Classically inspired 911s are becoming a big deal
with Porschephiles. To satisfy those tastes, Porsche created the 911 R, the GT3
Touring, and the latest Carrera T. But before any of those, there was the Sport
Classic.
Based on the 997-generation Carrera S, the 911 Sport
Classic debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, packed with retro cues. It
had a ducktail spoiler, Zagato-style double-bubble roof, Fuchs-style wheels,
light grey paintjob with tone-on-tone racing stripes, and a delicious
coffee-brown woven leather seats.
Of course the timeless 911 design made it a perfect
canvas for the retro treatment, and the combination of naturally aspirated
engine and six-speed manual transmission did nothing to pop that bubble. But
the engineers in Zuffenhausen still managed to squeeze in modern technologies
like carbon-ceramic brakes, an adaptive suspension, and variable exhaust.
Porsche charged € 169,300 for the Sport Classic in
2010, but with only 250 made, they've been trading at prices far higher. This
one, with 11,110 miles on the clock, is listed for € 380,000, which works out to
roughly US$ 440k at current exchange rates – or more than twice the original
sticker price.
For that kind of money, you could get a new 911 GT3
(with or without the Touring package) and three Carrera Ts. Those aren't
limited-edition models like the Sport Classic was, though, and probably won't
hold their value the same (much less appreciate over time). If any of that
makes the prospect of buying this one enticing, head on over to Jean Lain
Vintage in Chambéry, France.
