Vehicle Description
Chassis No. WP0AG2A93PS252252
First unveiled in 997-shape, 3.8-liter guise for 2010, the Porsche
911 Sport Classic was a limited-edition variant of the company's
incumbent Carrera S model, albeit one boasting an uprated 402
horsepower engine and aesthetics inspired by the immortal Carrera
RS 2.7 of the early 1970s. By employing a six-speed manual
transmission, rear-wheel drive and a fixed Carrera RS-style
"ducktail" rear spoiler, the Sport Classic exhibited three
cornerstones of Porsche design, yet the car seamlessly blended such
apparent convention with cutting-edge technology including Ceramic
Composite brakes, electrically adjustable dampers and a Stability
Management system. Offering a superb driving experience, the cars
were an immediate hit with drivers and collectors alike; their
appeal to the latter enhanced by a total production run of just 250
cars from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.
After a hiatus of twelve years, Porsche announced the launch of a
new 911 Sport Classic in April 2022. Constructed upon the
still-current 992 platform, the second-generation variant further
refined the concept of its predecessor, this time utilizing the
Turbo model as its basis. The new-shape Sport Classic retained the
Turbo's 3.7-liter twin-turbocharged engine-to which a seven-speed
manual transmission was coupled-but employed only rear-wheel drive,
rather than the four-wheel drive system of the base car. This
decision necessitated a modest reduction in both peak power and
torque to 542 horsepower and 443 lb-ft respectively, in order to
avoid overstressing the transmission and rear driveshafts. However,
in dispensing with the four-wheel drive system a weight saving of
200 pounds was achieved; a move which afforded the Sport Classic a
power-to-weight ratio superior even to that of the Turbo.
Predictably, such a potent powertrain necessitated the employment
of appropriately robust systems and components elsewhere;
rear-wheel steering, adaptive dampers, Porsche Carbon Ceramic
Composite brakes, and active anti-roll bars-all borrowed from the
Turbo S-being several cases in point. Furthermore, the fitment of
Porsche's Dynamic Chassis Control and Active Suspension Management
systems ensured that the car's formidable performance capability
could be explored in relative safety and comfort, while
simultaneously maximizing driver enjoyment and communication.
In customary Porsche fashion, no less attention was paid to the
Sport Classic's aesthetic and ergonomic design. The car retained
the same "widebody" dimensions as the Turbo; its chassis now
adorned with a carbon fiber hood, Carrera GT and first-generation
Sport Classic-inspired "double bubble" roof and ducktail rear
spoiler. If the latter appendage once again drew inspiration from
the Carrera RS, then so too did the eye-catching five spoke
center-lock wheels, 20 inches in diameter at the front and a
mammoth 21 at the rear, which echoed the RS's Fuchs-manufactured
counterparts from the 1970s.
Internally, the Sport Classic's cabin represented arguably the most
sumptuous and carefully-crafted 911 interior to date. The
combination of leather seat cushions and evocative houndstooth
fabric inserts echoed 911s of a bygone era, while wooden dash
inserts and green dash instrument backlighting further cemented
this pleasingly familiar feel. Almost inevitably, the Sport Classic
drew virtually universal praise for its near-perfect driving
position; a Porsche hallmark fine-tuned during the course of an
exhaustive 750,000 mile development phase.
In performance terms, the Sport Classic's zero to 60 and top speed
figures of 4.1 seconds and 196 miles per hour respectively were
highly impressive rather than other-worldly, but it was the car's
mid-range and high gear performance which truly set it apart.
Remarkably, its seven-speed transmission enabled 70 mph to be
maintained in top gear at just 1,800 rpm, whereas the production of
maximum torque at the outrageously low engine speed of only 2,000
rpm ensured that mid-range speed could be gathered at a truly
bewildering rate. Furthermore, a superbly compliant chassis,
excellent roadholding and almost 550 horsepower feeding exclusively
through the rear wheels gave the car a unique character not always
experienced in certain other 992 variants.
Just 1,250 992-generation 911 Sport Classics, this magnificent
example, limitation number 488, was delivered in mid-2023 to
Porsche North Houston to its current and sole owner. Finished in
the exceptional Paint to Sample color of Jet Green Metallic - a
recent addition reminiscent of the 1950s Fjord Green - with Black
and Cognac Heritage Design interior, it boasts a generous
specification including Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, Sport
Chrono, PASM Sport Suspension, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control,
Adaptive Sport Seats Plus with Backrest Shells in Leather, Extended
Dashboard and Door Panel Package in Leather, Front Axle Lift,
Carbon Fiber Roof. Optional extras include Burmester Surround Sound
System, Ambient Lighting, and Under Door Puddle Light Projectors.
As a single-owner example, it has been carefully stored and little
used ever since with its odometer reflecting its "as new"
condition, reading just 536 miles as at the time of cataloging.
Offering an irresistible blend of spectacular yet accessible
performance, exquisite levels of finish, limited build numbers and
that unique Porsche heritage, the Sport Classic assuredly
represents one of the most accomplished Porsche - and, indeed, GT
class - "all-rounders" of recent times. In this car's case, it is
further distinguished by its minimal mileage, single ownership, and
exceptional Paint to Sample finish protected with full PPF
treatment, and would represent a stunning addition to any
appropriately discerning collection.