It’s time once again for this month’s Porsche Factoid. For those of you unfamiliar with the Porsche Factoid segment on PorschePurist.com, each post is a unique, and hopefully interesting, fact exclusive to Porsche and various Porsche models. For a few of you Porchephiles in the audience some of this information may be as familiar to you as the build sheet/specs of your favorite Porsche. For the rest though, this is a great way to learn interesting and fun facts that contribute to the exceptional history and heritage that makes Porsche so special to all of us.

Can you name this model Porsche?

Porsche Factoid:

After the 3.3 liter 930 Turbo convertible (1987-89), Porsche never officially offered an air-cooled Turbo convertible again. However, in 1995 a well known dealer in Munich, Germany approached Porsche with the idea for a Turbo Cabriolet based on the current 993. Porsche, always willing to satisfy their most loyal customers and dealers, agreed that if at least 12 customers could be found, then the “skunk works” or Porsche Exclusiv would build them. Taking the challenge in stride, the dealer found the requisite 12 customers (some say 14) and the limited edition 911 (993) Turbo Cabriolet was the result.

Each of the Porsche 993 Turbo cabs featured the 360 hp (DIN) single-turbo engine of the 964 Turbo 3.6, a 5-speed manual transmission, the wing of the 964 Turbo 3.6 and rear wheel drive (vs. all wheel). Privilege of ownership was not inexpensive. To put one of these limited edition 993s in your garage required a premium of nearly DM 90,000 (or close to $63,000) over the MSRP of the standard 993 Cabriolet.

1995 Porsche 993 Turbo Cabriolet Today

I have never personally seen a 993 Turbo Cabriolet and am not sure if any currently reside in the US. They do occasionally come up for sale and as luck would have it, there is one available today in Germany for €89,500.00. In my opinion, given the limited production numbers, the fact that they are the last of the air cooled and pricing for trends of the last few years, these cars are severely undervalued. Maybe it’s the fact that they were never imported into the US and conversion and importation would be costly. Whatever the reason, this would be a great addition to my dream garage.

If you have a Porsche Factoid that you want to share, please email it to me using the contact page or by commenting on this post.

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Just days after Porshe’s domination at the Rolex 24, Porsche’s ALMS teams, the Flying Lizards and Franbacher Loles Racing are reporting much success with the new 2009 Porsche GT3 RSR. What’s amazing to me is that most of these drivers just took part in one of the most grueling and historical races in Motorsport, yet they still have the ability, skills and strength to dial in a brand new car and do so successfully and quickly. Hat’s off to all the drivers, crew members and support staff that makes this possible. I can’t wait for Sebring to see this new car in action.

SEBRING, Fla. – January 28 — The new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has passed its first challenge on the race track with flying colors on the fast, bumpy course that is Sebring International Raceway.

At the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) winter tests which ends today, the long distance race car, which received modifications in many areas, immediately displayed its exceptional reliability and handling. Porsche teams Flying Lizard Motorsports and Farnbacher Loles Racing conducted an intensive three-day test schedule and worked on a base setup for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, which will be held on Saturday, March 21.

“Right from the start, the cars ran very well and the teams made excellent progress with their work,” said a satisfied Martijn Meijs, head of Performance Porsche Motorsport.

“Due to changes in the rules, the cars start this season with a smaller air inlet restrictor, and the ride height must be five-millimeters higher. For this reason, the teams can use little of the data from 2008 and virtually have to start from zero with their suspension set-up.”

Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany), who competes with his countryman Dirk Werner for the Farnbacher Loles Racing team, also heads into the ALMS season with optimism after these initial tests.

“The GT3 RSR has made another noticeable step forward. I think we are well equipped to win the championship,” said Henzler, a four-time Porsche Supercup champion and the 2008 ALMS GT2 co- champion.

Porsche works drivers Patrick Long (USA) and Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) also set-up their new Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR for the ALMS season-opener in Sebring.

“The new GT3 RSR has a much better turn-in than the 2008 car,” said Long, the 2005 ALMS GT2 co- champion with Bergmeister. “Now we just have to work on finding an optimal spring-shocks set-up for the extremely bumpy circuit here in Sebring,” added Bergmeister, who paired with Henzler last year as ALMS GT2 co-champion.

In Sebring with a 2008 GT3 RSR, the VICI Racing squad concentrated on setup tests with the Michelin tires, which are new for the team. By the Sebring race next month, the outfit will also run the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 RSR with the new four-liter six-cylinder boxer engine.

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[Source: PCNA]

Years in the making and months in the build-up, the new Porsche Museum is finally open to the public. Earlier today, after a celebration hosted by Porsche and attended by a who’s who of German business and political allstars, the public is officially welcome to experience the museum for themselves.

Stuttgart. This Wednesday at the headquarters of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen the new Porsche Museum was officially declared open. On the occasion of the ceremonial act in the spectacular new building on the Porscheplatz Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking, Chairman of the Board of Porsche AG, welcomed State Parliament President Peter Straub, the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg Günther Oettinger, Interior Minister Heribert Rech, the Lord Mayor of Stuttgart Dr. Wolfgang Schuster, members of the Porsche and Piëch families as well as a further 200 invited guests. On Saturday 31st January the museum will for the first time be opened to the public.

In his speech Wiedeking emphasized the particular significance of the Porsche Museum on the site of the headquarters of the Company: “This is our new business card on the Porscheplatz. At this meeting point, we welcome our international customers as well as numerous people from all over the world who themselves may not drive a Porsche but are nonetheless fascinated by our sportscars. While the bold architecture of the building reflects the individuality, self-confidence, and orientation towards the future of Porsche itself, the exhibition with the turn-key sportscars from the Museum on Wheels, which are always ready to spring into action, breathes plenty of life into the Company’s history.” The head of the Board also announced: “We will not only use the museum as an exhibition, but also as a communication platform – as a permanent, integral part of the ongoing dialogue which Porsche conducts with the public.”

On its 5,600 square meters of exhibition space, the modern building provides space for approximately 80 historic vehicles and more than 200 carefully arranged small exhibits from the Company’s history. Spacious conference areas are available for events, including access to an impressive roof terrace. The exclusive restaurant “Christophorus” integrated into the exhibition, adds to the assortment of haute cuisine in Stuttgart. Furthermore, the museum bundles the entire historical spectrum of the sportscar manufacturer with its Historical Archive in one central location. And the experts in the glazed museum workshop will ensure that the exhibition vehicles not to mention the historic vehicles of customers are kept in impeccable condition.

Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, emphasized the task of the sportscar manufacturer: to remember the founding personalities of the Company and to keep the spirit of their work alive: “My grandfather and my father were passionate automobile pioneers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Their life’s work and everything that their successors successfully made of this and further developed from it, is documented here”, said Porsche. With the opening of the new museum, the Stuttgart Company has fulfilled its obligation of preserving the dream of sports driving and to pass it on to future generations.

For Uwe Hück, Chairman of the Company Works Council of Porsche AG, the new building not only represents part of its identity, but also the motivation and commitment for all its employees: “This museum should become a part of Porsche culture – a culture of esteem amongst employees, a culture of humanity, a culture of employer and employee alike working together as well as a culture of honest and open contact with one anotherr”, said the Head of the Works Council.

Prime Minister Oettinger particularly praised the special charismatic radiance of the Porsche Museum which would shine far beyond regional boundaries: “The history of Baden-Württemberg as the cradle of automotive engineering is closely entwined with the biography of the designer Ferdinand Porsche. All of the things which had their origin in his fountain of creativity, and which were continued by his son Ferry, areshown in this unique collection of sportscars which can be displayed to the public in its full extent for the first time. This exhibition is a reflection of the Swabian art of engineering that has given the region a worldwide reputation.”

After a walk through the new building on the Porscheplatz Lord Mayor Dr. Schuster’s verdict was: “This is a big hit for Zuffenhausen. The state capital has gained, in the form of the new Porsche Museum, an additional, magical magnet for automobile fans from all over the world. At the same time the region can also add another attractive address for a wide variety of events. In this way Stuttgart becomes a metropolis of the automobile – and one that everyone can enjoy.”

The museum, designed entirely in white with its exhibition area resting on only three single supports that as a result, appears to be hovering, was regarded as a sensation in professional circles during its three-year construction period due to its bold architecture. Roman Delugan from the Viennese Architects’ Practice Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, whose design won the competition in January 2005, was determined from the very start to put the museum’s visitor at the very centre of things: “Architecture should not just be seen as another building, but should have an effect on the mind and body of human beings. This museum should make the Porsche cosmos a palpable reality for each person.”

The exhibition concept of the Stuttgart museum designer Professor HG Merz deliberately dispenses with the idea of a staged theme world with show effects and instead lets the sportscars speak for themselves. “Exhibits of this quality need no elaborate packaging”, stresses Professor Merz. “In Zuffenhausen they stand like sculptures in a white gallery. Against these reduced surroundings, the visitor can be alone with the vehicles and with his or her own personal feelings.”

Porsche is expecting at least 200,000 visitors per year. Even in the previous museum on the works site, which could barely accommodate 20 exhibits, 80,000 guests a year would turn up. Altogether the historic collection of Porsche AG encompasses a fleet of 400 racing and sportscars. Since almost all exhibition vehicles still take part in historic racing events, the rare items on show in the “Museum on Wheels” are constantly being changed. Apart from anything else, this make repeated visits all the more fascinating for regular guests.

The new Porsche Museum is open daily as from the 31st January, except on Mondays, from 9 to 6 p.m.. Adults pay 8 euros admission (discount: four Euros). Children up to the age of 14 get free admission when accompanied by an adult.

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[Source: PCNA]

For the past few months I have written a post titled “Reader’s Rides”. This generally consisted of cars that readers of PorschePurist.com wanted to show-off or in most cases were looking to sell. Today, I’d like to change things up a bit. As the site continues to grow and the number of monthly readers has eclipsed the 12,000 mark I thought it might be nice to help some readers find cars as well as sell them.

Today’s post marks a shift to a more trading based post vs. a simple showcase of cars for sale.

Used Porsches Wanted

The following is a list of cars that are actively being sought in the market. Each one of these cars, if found, has a buyer on the other end. If you, or anyone you know has one of these cars for sale (privately or through a dealer) please let us know by contacting me via email using this link. Current Porsche Cars wanted are:

• Porsche 959 Komfort Edition (three of them). Prefer Silver and black with under 20k miles but will be open to all possibilities.
• Porsche 993 Turbo in Silver, Black or White with Black interior. Prefer less than 30k miles. Looking for two of these
• Porsche 993 Turbo must be less than 10k miles and must be black on black.
• 2007-2008 GT3RS must be Orange or Green must have NAV and deviated stiching

Remember, I’m not a dealer or a broker, I’m just looking to help out our fellow readers and locate hard to find cars. If you’re a dealer and have one of these cars, that’s fine too. Simply contact me as per the instructions above and I’ll get you in touch with the people looking for the appropriate car. If you’re a private party and want to sell your car (that matches a need above) or know someone that does, please let me know. If you have one of these cars and you’re not even thinking of selling, you might want to contact me anyway as you never know what someone is willing to pay for the car they really want.

Used Porsches for Sale

Long time reader Dan recently purchase a 1998 C2S from Michael Willhoit after seeing it featured in one of my Reader’s Rides posts. As a result, he’s looking to sell his beautiful and highly highly-optioned 1997 Porsche 993 C4S in very desirable classic Arctic Silver paint (code=X1) with Black leather interior (code=VN)!

As Dan say, this is a very special car in pristine condition which has received meticulous care resulting in multiple ribbons being awarded from concourse judges. Features include adaptive sport seats (code=PO2), power seat package (code=P15), aluminum instrument dials (code=X71), aluminum shifter & brake handle (code=Y06), head restraints w/ Porsche crest (code=Z53), motor sound package (code 9), wheel rim caps w/ colored Porsche crest (code D5), sound package plus (code I0), Xenon/Litronic headlamps (code`1), soft ruffled/supple leather seats (code2), U.S. standard emissions (code=CO2), Becker CDR210 AM/FM/CD w/ 8 speakers, new C4S carpet mats with clear protective covers, battery shut-off switch for storage, along with all accessories such as air pump, tool kit, jack, wheel lock, case for stereo’s removable faceplate, 2 key fob remotes & 1 valet key, and complete set of owner’s manuals. A Certificate of Authenticity is provided.

The car has only 11K miles (averaging just 1K miles per year) and is truly an exceptional example! All the typical 993 interior wear areas (i.e. seat bottom edges, seat bolsters, door sills & weather-stripping, foot pedal carpet areas, …) are absolutely perfect and just like new from the showroom floor! No smoker/accident/track and always garaged/covered.

The car is located in Highlands Ranch, CO. Recommended enclosed-transport shipping methods are available. Asking $69,995 OBO. Please feel free to email Dan at DPfis at aol dot com with any questions or to ask for high-resolution photos showing detail of areas described above. Below are the applicable options and codes:

• VN Black Interior – Leather Seats
• CO2 U.S. Standard / Emissions
• P02 Adaptive Sport Seats – Leather Interior
• P15 Power Seat Package
• X71 Aluminum Instrument Dials
• Y06 Aluminum / Leather, Shifter / Brake Handle
• Z53 Head Restraint w/ Porsche Crest
• 159 Motor Sound Package
• 445 Wheel Rim Caps (4) w/ colored Porsche Crest
• 490 Sound Package Plus
• 601 Xenon / Litronic Headlights
• 982 Soft Ruffled (Supple) Leather Seats
• X1 Arctic Silver Metallic Top

1987 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe for Sale

I’m always amazed at cars like this one below. This car is 20 + years old and only shows 14,000 miles on the odometer. On top of that, it looks, drives and smells new. How do people do it? I have a hard time not driving my Porsches. In fact, I usually find excuses to go for a run to the store, or just out for a drive. Most other Porsche owners I know are the same way. Obviously that’s not the case with this car.

Here we have a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera with 14,000 fully documented miles. This pristine example, in the classic color combination of Guards Red over Mahagony comes complete with a three ring binder that contains a copy of the original window sitcker, copy of the original title, a spread sheet detailing the service history since new and a CD-R with copies of the reciepts for all work performed. That’s one particular owner and you know as a result the car is just perfect.

Offered for sale by site sponsor Willhoit Enterprises, this beauty can be delivered to your garage anywhere in the world. If you’re interested in this car either get in touch with me, or contact Michael directly at 417-839-1258.

Super Low Mileage 1998 993 C2S for Sale

When I see cars like this it makes me cringe. Not because there is anything wrong with them, in fact in this instance the Porsche is perfect. However, these cars were meant to be driven and enjoyed. The fact that the previous two owners didn’t, simply means you have the opportunity to purchase a Porsche that is about as new as possible for an 11 year old car! The picture below speaks volumes in my mind. When was the last time you saw an undercarriage that clean?

Offered for sale by the Road Scholars is this 3000 mile, Speed Yellow, 1998 993 C2S. Complete with LSD/ABD, factory aerokit, motor sound package, power seats, partial leather interior, 18″ technology wheels, colored crest caps, Hi-fi sound package, seats stitching in yellow and head restraints with Porsche crest this immaculate, and as good as new Porsche, can be yours for $80,000. Yes, the price is high, but when you consider the condition, mileage, options and rarity of finding a car with this low mileage even available for sale, the price makes more sense. In other words, try to find another one like it.

If you would like more information or are interested in seeing the car in person, please get in touch with Kevin or Cam at the Road Scholars at 919-854-2277 or let me know by commenting below or sending me an email.

Used Porsche 959 and two Carrera GTs for Sale

While every Porsche is fun to drive, there are two models that stand out from the rest; Porsche 959 and the Porsche Carrera GT. Both of these cars are rare and unique in their own special way and they don’t come up for sale often. So, when I saw a trio of them all offered at the same dealer I took notice.

TruSpeed is offering for sale two 2005 Carrera GTs and a 1988 Porsche 959. These are true supercars and not for the faint of heart or light of wallet. If you have an extra three or four hundred thousand lying around (and I know some of you do) then one of these cars might be right for you. Contact Scott at (714)-424-0251 for more info or take a look at TruSpeed’s inventory page for more details.

If you have a Porsche your looking to sell and would like me to feature it in one of these posts, please contact me through the web-site and I’ll be happy to help you out!!

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As a Porsche “Purist” I tend to like my cars as close to stock as possible, just like the good doctor intended. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a simple mod here or there or even the outright construction of an Outlaw Porsche 356.

Popular Mechanics just posted a write-up on a 1964 Porsche 356 Turbo. That’s right, a 356 Turbo. It would seem that Chris Toy wasn’t satisfied with the performance from the Porsche’s original 1.6 liter motor and thought he could do much better with a 3.3 liter turbo from a ’79 Porsche 930 stuffed into the rear-end (stuffed to the point of taking up part of the back-seat too).

Troy say’s he “wants the car to be a sleeper”. As a result, there isn’t much in the way of outward appearance mods (except for the very aggressive and wide tires) to let the unsuspecting know about the beast that now sits precariously above (behind and in-front too) of that rear axle. Outside of 911 disk brakes and a few bushings, Troy hasn’t done many other mods to the car at present.

I don’t know about you, but the idea of pushing 310 horses across 35+ year old suspension technology would make me think twice before hitting a curve at speed.

For the full article and more pictures check out the original post at Popular Mechanics

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[Source: Popular Mechanics]

The successful Porsche 911 GT3 RSR takes off into the new model year with extensive modifications. The most powerful race car based on the Porsche 911, which last season secured wins in the American Le Mans Series and at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, competes in the GT2 class at international long-distance races.

The most distinguishing feature of the new GT3 RSR is the redesigned front end with large air outlets on the front hood. Under the lightweight bodyshell, major changes were also made to the quickest 911.

Indeed, the louvers on the front hood are an indication of the completely redesigned air ducting of the radiators, which became necessary through the installation of an optional air-conditioning unit. The aerodynamics under the rear underwent further optimization; the rear wing now features a wider adjustment range. The weight-optimised brake system and the lighter wiring harness contribute to improved handling compared to the previous model.

The capacity of the well-known six-cylinder boxer engine has been increased from 3.8 to 4.0
litres. After another reduction in the size of the air restrictors for the 2009 season, the engine now delivers around 450 hp at 7,800 rpm and maximum torque of 430 Nm at 7,250 rpm. The rev limiter of the efficient six-cylinder unit kicks in at 9,000 rpm. The engine also features an optimized torque curve and offers better driveability.

In the cockpit, a new multi-function display located above the dashboard indicates the optimum moment to change gears. Another new feature is the programmable multi-function, onboard supply system control device, giving teams the choice of many individual functions. For instance, it can be used to infinitely adjust the blinking frequency of the lights in the front apron, which helps identify race cars when they enter the pits in the dark. For easier servicing under race conditions, other modifications were made. The GT3 RSR now features a new air jack system with overpressure valve and the oil refill with fast filling function has now moved to the rear lid, giving mechanics better access.

Aside from GT3 Cup and the GT3 Cup S, the GT3 RSR is the third race car based on the Porsche 911 offered by Porsche Motorsport. About 20 of the successful long distance racers have been built in Weissach and are now being delivered to customer teams around the world. The GT3 RSR costs 380,000 Euro plus VAT specific to each country.

This PDF file provides full specs and info on the new 2009 Porsche GT3 RSR

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[Source: PCNA]

The engineers of Porsche AG, Stuttgart, have developed a new sports exhaust system for the latest generation of the 911, available as an option on new models as of February 2009. This special exhaust gives the customer the opportunity to adjust the 911’s unique sound to their personal preference; at the touch of a button, the exhaust system switches over to a more sporting and emotional sound.

The new sports exhaust system is made of modified stainless-steel main silencers and stands out through its two uniquely-styled dual tailpipes. The heart of the system is an exhaust flap on each main silencer activated by the engine’s electronic control system, which switches over to a more sporting sound. The system is activated by a separate button on the center console, varying the sound of the exhaust as a function of engine load, road speed and engine speed.

The Euro base price of the sports exhaust system is 1,610 Euro excluding taxes. In the US the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is 2,500 US$ and In Canada, the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is $3,410. Starting in April 2009, Porsche will also offer a Tequipment version as a retrofit part.

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[Source: PCNA]