Vehicle Description
Chassis No. WP0ZZZ99ZWS330081
Engine No. 63W00558
Transmission No. 1012555
Porsche has a long and storied history in granting customer special
wishes through their vaunted Sonderwunsch department. No one would
describe this process as simple, yet those clients who are able to
bend the right ear are often allowed to craft some of the rarest
and desirable creations ever to emerge from Zuffenhausen; think
Herbert von Karajan's 1975 911 Martini Turbo RS or Mansour Ojjeh's
1983 935 Strasse. By 1986, Porsche formalized many custom requests
under a reshaped department now known as Porsche Exclusive. While
many of these requests now featured an order number and price, the
spirit of Sonderwunsch remained for those knowledgeable and
connected customers who fancied a deeper investment in the
customization process. Harald Otto Karrenberg was one such VIP
customer.
The request that Karrenberg brought to Porsche Exclusive, was one
for a normally aspirated Turbo-bodied 993-generation 911 Cabriolet.
Porsche had offered such a model in years past under the M491
"Turbo Look" option code, however upon initial inquiry his request
was denied. Yet with time and patience required by those who are
familiar with collaborating with Porsche Exclusive, Karrenberg's
request was eventually given the green light by the decision makers
within Porsche - just in time for Porsche's 50th anniversary
celebrations.
Karrenberg's factory one-off began with a "993 630" order code 1998
911 Carrera Cabriolet finished in classic Guards Red. It was
optioned with a full leather interior, Black Nappa leather front
and rear seats, adjustable front seat heating, automatic air
conditioning, an on-board computer, and a Cabriolet wind deflector.
Once it rolled off the assembly line, the car was shepherded to the
workshops of Porsche Exclusive for customization. What was created,
in the words of Porsche Classic, was "an extremely rare vehicle
that was never produced in this specification." Exclusive, indeed!
While the fender flares, front and rear bumpers, and 18 inch
hollow-spoke Turbo "Twist" wheels from the 993-generation 911 Turbo
were added, unique features from the rare Carrera S model are
sprinkled throughout. Instead of the large, fixed Turbo rear wing,
Karrenberg's creation featured the subtly beautiful Carrera S
"split-grille" active rear spoiler and Carrera S-only badging.
Before leaving, further Exclusive "Z-Orders" included special
Flamenco Red carpets with matching edge trim.
According to internal Porsche documentation this one-of-one Carrera
S Cabriolet was invoiced on 28 October 1997, later receiving road
approval on 28 May 1998 as per the car's original German
Fahrzeugbrief registration documents. The Fahrzeugbrief also notes
that it was appropriately registered by Karrenberg on "DU-BB 911"
license plates. By all accounts the special one-off 911 was
treasured by Karrenberg during his 17-years-long ownership, not
only for the minimal mileage accrued, just 16,200 kilometers, but
for the excellent cosmetic condition inside and out.
In 2018, this true one-of-one Exclusive creation was offered for
sale, later landing in a world-famous Porsche collection focused on
the finest rarities to emerge from Zuffenhausen. Naturally, the
car, a true factory "one off," was the perfect fit. In February
2022 at 16,335 kilometers, the car visited Porsche AG's Factory
Restoration facility in Asperg, Germany for an inspection and
servicing, later receiving a coveted Porsche Classic Technical
Certificate (CTC). Work by Porsche Classic is noted to include a
thorough overhaul of its 3.6-liter air-cooled flat-six engine,
convertible top, and suspension. As expected, the car received a
clean bill of health as noted on its CTC along with a confirmation
that the car retains its original numbers matching engine and
transmission and, in the words of Porsche Classic, continues to
remain "in very good condition, in all trades."
At the time of cataloging, this one-off Turbo-bodied, rear wheel
drive 993-generation Carrera S Cabriolet produced by Porsche has
accrued just 101 additional test kilometers at the hands of
Porsche's Factory Restoration mechanics since obtaining its glowing
CTC report. It is offered with a toolkit, factory manuals, Porsche
Classic restoration paperwork, and the inherent knowledge that the
next fortunate owner will acquire the only Carrera S Cabriolet ever
produced by Porsche Exclusive; a true factory one-off.
