1999 Porsche 996 C2 Cabriolet

Supplied by Porsche Cars Singapore in September 1998 to a Mr. Stone of McCarthy Stone fame for his wife, ‘T461 JTR’ came to the UK within three months of being purchased.

Showing just three previous keepers on the V5 registration document, it has been in the seller’s care for the past decade since he bought it from the Panorama Motor Co in 2014.

Finished in Zenith Blue Metallic with a grey leather interior, it is powered by the 3.4-litre engine whose power is sent to the rear axle via a Tiptronic automatic gearbox. It also comes with the very rare factory hardtop, further increasing the versatility of this already hugely versatile sportscar. 
 

This Zenith Blue Metallic example benefits from a factory hardtop and side skirts, additions that set it aside from the herd and add considerably to its kerbside appeal.

As does its overall presentation, which is excellent with impressive shutlines, a fine shine to the metallic paint, and good badges. The four corners, the bits that betray careless drivers, are free of scuffs and other parking damage too, and its overall condition is in line with the low recorded mileage.

The same holds true for the 18-inch ‘Technology’ alloy wheels, which might be modest in design but are free of scuffs, scrapes and other kerbing damage.

They are also fitted with a matching set of Michelin Sport tyres. All have decent tread left on them: the front tyres have 6mm, while the offside rear has 4mm. The nearside has 6mm due to the fact it was replaced following a puncture slightly more recently.

However, three of them are dated 2014, so they all really need to be changed on the grounds of age.

But 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 you can see, the black fabric roof rises and falls as it should, and seals tightly when it is raised. The overall condition is very good, and the fabric is free of any rips, tears, or other damage.

The Porsche also comes with the rare and highly desirable factory hardtop, something that turns the Cabriolet into a full-blown coupé. Painted the same colour as the coachwork it is in the same fine condition as the rest of the exterior.

The rear spoiler also deploys to order, and this gives the car clean, discreet lines with it is lowered allied to improved aerodynamics and high-speed stability with it raised.

‘Carrera’ stickers have been added to the door mirrors, the lamp lenses are undamaged, and the glazing is all good including the green, top-tinted windscreen.

Oh, and the car comes with a soft fabric car cover to keep the dust off it when it’s in the garage.
 

The interior was changed at some point from the Burgundy leatherette it left the factory with to a ruched grey leather, something that left it more luxurious as well as (probably) less polarising.

The front seats are covered in ruffled leather, hence the creasing to the seats.

As you’d also expect, the rear seats are in an even better condition than those in the front. Offering genuine 2+2 accommodation, they also fold down to form a useful luggage platform when they aren’t needed to house passengers

The headunit is the original radio/cassette player, and a six-disc Porsche CD multichanger is fitted in the front luggage space. A Fischer CD holder sits in the centre console, something we love to see as they take us back not only to the nineties but even earlier to the eighties, when the same firm’s cassette holders were ubiquitous in the cars many of us in the office first owned: Classic cars are all about nostalgia and romance and few mediums are better at evoking both than music.

The wind deflector, which can be folded down, or even removed when it’s not needed, provides for ruffle-free open-top driving when the roof is lowered.

Other toys include air-conditioning, cruise control, buttons on the steering wheel to change gear in the Tiptronic gearbox, electric windows, rear parking sensors, headlamp washers, and electrically adjustable front seats.

This might be a modest list compared to more modern cars but then this was always a modest sportscar whose design parameters were set firmly around driving pleasure rather than sybaritic wafting.

The frunk is very clean and beautifully presented. The option code sticker is still in place under the bonnet, as is the space-saver spare wheel and its fabric cover. There’s a very clean (possibly unused?) tool kit there as well as a shrink-wrapped first aid kit. There’s a warning triangle to hand also, along with a jack and handle. 
 

The Porsche’s service history starts in 2009 but given the seller thinks it was registered to the first owner’s company, it is entirely possible all the invoices for this earlier work were retained for tax/VAT purposes.

What it does record since being sold to its second owner is impressive though:

•    10.03.2009 and 7,374 miles – service by Porsche Centre Bournemouth
•    09.03.2011 and 17,923 miles – service by Porsche Centre Bournemouth
•    15.08.2014 and 26,571 miles – service by Panorama Bay Motor Co
•    08.02.2015 and 27,137 miles – Front pads fitted by the vendor and tyres were fitted by Formula One Autocentre.
•    07.04.2016 and 29,463 miles – service by The Porsche Shop including fresh brake fluid
•    06.08.2020 and 36,644 miles – service by Zuffenhaus including new sparkplugs, an auxiliary drive belt, and fresh brake fluid
•    20.07.2023 and 38,860 miles – service by Zuffenhaus

As you can see, it starts well and shows a rock-solid idle along with good oil pressure and a healthy charge to the battery. It also revs beautifully.

The engine bay is well presented too, as is the underside. The latter looks good and strong, and no MoT tester has ever had cause to question its structural integrity, which is what really matters. 
 

The 911’s MoT certificate is valid until August 2025, and it was issued, like the previous five, with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the 911 comes with two sets of keys in addition to a comprehensive history file that includes the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, the book pack and wallet, and a wealth of old invoices and MoT certificates from 2009 onwards.
 

Valued by the Porsche Club of Great Britain in December 2022 at £22,000, we think our current estimate of between £16,000 and £20,000 offers very good value for money.

Because this is a beautifully curated example of a perennially popular convertible sportscar – and given the presence of the factory hardtop too, we can see this one attracting an awful lot of interest. 

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Wolverhampton, West Midlands. To arrange an appointment to view this vehicle 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’.