Porsche specialists. Typically, the Porsche 911 996 GT3 Mk1 does not suffer from electrical problems, nor reliability or bodywork issues.

The Mk1 is beginning to become rare since it was built on a smaller scale so there are smaller numbers available. To many hard-core 911 enthusiasts, the Mk1 is the preferred 996 GT3 although it has been known for weak brakes, weak gearbox, and not enough power.

Similar cars in the market include the Porsche 911 996 GT3 MK2, the 911 996 GT3 RS, 911 996 GT2, and the 911 996 Carrera 2.