A Guards Red 964 is never going to look anything other than right, is it? And when it’s a Cabriolet, the cool factor goes all the way up to eleven: Alan Clark, a connoisseur of both fast cars and fine wine, used one to make regular runs to Bordeaux to collect vast quantities of wine. Google it and prepare to be amazed at just how capacious a 911 can be…
And yet, colour and bodystyle count for naught if the condition isn’t great, but you need have no concerns on that score because the coachwork is every bit as good as the photos suggest.
With fewer 10,000 miles on the clock, you’d expect careful curation too; allied with Porsche’s legendary build quality you’re looking at a car that has shrugged off the years with impressive nonchalance.
Because the shutlines are still every bit as tight and consistent as they were when the panels were fitted. Nor are there any ripples long the sides.
And the paintwork shines as brightly in 2024 as it did when we were all tapping the steering wheel to songs like Deeply Dippy and Rhythm is a Dancer.
As a nineties Porsche there’s no chrome to worry about as everything is either painted Guards Red or black.
Examining the four corners shows no damage whatsoever to the bumpers, and peering at the door mirrors confirms they haven’t been bashed or bumped either.
The door handles and rear badging are finished in black, and the finish is unmarked and free of any signs of aging.
The wheelarch rims are also free of rot and corrosion, the badges are lustrous and colourful, and the lamp lenses are free of cracks and chips.
Heck, even the paper barcode is still in place inside the nearside door shut.
Oh, and as you’d expect, the rear spoiler pops up and down as it should.
It really is all in a remarkable condition and the phrase ‘time warp’ keeps coming to mind.
The 17-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels are free of scuffs, scrapes, and other kerbing damage, and they’re finished off with some very good centre caps and their open design allows you to admire the subtle black brake calipers and ventilated discs that lie behind.
As you’d expect, the tyres are very good with 205/50ZR17 Michelin Pilot Sport on the front and 255/40R17 Michelin Pilot Sport on the rear. All have good tread but then they are date-stamped 2020 and 2021 and the car has only covered around a thousand miles in the last three years.
We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.
As for the roof, its condition is as impressive as its engineering: It rises and falls easily, fits beautifully, seals tightly, and tucks away under a Beetle-style tonneau when you want to enjoy the sun.
There are no rips, tears, or loose stitches visible, and the colour is still vibrant and dark; there’s no need to worry about sun fading here.
However, if you are looking for a few smalls jobs then we have good news for you because the fuel filler cap has some greasy fingerprints on it.
Other than that, the only real sign of aging is the windscreen, which is starting to delaminate. However, it’s unlikely to be anything more than a minor niggle for a long time to come.