1993 Porsche 968 Cabrio

Finished in the special order colour of Amethyst Pearl with a matching electric hood and tonneau cover, this 1993 Porsche 968 Cabriolet’s grey leather interior is also piped in Amethyst - and to top it all off, it is fitted with the desirable six-speed manual gearbox.

‘K536 UEY’ also has a very good main dealer and independent specialist service history and was in the care of the same keeper between 2002 and 2017. 

The seller bought it from Hagley Specialist Cars in July 2020, and says he “can't fault the car in anyway. It has great performance and is ideal for long journeys with good boot space for luggage.”

Only used on dry days and high days and still showing just 53,000 miles on the odometer, the seller is a fastidious member of the Porsche Owners’ Club and only his increasing age forces this reluctant sale.

We are told that the special order Amethyst Pearl paintwork is the original, something we’ve seen no reason to doubt – and that’s despite it sporting the sort of shine we are more used to seeing on much newer cars.

The panel fit and condition of the metalwork it was applied to is just as good; say what you like about the value-engineered cars Porsche sells today, there’s no doubting the standard of the fit ‘n’ finish of the older models like this.

The lamp lenses, badges, and window glass are all similarly impressive, being free of damage and wear, and the four corners and door mirrors, the areas that betray a careless owner, are all mint.

As is the folding maroon hood, which is taut and undamaged, and opens and closes as it should. It also tucks neatly away under a matching tonneau cover when the sun is out – and when it’s cold and wet outside it rises to offer almost coupé-like level of weatherproofing and soundproofing. 

It’s a well-engineered design that really does offer the best of all worlds and this one works exactly as it should after being repaired three years ago at significant cost.

The 17-inch Cup 2 alloy wheels also reflect well on him because they are not only in an almost unmarked condition but are also fitted with a matching set of Continental PremiumContact6 tyres, date stamped 2020 and 2021.

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. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for things you might like to remedy, we can’t see a thing. Not. A. Single. Thing.

The front seats are the optional and extremely supportive Sports jobbies, and the first owner was clearly a person of taste because they also splashed out on a matching leather Sports steering wheel.

Further reinforcing their aesthetic credentials are the seats, which are piped in Amethyst to match the coachwork. The grey carpets are protected by maroon overmats, too. The colour scheme is, therefore, both cohesive and cheery as well as practical and comfortable, which is about as good as it gets, eh?

Speaking of which, the seller has also fitted an aftermarket Aperta wind deflector (Porsche doesn’t offer one anymore…) which he says, “makes the open top driving more comfortable with very little wind disruption.” 

And while its fitment does take up some space behind the driver’s seat, it can be removed very easily, after which the (very good) rear seats would be usable once more.

The Porsche benefits from central locking and electric windows, and the headlamps rise and fall as they should.

The boot might not be deep, but it is wide and long and offers plenty of space for luggage. Removing the floor reveals the battery, tool kit, and space-saver spare wheel. 

There’s a Sony CD multichanger in there too, and this is in working order and plays through a matching headunit in the dash.

As for flaws, there is some slight colour loss to the piping on the outer edges, plus some light wear to the steering wheel, handbrake, and gearknob. 

But it’s all entirely consistent with the car’s low mileage and we can’t see anything in there that would worry most people.

The engine bay is very nicely presented. If detailing is your thing, then you could spend a day or so under the bonnet but everyone else will almost certainly be happy to enjoy it as it is and simply maintain its current condition.

The underside is very clean too, with a good exhaust and an absence of the sort of heavy scuffs that usually mar the undertray.

The only fault the seller is aware of is the microswitch for the boot lid. However, he’s hoping to get this done before the end of the auction, so this shouldn’t be an issue, but he wanted to make you aware just in case there’s a problem. 

Which makes him both fastidious and honest, which is how it should be. We always think the best cars come from nice people he’s right up there with the best of ‘em.

The Porsche’s service history is fulsome, as you can see:

• 01.02.1994 and 4,189 miles – service by Porsche Aylesford
• 14.02.1995 and 13,087 miles – service by Stratstone Porsche of Wilmslow
• 12.03.1997 and 19,876 miles – service by Stratstone Porsche of Wilmslow
• 04.04.1998 and 22,998 miles – service by Tony Greatorex, an independent Porsche Specialist Stockport
• 22.04.1999 and 26,243 miles – service by Tony Greatorex, an independent Porsche Specialist Stockport
• 27.09.1999 and 29,285 miles – service by Tony Greatorex, an independent Porsche Specialist Stockport
• 29.03.2000 and 30,506 miles – service by Tony Greatorex, an independent Porsche Specialist Stockport
• 25.06.2002 and 34,273 miles – service by Stratstone Porsche of Wilmslow including a new cambelt  
• 27.11.2003 and 38,477 miles – service by Two Plus Two, an independent Porsche Specialist Halesown
• 06.09.2005 and 41,105 miles – service by Two Plus Two, an independent Porsche Specialist Halesown
• 06.12.2012 and 46,151 miles – new camshaft and balance shaft belts and idler by Two Plus Two, an independent Porsche Specialist Halesown
• 17.06.2015 and 48,736 miles – service by Porsche Sutton Coldfield
• 30.06.2020 and 50,022 miles – service by Hagley Specialist Cars including new camshaft and balance shaft belts and sparkplugs
• 09.09.2020 and 50,742 miles – fresh brake fluid and an inspection by Silvertune, an independent Porsche Specialist  
• 08.02.2021 and (unknown) mileage – new battery and repaint dampers by Silvertune, an independent Porsche Specialist 
• 18.06.2021 and 51,184 miles – new hood brackets and fettling by Silvertune, an independent Porsche Specialist 
• 21.01.2022 and 51,787 miles – service by Silvertune, an independent Porsche Specialist including new power-steering hose and oil filter housing washer
• 20.05.2023 and 52,903 miles – new timing belts, lower balance shaft oil seal and ‘o’ ring, and fresh brake fluid by Silvertune, an independent Porsche specialist
• 04.07.2023 and 53,098 miles – fresh engine coolant by Silvertune, an independent Porsche Specialist    
• 07.12.2023 and 53,367 miles – service by Silvertune, an independent Porsche Specialist   

The 968’s MoT certificate is valid until May 2025.

As for an independent third-party assessment of the car’s condition, the seller tells us that Silvertune are happy to confirm their impression of it to serious purchasers.

In the meantime, you can see in the video that it starts and idles well, and does so with good oil pressure and a healthy charge to the battery. 

The seller also tells us that “it drives very well” and he rates it very highly – and this from a man who’s owned half-a-dozen air-cooled 911s in his time…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the 968 comes with two keys in addition to its book pack and wallet, and every MoT dating back to 2003.

Cars like the Porsche 968 are important because they mark the beginning of the end for analogue sportscars. 

Dating back to an age when manufacturers and legislators were happy for you to make your own decisions rather than forcing algorithms on you, the driver is the one who gets to decide how hard to accelerate, corner and brake; this is a sportscar that will do exactly as you tell it, when you tell it to, with all the benefits and risks that involves.

And we don’t think it’ll be long before we’re all ruing the day we passed up the opportunity to buy a car like that.

Which means you’d better act quickly if you want to enjoy one while they’re still relatively accessible.

With a guide price of between £18,000 and £22,000 you might be able to buy more cheaply but we doubt you’ll find a better one for the money. 

As seasoned followers will know, we always suggest paying a bit more for a good car up front because experience shows you will inevitably have a better ownership experience if you do so – and the resale value often means the ‘premium’ you thought you’d paid comes back at the other end anyway.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Bournemouth, Dorset. 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’.