Porsche has restored and modified a 1998 911 Carrera to create the 911 Classic Club Coupe. A car powered by a GT3 engine and inspired by some very exclusive models, starting with the 2010 911 Sport Classic.
The Porsche 911 type 996, marketed between 1998 and 2005, has always been the unloved of the family. The first liquid-cooled 911, it had a less compact look than its predecessors and abandoned the round front lights in favor of the original Boxster’s optical units. An affront to the purists that came to correct its restyling of 2001 (partially) then its replacement by the 997. The age of the 996 now allows it to be considered as a “Classic” at Porsche, which intends to put an end to this disenchantment and boost its popularity rating, of course. With the Porsche Club of America or PCA, a veritable institution for Porsche enthusiasts across the Atlantic, the German manufacturer has created a unique 996 inspired by the highly sought-after 997 Sport Classic from 2010 and baptized 911 Classic Club Coupe.
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If the 996 Sport Classic had existed
The project started, in 2019, with the purchase of a 911 Carrera from 1998 by the PCA. The car drove fine but showed signs of neglected maintenance and was sent to Porsche Classic for restoration. Deprived of the 911 Sport Classic, the Americans were still entitled to two 911 Club Coupes (997 and 991).
The idea of the Classic Club Coupe was born from the imagination of a collaboration between Porsche and the PCA at the time of the 996. The Classic Club Coupe sports a gray color contrasted by light gray longitudinal stripes. The edges of the latter take up the blue of the PCA, a color that is also found on the inner edge of the black Fuchs rims with chrome offset; a wheel design that will soon be offered by Porsche to 996 owners.
This design evokes the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7, like the “ducktail” rear wing that was already fitted to the Sport Classic. Like the latter, the Classic Club Coupe features a double-humped roof, this time reminiscent of the 2003 Carrera GT. Its design was supervised by Grant Larson. Now responsible for special projects at Porsche, the latter is one of the “fathers” of the Boxster type 986, 911 Sport Classic and Carrera GT.
Braided leather for upholstery
The passenger compartment has been the subject of the same care as the bodywork. The seats and the door panels display a Gray and black Pepita pattern made of braided leather. The upholstery is completed with dark gray Alcantara and blue stitching. A tailor-made luggage compartment was made with the same finish. The counters are also entitled to some distinctive touches, and a plate on the dashboard indicates that this 911 is a unique model.
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A 911 GT3 mechanic
The mechanical part has not been forgotten. The 911 Classic Club Coupe houses under its hood the naturally aspirated 3.6-litre flat-six engine with 381 hp from the GT3 type 996.2, as well as the six-speed manual gearbox, the chassis and the brakes of this model, from which the car also uses the underbody. The design of the car included wind tunnel studies in Weissach and high-speed testing of a prototype on the Nardo circuit, as for a production vehicle.
The 911 Classic Club Coupe is a restomod in line with the 911 Project Gold of 2018. It allows Porsche to make a new demonstration in terms of personalization and unique models; an activity that the brand develops through the Sonderwunsch program. Do not look for the price of this new creation, it is (for now) not for sale.
