1997 Porsche 993 Carrera 4

Finished in Zenith Blue Metallic with a classic grey leather interior, ‘P424 WTX’ is a manual Porsche 911 993 Coupé that’s fitted with the six-speed manual gearbox and highly desirable four-wheel-drive drivetrain. 

It left the factory fitted with sports seats too, plus a rear wiper, sunroof, top-tinted windscreen, third brake light, and air-conditioning.

It’s also yet to crack six-figures on the odometer, comes with a very impressive history file, and the chap who’s selling it started life as an automotive engineer, which is exactly the profession you want to buy a car like this from.

And, if that wasn’t impressive enough, he bought it in March 2023 from one of this firm’s founders – and he’d had it in his collection for a decade prior to that, and we can confirm that he too bordered on obsessive in the way he maintained and curated his cars.

So, if you’re in the market for an impressively presented, recently serviced, fanatically maintained Carrera 4 that’s had significant sums invested in it over the years to keep it “just so” then you can call off the search. 
 

We understand it benefits from a full glass-out respray at some point in its past, and the work’s been done very well indeed as the Zenith Blue Metallic (paint code L3AX) still looks sensational.

The seller’s a member of the international Porsche 993 Facebook Group and he posted some of these photos on the page yesterday to universal acclaim with many commentators saying they think this is the best colour of them all.

Even if you prefer a different hue, there’s no disputing the quality of the finish; with excellent shutlines and perfect alignment, this example shows why so many folk think the 993 is the last of the all-but-indestructible 911s.

The Zenith Blue Metallic paintwork is excellent too, with no more than a light smattering of the usual marks and a very good shine to the finish.

Mind you, he’s put the work in; apart from the usual polishing, he even went to the trouble and expense of having the windscreen refitted because it creaked.  

New numberplates were put on a dozen years ago, not that you’d know they were that old because they, like the window glass, lamp lenses, and badges, are in a very good condition.

The alloy wheels are not the original 17-inch Targas it left the factory with, but we agree with the seller when he says their absence is no loss because the replacements look so much better.

They’re still genuine Porsche alloy wheels though, 17-inches in diameter and free of scuffs, scrapes, and other kerbing damage. Their simple five-spoke design not only looks great in its own right, it also allows you to appreciate the silver brake calipers that lie behind them.

We like the elegant black-on-silver centre caps too – and as it left the factory with full-colour jobbies, someone also went to a deal of trouble to choose and source these.

With his background with Spax, you’d expect the owner to be hyper-focussed on the choice of tyres – and he is. Settling on the correct N-rated Michelin PS2 N3, all four were replaced in June last year; “I love new tyre day!” he enthused.

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.

The sunroof fits its aperture perfectly, opens and closes smoothly at the press of a button, and the pop-up wind deflector deploys automatically as it should. The absence of water stains on the inner headlining also demonstrates it remains watertight.

Everything else stacks up too, including the rear spoiler, which rises and falls correctly.

We can’t see anything on the coachwork that would demand your attention; it’s not perfect but it is very presentable, and you’d be happy to show it off at your local classic car show or car meet.

 

The ‘Classic Grey Leatherette’ interior – again – shows why Porsche was a byword for engineering excellence because it is still in a first-rate condition despite being 28 years old.

The extra-cost Sports front seats, which are electrically adjustable and trimmed in real leather, show no more than modest wear to the outer edge of the driver’s seat and almost no wear anywhere else, which is quite the achievement.  

Their pronounced side bolsters, including at shoulder level, hold you tightly against the sort of G forces the 911 is capable of and yet are still comfortably enough to cradle you across an entire continent.

As you’d expect given the limited rear legroom, the seats behind them are in an even better condition with no visible wear to the face material whatsoever; if we were to guess, we’d say they’ve spent the vast majority of their lives with the backrests folded down and being used for stuff like coats and the odd shopping bag.  

The steering wheel is elegantly simple, the dashboard a model of clarity, and the gearknob for the six-speed manual gearbox falls easily to hand. As you can see, they’ve all survived with the same aplomb as the seats.

The door cards, which are, like the rest of the trim with the exception of the front seats, made of grey leatherette, are excellent too.

As is the headlining, which is clean, taut, and free of damage, including water stains.

The frunk is neatly trimmed and plays host to a few minor spares, the leads for the tickle charger, tool kit, and space-saver spare wheel.

A Kenwood KMM-BT508DAB car radio was fitted in May 2024. The Becker Cascade that was removed to make space for it comes with the Porsche, but we assume it doesn’t work.

As for cosmetic flaws, some of the carpets have faded in slightly different ways, the nearside front tweeter grille is a little rusty, and the driver’s mat is stained and has a worn heel pad. 

 

The Porsche’s maintenance, which the seller has summarised on an Excel spreadsheet, is as follows:

•    October 1997 and 12,014 miles – service by Merlin Cambria
•    May 1998 and 22,905 miles – service by Merlin Cambria
•    March 1999 and 33,122 miles – service by Merlin Cambria 
•    March 2000 and 40,502 miles – service including fresh brake fluid by Merlin Cambria
•    March 2001 and 48,648 miles – service by Merlin Cambria 
•    April 2002 and 55,681 miles – service including fresh brake fluid by Merlin Cambria 
•    June 2003 and 61,769 miles – service by Merlin Cambria 
•    August 2003 and (unknown) miles – new brake discs and pads by Merlin Cambria 
•    June 2004 and 76,897 miles – service by Merlin Cambria
•    May 2005 and 77,312 miles – service by Merlin Penrhiwfer
•    June 2006 and (unknown) miles – service by Merlin Penrhiwfer 
•    March 2007 – Porsche 393 Bi-Xenon lights fitted
•    May 2007 and (unknown) miles – service by Merlin Penrhiwfer
•    Jul7 2008 and (unknown) miles – service by Merlin Penrhiwfer
•    May 2009 and 84,853 miles – service by Merlin Penrhiwfer 
•    August 2010 and 86,204 miles – service by Merlin Penrhiwfer 
•    September 2011 and 86,810 miles – service by Merlin Penrhiwfer

It was at this point that one of our founder’s bought the car, and he wasted no time in getting it brought up to his exacting standards, including an expensive trip to Center Gravity to have the suspension sorted out:

•    September 2013 and 87,463 miles – service including fresh brake fluid, having a brake caliper refurbished, and a new seat motor fitted by Woodward at a cost of £1,423 
•    November 2013 – suspension rebuild and set up including a Bilstein PSS10 coilover kit and many more new parts by Center Gravity at a cost of more than £6,000
•    November 2013 and 87,728 miles – new brake master cylinder and a change of brake fluid by Wrightune at a cost of £941
•    January 2014 – professionally undersealed by Classic preservation
•    August 2014 and 89,779 miles – service by Wrightune including a new fuel filter and brake discs and pads at a cost of £1,555
•    July 2017 and 92,963 miles – service by Wrightune 
•    July 2017 and 92,988 miles – new alternator by Wrightune 
•    January 2023 and 94,012 miles – service by Wrightune

The seller bought the 993 in March 2023 and again wasted no time in getting it brought up to his standards.

With a background in automotive engineering at both Cosworth and Spax, his attitude is “I like to go to the right people”, so he was more than happy to continue using marque experts Wrightune.

•    March 2023 and 94,215 miles – new distributor caps, rotor arms, and HT leads by Wrightune at a cost of £1,234 
•    February 2024 and 95,201 miles – major service by Wrightune including spark plugs, fresh gearbox oil and brake fluid, and new gearshift grommets
•    May 2024 – Glasstec refitted the creaking windscreen
•    January 2025 and 96,821 miles – service by Wrightune

The seller also tells us that “I like things to work”, roping in a helicopter technician mate of his to help him replace the boot struts, which is a trickier job than it sounds.

As for the clutch, which some of you might be getting twitchy about, while there is no record of it having been changed, he asked Wrightune to take a look at it in February 2024 and they found it was fine, with a good biting point.

He also tells us that the 911 has never let him down – and because he knows the previous owner so well, he can extend that 100% reliability record back to 2013 too.

As the video demonstrates, the flat-six fires into life with the breed’s  customary enthusiasm, idles and revs as it should, and does it all with the unsuppressed soundtrack we’ve all come to know and love.

Cosmetically, the engine bay is nicely presented without being so OTT you’ll be afraid to use it.

The underside looks great following its professional undersealing and rustproofing in 2014, and no MoT tester has ever mentioned rust or structural corrosion either before or after.

NB: Some spares are included; please see the photos for details.
 

The Porsche’s MoT certificate, which is valid until January 2026, was issued with no advisories, something that won’t come as a surprise once you’ve read the Excel spreadsheet that documents the car’s maintenance since it was new.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the 911 comes with two sets of keys, a Certificate of Authenticity from Porsche, the book pack and wallet, a copy of the issue of Total 911magazine it was featured in, and a bunch of expired MoT certificates.
 

After years of being unappreciated and ignored, the 993’s time has come as enthusiasts discover that they drive brilliantly, look and sound the part, and enjoy the back-up of a vast network of enthusiasts and specialists that’ll help keep you running sweetly – and if you opt for a Carrera 4, you’ll have a classic supercar you can enjoy all year around.

So, if you’re looking for an Old School, air-cooled 911 that’ll run with the pack no matter what the weather throws at you, this is it.

Only being sold to fund the (ever-spiralling) cost of renovating his home, we estimate the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £55,000 and £65,000. That would make this one the best-value, sub-100k miles, non written-off RHD, manual coupe C4 available in UK right now!

And yes, we know you’ll be able to find cheaper Carrera 4s than this, but we doubt you’ll find better for the money – and while there might be times when penny-pinching is prudent, investing in a classic supercar is not one of them…

Nonetheless, the seller is so confident in the quality of his beloved Porsche that he’s happy to offer it with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid.

Can’t say fairer than that, can we?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.