1997 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 (993)

Built during the last year of Carrera coupé production in 1997, this C4 is finished in the timeless combination of silver over a blue leather interior, and was fitted with the following optional extras from the factory:

- C16: UK-delivered example

- 398: 17-inch wheels

- 425: Rear window wiper

- 454: Automatic speed control (cruise control)

- 567: Top-tinted windscreen

- 573: Air-conditioning

- 602: Raised stop lamp

- 650: Sun/Moon roof

A previous 993 owner and daily-driver, this particular C4 was purchased by our vendor to add to their small, but perfectly-formed collection of classic and ‘modern classic’ vehicles, as they missed having a 993 in the garage to use and enjoy.

Fastidiously maintained throughout its lifetime (as the extensive documentation below can attest to) this Carrera 4 has been a weekend toy / fun car whilst in its current ownership, though due to two large dogs it has seen only limited use in recent history, as a 911 is hardly friendly for more than two people, let alone two large dogs!

Whilst in its current ownership, the car has been garaged and covered at all times when not in use, and has been kept in tip-top condition by the current owner, whilst the previous keeper was also a Porsche Club GB member, which is always a reassuring sign for any Porsche enthusiast.

Now, having had a set of new rear tyres fitted in January 2022 and with all systems working as they should be, the choice has been made to move this last-of-its-kind 911 on to pastures new, with the hope of it going to another enthusiastic and caring home or collection.

With its timeless lines, instantly-recognisable silhouette and silver bodywork, this 993 is every inch the head-turner for enthusiasts, yet can still travel relatively undetected around town should the driver wish to remain inconspicuous.

This particular example presents in exemplary condition throughout, having clearly been cherished, pampered and cosseted throughout its lifetime, and its appearance defies its odometer reading with apparent ease.

Of course, there are some signs of life on the bodywork; The usual smattering of stone chips is visible to the front end and exposed edges such as the wing mirrors, and there are one-or-two small marks and imperfections to be noted, which have been documented in the gallery below.

The rear edges of all four arches are also showing signs of age and surface corrosion. This is par-for-the-course on all 911s of the era (and for the two eras that followed) and shouldn’t be too difficult for a specialist to address and rectify, should the next owner wish to address it.

Looking along the flanks of the car, the shell is straight-and-true throughout, save for one or two tiny, near inconceivable ‘car park’ dents, and there are certainly no signs of any mis-aligned panels or accident damage, with both doors opening and closing with the resounding ‘thunk’ that will be familiar to any air-cooled 911 owner.

All four wheels are in excellent condition, and all four tyres have plenty of life left in them.

The good news continues on the inside, as once again the condition of the cabin of this 993 defies all expectation for the vehicle’s age and mileage, and still feels impressively fresh throughout.

Naturally, the seats do have some wear-and-tear in the form of light scuffs, creases and minor wear to the outer bolsters, but on the whole present wonderfully for their age, with the rear ‘bucket’ seats looking virtually unused.

Throughout the cabin, the carpets are in great shape with only some light commensurate wear, whilst up above the headliner is taut throughout and free of any staining or sagging, with the sunroof in full working order.

Elsewhere, the dashboard, shifter, steering wheel and various instruments are in excellent condition, with the radio and HVAC controls in particular looking almost factory-fresh.

The door cards display some imperfections, scuffing and wear, as do the inner door sill covers, but this is to be expected and certainly doesn't detract from the vehicle’s overall condition.

Up front, the ‘frunk’ presents well, though the carpets could do with being re-affixed and neatened up. There is no sign of any heavy staining, nor any smell of fuel that we could detect.

All systems are working as Porsche intended, with cold a/c, working stereo and no issues with any of the electrical systems, gauges or dials.

Firing up instantaneously and with the characteristic dry howl of the flat-six engine that enthusiasts know and love, the 3.4-litre air-cooled engine at the heart of this 993 Carrera 4 appears to be in fine fettle, with many of our staff commenting just how ‘tight’ the engine both sounds and feels.

Out on the road, the car pulls well throughout the rev range, the transmission is slick and the clutch action is reassuringly direct, with no strange behaviours noted from the engine or drivetrain on the move.

Being very particular, the ‘gate’ for reverse is less pronounced than we’d expect, requiring a gentle engagement of first gear especially on the move.

Whilst warm idling, we did note an occasional rise, then dip in the rev range - almost as if it is ‘hunting’ in slow motion, along with a very (very!) small puff of blue smoke. Though, once on the go again, no issues were noted, and this is perhaps a simple vacuum leak or air leak which requires investigation somewhere down the line.

Underneath the deck lid, the 3.4-litre engine presents very well, with only a light covering of grime (as you’d expect from a car that is used and enjoyed) and no visual indicators of any untoward issues.

Looking underneath, the chassis is in excellent condition, with only some light ‘bloom’ visible on exposed components and fittings - nothing to worry about, in other news.

The most recent service took place at 93,376 miles in February 2020, and the most recent MoT took place on 22 February 2022, and shows a clean first-time pass with no advisories.

Included with the vehicle is a well-stocked history folder, giving further provenance to the notion that this 993 has been truly cherished throughout its lifetime.

As ever, we’ve photographed all of the paperwork we’ve received with the vehicle, and this is available to view at the end of the gallery below. For those looking for a quick highlight rundown, however, please find a short list below:

- V5 registered keepers document, showing a total of seven former keepers

- Two sets of keys

- Two stamped service records (the second required as the first one was filled up!)

- Extensive invoicing from renowned specialists such as Northway Porsche, Parr Porsche, La Rose Porsche and H.R Owen, as well as older OPC invoices.

- Significant expenditure whilst in the care of the current owner, including servicing, attending to oil leaks from the cam covers, new oil pressure sensor, suspension overhauls and more.

Also of note is an extensive ‘health check’ carried out by renowned specialist Nine Excellence, which - among other items - included a compression check on all six cylinders, with the results being very good indeed, and the tester’s comments saying that the engine was in “excellent” health.

Cherished, cosseted, fastidiously maintained and in apparent rude mechanical health, along with its condition defying age, mileage and usage, this is an absolutely superb example of the final air-cooled 911, and would make an excellent addition to any Porsche enthusiast’s garage.

Offered for sale with an estimate of £45,000 to £52,000 this is one 911 we’ll be very sad to see leave The Market HQ, and one which will no doubt deliver many more miles and smiles to its next owner.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, 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’.