2001 Porsche 911 C4

First owned by the boss of Coca-Cola UK, this 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet then passed into the first of two brothers’ hands in 2005 before making its way to the seller’s early in the year.

With four recorded keepers, two of which are the same family, this is a rare low-owner example at a time when double-digits on the log book aren’t exactly uncommon.

And yes, it’s got 158,000 miles on the clock but many of those were motorway miles – the second owner used it to commute to his Swiss chalet, a role the 911 would have excelled at with its prodigious power and four-wheel-drive – and if you’re still worried, then feast your eyes on the invoice for the brand-new Porsche engine that was fitted at 112,000 miles at a cost of £14,353.

‘K3 CBP/ LN51DYP’ (the personalized registration number you see here does not come with the car) is a genuine money-no-object example of one of the very best cars Porsche ever made and is only for sale because the owner is emigrating, all of which makes this ‘No Reserve’ auction one to watch. 

The Seal Grey Metallic coachwork looks very good but then this is what you get when you combine careful curation and judicious maintenance, the most recent of which was a four-figure refurbishment by Benham Bodyworks of Calne in August 2021 who carried out some work to the front and rear bumpers, the wing mirrors, and the bonnet plus a few areas where it touched-in the paint. 

The result is a well presented example, especially when you factor in the presence of both soft and hard tops.

And they’re in a good condition, too. The black soft top fits well, being taut and free of rips, tears and other damage. It also rises and falls as it should and the rear plastic screen is clear and undamaged.

The metal roof looks terrific and turns the 911 into a convincing coupé. It, too, fits well but there some rust bubbles on the leading edge and scuffs elsewhere you’ll probably want to take care of.

The black alloy wheels, which are 18-inches in diameter are also good. Sure, a few small nibbles have been taken out of the odd rim - and they’re fitted with Bridgestone Turanza and Nankang Ultra Sport on the rear - but you could deal with all of that at your leisure. 

The better news is the Porsche also comes with a second set of alloy wheels. Silver in colour they are fitted with Continental winter tyres. These were the ones a previous owner used to commute to his Swiss chalet on, so between these and the 911’s four-wheel-drive system you’re going to be able to deal with anything the British winter can throw at you.

As for faults, the windscreen has a small crack in it, the nearside door mirror is scuffed, there’s some more recent damage to the nearside corner of the rear bumper, front bumper and N/S front wing but these aside, the overall impression is of a smart car you won’t be afraid to use.

The 996’s interior is as bombproof as any Porsche has built but the passage of more than two decades and almost 160,000 miles has left its mark - and yet, if you didn’t know better it looks like the interior of a much younger car.

Because the black leather seats are still firm and supportive and what wear they do show could be chalked up to a developing patina and left as they are.

The only ‘serious’ damage in the cockpit is to the back of the seats and the rear side trim panels. All are marked and scuffed, although this isn’t too noticeable until you fold the seats down. 

Now we’ve bucked tradition by mentioning the problems first, we’re on the home run with everything else.

With little more than the odd mark here and there (most notably the handbrake), the rest of the cabin is pretty darned good. The dashboard top is undamaged, the instruments and controls are clear and bright, and the carpets and door cards are good. 

A USB charging point and a mobile phone mount have been added, along with a Bluetooth streaming device. 

We are told everything works as it should - including the air-conditioning, which is “fantastic” - but then you wouldn’t expect anything less from such a well-maintained example, would you?

Which brings us neatly to the service history. As we mentioned in the introduction, it may have covered a little over 158,000 miles but the new factory engine that was fitted at 112,000 means the powerplant has only covered 46,000 miles.

The car itself also has a fulsome service record:

• 18.11.2002 and 5,980 miles – service by AFN Porsche
• 24.11.2003 and 13,164 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Porsche Centre West London
• 10.12.2004 and 23,101 miles – service by Porsche Centre West London
• 01.12.2005 and 34,338 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Porsche Centre West London
• 20.11.2006 and 44,828 miles – service by Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex
• 03.12.2007 and 55,644 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Porsche Centre West London
• 01.12.2008 and 64,643 miles – service by Porsche Centre West London
• 03.11.2009 and 74,144 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Porsche Centre West London
• 30.11.2010 and 93,309 miles – service by Mazzetta Garascha Todi SA
• 14.10.2011 and 104,330 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Mazzetta Garascha Todi SA
• 17.02.2012 and 112,076 miles – replacement factory engine by JAZ, an independent Porsche specialist
• 08.11.2013 and 124,282 miles – service by JAZ, an independent Porsche specialist
• 12.11.2015 and 135,454 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by JAZ, an independent Porsche specialist
• 04.10.2017 and 142,111 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by JAZ, an independent Porsche specialist
• 13.05.2019 and 150,745 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by JAZ, an independent Porsche specialist
• 07.09.2021 and 155,524 miles – service by Steve Bull, an independent Porsche specialist

In addition to the above routine servicing the Porsche had a new waterpump and coolant header tank along with a new battery in July 2022, while JAZ, an independent Porsche specialist, replaced the rear main oil seal, IMS bearing, and clutch in May 2021. 

There is much, much more on record too, and it would be worth settling in with your favourite tipple to read through it all. 

As you can see it starts, idles and revs smoothly. The seller tells us it drives “like a dream”, singling out the suspension for praise saying it “feels tight” and has “no squeaks”. 

The engine bay is clean and presentable, with the frunk containing the space-saver spare wheel along with the jack and wheel brace.

The underside looks like it’s had some rustproofing wax applied at some point, which has played its part in the fact that no MoT tester has ever mentioned structural corrosion.

The Porsche’s MoT certificate is valid until January 2024 and the recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

The 911 has a huge history file with bills and historic invoices going right back to the time when it was being serviced in Switzerland. Of note is the bill from 2012 for the replacement Porsche factory engine at a cost of £14,353. 

Also included is a pile of old MoT certificates, two sets of keys and the book pack.

Please note the registration number K3 CBP, does not come with the car, it's current registration number is LN51 DYP.

The Porsche 996 might still be underappreciated compared to the earlier cars but if you can look past the slightly awkward front end you’re in for a treat because they’re as brilliant to drive and own as every other iteration – and *whispers* better than some of the more obvious choices.

Wonderfully easy to potter around in, they do tend to make the air-cooled cars sound and feel somewhat agricultural - and yet, for all their practicality, the 996 runs with the best of ‘em being lithe and nimble and as powerful as any sensible driver needs. (With 180mph+ on tap, may be politely suggest you invest in driver training before spending money on tuning bits if you find the performance lacking?)

Of course, this comes with the caveat that you have to buy the right one. 

Like this. Well maintained, the somewhat high mileage means this one is more of a (wonderful) driver’s car rather than an investment-grade museum piece.

Which is in your favour because it reduces the 996’s appeal still further; while we wouldn’t be put off by this - or the fact that it’s a 996 in the first place – the great unwashed are more easily swayed, which means it’s probably not going to sell for a fortune.

We think that this one will sell for somewhere between £9,000 and £11,000, which is a tiny sum for such a versatile, reliable and thrilling sports car. 

Even better, the owner as agreed to trust you lot to pay what it’s worth, so he’s offering it up with no reserve, so it’ll sell from the very first bid.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.