A Porsche is designed to exude power, sophistication, and sheer excellence. Unrivalled in its performance and singular in its aesthetic, Porsche has deservedly carved a gilded niche for itself in the luxury automobile landscape. Porsche used to manufacture commercial cars for general public use under the directives of the German government, until the company’s chairman was arrested for war crimes after World War II. After a short period of tumult, the chairman’s son took over the business, producing majestic sports cars that performed splendidly in championships and setting the scene for Porsche’s inimitable legacy.
Porsche’s 911 series is regarded by many Porsche fans as its magnum opus. Originating in 1964, the 911 has been continually evolving without betraying its core design. It’s equipped with a rear-mounted flat-six engine, which used to be air-cooled until the 993 series of 1998.
The Porsche 911s have earned an illustrious racing record, having secured thumping victories at Targa Florio, the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the World Championship for Makes consistently throughout the 1970s. It ranked fifth in the 1999 Car of the Century poll.
Needless to say, a Porsche 911 is a highly coveted collectible. Read on to uncover the rarest Porsche 911 classics of all time.
1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion
The Porsche 911 GT1 was crafted in the 1990s when Porsche’s racing supremacy was on a slow decline and sports car racing was being revived through the BPR Global GT Series. The 911 GT1 Strassenversion was a street-legal version of the GT1 race car.
Only 20 units of the GT1 Strassenversion were built, making it one of the rarest Porsche models in the world. Given that it was a street legal version, its power and speed were tamed for commercial viability. These silver-coloured gems were fitted with a 996-inspired, water-cooled, twin-turbocharged engine, equipping the car with 600 HP. Notwithstanding it being a street version, the GT1 Strassenversion still boasted remarkable dexterity, as it could accelerate from 0 to 50 km/hr in 2.1 seconds.
This limited edition series is worth a king’s ransom but assures an incredible return on investment both monetarily and as a status symbol. One specific 911 GT1 Strassenversion went for an eye-watering $5.65 million at an Amelia Islands auction, and another was sold by RM Sotheby’s for $1.2 million.
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR
The Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR was built specifically for Roger Penscke’s 1973 International Race of Champions, as the eminent Porsche 917 was declared non-compliant with the competition’s new rules. With only 15 units manufactured, it is one of the most exclusive 911 models.
The car was outfitted with a three-litre, two-cylinder SOHC engine that churned out 330 HP. Compared to the older 917, the Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR was designed with a wider front spoiler and larger wheel arches. It also debuted with Porsche’s iconic rear wings – now a staple, the then cutting-edge engineering move was employed to ensure greater downforce.
The Carrera 3.0 IROC RSRs also gained notoriety for their harlequin colour palettes. With bright greens, oranges, and reds, it was certainly a vogueish sports car in the 1970s.
With great rarity comes an exceptional price tag. One particular unit of the Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR sold for $2.3 million. Another yellow unit is still on sale at RM Sotheby’s, evaluated at $1.2 million.
Porsche 911 GT1 Road Car
The Porsche 911 GT1 Road Car, with several deviations from the bona fide Porsche 911, was not popular right off the bat. After countless attempts on Porsche’s part to assimilate in championships, the GT1 Road Car finally got a chance to demonstrate its prowess on the track at the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans. Out of 135, it secured a victory at 47.
Quite unlike traditional 911s, the GT1 Road Car was designed with the front end of a 993 and a rear end of a 962 Group C prototype. The road car was fitted with a 3.2-litre Porsche 9R1 flat-6 twin-turbocharged mid-engine that outputted 592 HP. With only a handful of these units made, the Porsche 911 GT1 Road Car is hard to come by. One unit went for over $2.2 million at a Monaco RM Sotheby's auction in 2016.
1964 Porsche 911
The 1964 Porsche 911 was among the first to be classified as the now iconic 911. It was initially known as the 901 but had to be changed to 911 because Peugeot had already launched models with three-digit names that had a zero in the middle.
This car was armed with a five-speed manual transmission and a 1991 cc six-cylinder engine that generates a power of 128 HP with a top speed of 210 km/hr. It was a relatively spacey Porsche for its time, and creators and patrons were reportedly happy to have a car that was “finally big enough to carry a set of golf clubs”.
It debuted at the Paris Motor Show in October 1964 and was followed by the production of just 232 units. As one of the first and few of the 911 generation, the 1964 Porsche 911 is nothing short of a treasure.
A particular 1964 Porsche 911 unit – the fourth car to bear the 911 name – is listed by RM Sotheby’s for $665,500.
964 Porsche 911
The 964 Porsche 911 was a revolutionary car with advanced aerodynamic technology that paved the way for the brand’s modern era.
The 964 was manufactured to celebrate Porsche’s 25th anniversary. Up until this juncture, every 911 was a rear-wheel drive. However, the 964 powered both the front and rear wheels right from the moment of release, which became a permanent characteristic for all 911s to come.
The new rounded front and rear segments, and the electronically extending rear spoiler that rose at 80 km/hr, were advanced aerodynamic features that ensured speed and elimination of rear lift. The very first 962 Porsche 911 was an electronically powered all-wheel drive, distributing about 30% torque to the front axle and 69% to the rear axle. Indeed, this car signalled 911’s transition into the tech-savvy future.
Between 1988 and 1994, around sixty thousand 964s were made, making it a rather rare 911 generation. However, it has been viewed by experts as a great Porsche investment, with promising appreciations in value.
Porsche 993 Carrera
The Porsche 993 replaced the 964 and cemented the end of air-cooled 911 models.
The 993, according to Porsche, was “a significant advance, not just from a technical but also a visual perspective.” It was redesigned completely from the ground up, marking significant shifts in the 911 family.
It was the first Porsche to be fitted with a six-speed transmission, in addition to fresh front and rear axles that afforded better driving experiences. The 993’s all-drive system was a more refined and efficient version of its predecessor’s, as the 964’s three-differential system was replaced by a more compact, centralised unit. This ensured increased speed and torque with minimal compromises. Further, a simpler design meant a lighter, faster car.
This car had a short production cycle and produced only 68,029 units. With far and few left to buy, its price tag is steep with prices starting at $116,050. Kendall Jenner, David Beckham, and Keanu Reeves are proud owners of a Porsche 993.
Porsche is synonymous with power, style, and finesse— the ultimate marque for the discerning enthusiast and the true driving maestro. Owning a rare Porsche legacy car is a privilege many aspire to, with the Porsche 911 classic standing as an enduring symbol of exclusivity and automobile distinction.
