1997 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Description

Porsche 911 enthusiasts and casual car fans alike know the 993 is the ONE – the last of the air-cooled 911s, the final iteration of the original masterpiece from Stuttgart. This particular 1997 Carrera 4S (aka the 993) is a winner in every way, with a highly-desirable black-on-black color combination, a legendary 3.6L Flat 6 matched with a 6-speed gearbox powering the show, and a rare factory all-wheel drive system that keeps it planted to the ground. If you were thinking that it's finally time to get that air-cooled Porsche you've been dreaming about, you'd be hard-pressed to find a cooler one than this 993 coupe.

There's no doubt this is a 911, from the headlights to the subtly curved rear end, there's legendary sports car DNA in this coupe that stretches back two generations. The 993 was highly refined but lost none of the proportions that made the 911 so special, and Porsche engineers were careful to keep the essence intact while adding performance, comfort, and confidence. This particular 993 has an interesting past, the lowlight of which was being part of a storage fire that occurred back in 2016. According to the previous owners reports/pictures (included with the sale) the damage wasn't major, certainly not structural, and even after the incident the car was still operational. Nevertheless, the car was fully restored to the tune of $39,000 – all the body panels and windows were removed, repaired, repainted, and then replaced with new seals. Thankfully, the only mechanical repairs required were electrical, but all that stuff was fully replaced back to factory specs as well. The results speak for themselves and because the work was done the right way and to a very high standard, the finish looks miles-deep, glossy, and incredibly fresh. Black paint accents the Teutonic shape perfectly, neither too flashy nor invisible, knowing that this car needs no extra flash to turn heads. Fit and finish are to typically excellent Porsche standards, and with less than 50K original miles, it has obviously been a special car from the day it came home. The paint shines up beautifully, and while there are a few incredibly small signs of use, it certainly doesn't look the better part of 25 years old. In fact, a nice wax and polish and this Porsche will look very close to how it did the day it left the showroom floor. Of course, some of that is due to the timeless design, but there's also no question that this car has been expertly maintained since the restoration. The speed-activated rear spoiler is both sleek and practical, all the lights have crystal clear lenses, and the dual exhaust tips out back are perfectly aggressive.

Supportive black leather bucket seats give the interior a serious look that shows off the minimalist design in all the right ways. There's very little wear on the seats, mostly comfort marks lightly acquired through the years, and the seating surfaces are in great overall shape with no splits or tears in the upholstery. The plush carpets are in very good condition as well, protected by a set of matching floor mats that were probably designed in wind tunnels to reduce any drag coefficient. The dash is laid out in familiar Porsche style, with a big VDO tach in the center and all the other clear, round VDO instruments on either side. The 993 was a big step forward in terms of ergonomics, so all the controls are right where you'd expect them to be and operation is at least a little intuitive, unlike many of its forebears. Power windows, locks, seats, and mirrors, cruise control, A/C, and even the original stereo system are all included, making this a Porsche that's a joy to drive even in traffic. You also get a sunroof up top, and if you're looking to travel, the storage space in the boot is ample and lined with matching black carpets.

The last of the air-cooled 911s offered 3.6 liters of displacement and that familiar flat-six howl. Completely stock and properly maintained from new, this low-mile 911 runs superbly and thanks to their known reliability and its lifetime of careful owners, it should continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The 6-speed manual transmission slips through the gears with more precision than any previous 911 and the very user-friendly suspension almost completely tames the 911's famous tail-happy antics. Always famous for massive binders, the cross-drilled disc brakes on this car will detach your retinas if you're not careful and a quick glance underneath reveals that this car was never used in anything but pleasant weather. Beautiful 18-inch wheels look fantastic and wear sticky Bridgestone performance radials with plenty of grip.

Few other "used" cars have held their values as well as the 993, and if you're looking for a high-quality, low-mileage sports car with all the right equipment and plenty of documentation, you'll scarcely do better than this Porsche. Call today!