1997 Porsche 911 Targa

First registered in February 1997, this 993-era 911 Targa has a 3.6-litre flat-six and the Tiptronic gearbox that you’ll find in over 80% of others of this type.

Our vendor, the car’s ninth owner, was a serial Porsche owner during his working life - having one of just about every 911 variant as his daily driver. The one model that escaped his ownership - due to needing a more family-friendly car at the time - was the 993.

So to scratch the itch, he bought this car in 2016 knowing it needed some work and immediately treated it to a thorough refurbishment; including a full engine and gearbox rebuild at Wrightune and bodywork repaired and painted at Kennington Motors - probably spending way more than he’d care to add up or admit to. He’s since had it serviced regularly and any necessary repairs or replacements done.

He has a collection of several cars, a couple of older Porsches and a handful of Abingdon-built classics - and it is these that he tends to gravitate toward driving. As the 911 targa has covered fewer than 2000 miles in his ownership, he thinks it’s time that it was owned and enjoyed by someone else.

The exterior of the car is finished in Arctic Silver Metallic and although the body and paintwork was sorted nearly six years ago, the car hasn’t been driven much since so it still looks pretty fabulous. There’s a chip on the bonnet and scuffs on the rear nearside alloy rim, but those appear to be the only visible blemishes.

Silver is such a classic colour and it sets off the 911’s iconic and timeless shape very well. Only those who know, would believe this gorgeous car is over 25 years old.

The 993 sits on its original Porsche Speedline 17-inch two-piece split-rim alloys, which were also refurbished in late 2016 and are fitted with coloured crest centre caps. Visible through the 5-spoke wheels are the cross-drilled brake discs with blue-painted callipers.

The front wheels are fitted with Pirelli PZero Rosso tyres, which were on the car when the current owner bought it and have been noted on the recent MOT advisory as starting to crack a little.

The rears have Bridgestone Potenza rubber from around two years ago and are therefore in good order with plenty of tread.

The interior is clad in Metropole Blue leather - with the seats and perforated leather facings having been retrimmed in mid 2017 by a local upholsterer Paul Nahoulakian. The colour match of the leather is pretty good although the grain is slightly different to the original and has a slightly flatter finish. A little more buttock-buffing would soon see them starting to wear in!

Although the exterior is quite timeless, the interior is where you begin to remember that you are in a “youngtimer” or modern classic with all the instruments and controls being stubbornly analogue in nature. The Original Porsche Becker Indianapolis Pro CD Radio is perhaps the only thing that looks more modern when it lights up its front LCD display.

The blue carpets and overmats appear clean and tidy with no sign of damage or undue wear. To the best of his knowledge, the vendor believes everything to work as it should, both in and on the car.

Under the bonnet the loose boot lining bag looks very clean and tidy and is possibly a replacement item, such is its condition. Under the liner is the fuel tank and electrical ancillaries and in the front well is a spare wheel with Vredestein collapsible tyre. There is also a scissor jack and tool roll.

The undersides have a remarkably flat floor with a good coating of underseal across it. There’s flakey rust on some of the sub-frame structures but nothing that troubled the pen of the recent MOT tester. Elsewhere there are plastic undertrays protecting more vulnerable components. The front of the car apparently grazed a painted kerb recently, causing scratching with red and yellow scuffs under the front nose. The nearside lower nose panel also appears to have dislodged slightly - likely due to the same incident.

As the last of the air-cooled Porsche engines, the 993 is also the last 911 where you’ll see anything of the mechanicals under the engine cover. Although much is obscured by black plastic ducting and airboxes, the fan, pulley and the bulbous varioram intake can clearly be seen. The engine was fully rebuilt six years ago and has only recently been deemed run in, so sparingly has the owner driven it during his ownership.

The Targa has a current MOT valid until July 2023, on which a slight oil leak and the front tyres ageing were noted as advisories. The online MOT record only documents tests back to 2015 which suggests that one of its many plate changes has disrupted the continuity of the log.

The original service book records a complete service history of 17 stamps, Official Porsche Centre and Specialist, all photographed in the gallery and the extensive history file also contains numerous MOT reports and invoices for parts and maintenance back to 2003 and includes the following service records:

Unknown - 12k mile service - HR Owen Hatfield

Jun 2003 - 78,788 - Premier Bodyshops

Jul 2003 - unknown - Auto 2000 Bedford

Jul 2006 - 114,018 - EK Motors

Dec 2007 - unknown - Jaz Wembley

Jun 2009 - 129,397 - EK Motors

Sep 2010 - 134,614 - EK Motors

Oct 2014 - unknown - Precision Porsche Specialists

Sep 2016 - 140,334 - Wrightune (complete engine rebuild etc)

Dec 2016 - unknown - exelwheels (alloy wheel refurb)

Feb 2017 - unknown - Kennington Motors (brakes etc)

Aug 2017 - unknown - Nahoulakian (seats retrimmed)

Jan 2018 - unknown- Kennington Motors

Jan 2020 - 141,488 - Kennington Motors (wheel bearings)

Jul 2022 - 142,049 - Wrightune

The car also comes with the owner’s book pack in a Porsche wallet as well as the original amber indicator lenses which have been swapped for clear ones and a spare timing belt.

Amongst a legendary catalogue of variations, changes and model year refreshes - the 993 stands tall as a milestone car for Porsche - the last of the air-cooled 911s. That shouldn’t be seen as its only claim to fame though - to many it is one of the most successful evolutions, with a more muscular, yet gentler look. It also has impressive performance; a shade over 6 seconds to 62 mph with Tiptronic and a theoretical top speed of around 162 mph.

This 993 targa starts and runs beautifully with the sweet, air-cooled flat-six and its characteristic clattering whoosh. It drives wonderfully too - just how a 911 should.

Ignore the mileage - which isn’t that high for a 25 year old car anyway - think of this Porsche as a reconditioned car, because it’s had a good deal of money spent on getting everything working well and putting things right, not least the rebuilt drivetrain which has barely been run in.

We think it’ll sell for between £35,000 and £40,000 - which doesn’t seem much for a “renewed” 911. Although it looks amazing, it’s not one for putting away in a museum or a private collection - get it out on the roads and enjoy it - roof open or closed.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.