2007 Porsche 911/997 Turbo S Cabriolet
Registration no. GEN 35
Chassis no. WP0ZZZ99Z8S786554

'This car needs little introduction. It is the latest version of the most famous sports car of all time, continuing a tradition of turbocharged 911s that began in 1975. For 25 years the 911 Turbo has been the most expensive car in the range.' – Autocar, 12th July 2000.

Much of the Porsche 911's development had resulted from the factory's racing programme, and it was the then Group 4 homologation rules, which required 400 road cars to be built, which spurred the development of 'Project 930' - the legendary 911 Turbo. In production from April 1975, the Turbo married a KKK turbocharger to the 3.0-litre Carrera RSR engine, in road trim a combination that delivered 260bhp for a top speed of 155mph. But the Turbo wasn't just about top speed, it was also the best-equipped 911 and amazingly flexible - hence only four speeds in the gearbox - being capable of racing from a standstill to 100mph in 14 seconds.

What set the 911 Turbo apart from its peers was the relaxed way this stupefying performance was delivered. Comparing the Turbo to similarly quick 'he-man' cars such as the Holman & Moody-tuned Cobra 427 and the Ford GT40, Motor's Roger Bell reckoned what made the Porsche so different was that it 'hurls you forward with similar velocity but in an uncannily quiet and effortless way. To be shoved so hard in the back that you need high-back seats to keep your head on, yet neither to feel nor hear anything more than a muffled hum, is a very odd sensation indeed in a car.'

The Turbo's characteristic flared wheelarches and 'tea tray' rear spoiler had already been seen on the Carrera model, while the interior was the most luxurious yet seen in a 911, featuring leather upholstery, air conditioning and electric windows. More refined than hitherto yet retaining its high performance edge, the Porsche 911 Turbo sold in the thousands, becoming the definitive sports car of its age.

Representing a major step forward, the Type 996 version, introduced in 1997, really did justify its maker's claims to be 'all new'. With the 996's introduction, Porsche finally adopted water cooling for the flat-six engine, which remained behind the rear wheels of a car that shared no panels with its immediate predecessor and was longer, wider, and higher than before. Devotees of the 911 Turbo had to wait a few years before they could get their hands on the 996 version, which did not arrive until the autumn of 1999. The new 3.6-litre Turbo engine was derived from that of the GT3 sports-racer, featuring twin turbochargers, and now developed its maximum of 414bhp at a relatively low (for a sports car) 6,000 revs, with 413lb/ft of torque available from 2,700 to 4,600rpm. As usual, the Turbo was styled more aggressively, with a wider body, broader rear wing, and air intakes in the front bumper and ahead of the rear wheels. Like its predecessor, the new Turbo was only available with all-wheel drive.

Not surprisingly, given the Type 996's wholesale re-engineering, the successor Type 997 - introduced in 2004 - represented evolution rather than revolution, the most significant changes being to the interior and exterior styling. The latter marked a welcome return to the 911's traditional oval headlights, and the interior too was more classic 911 than that of the outgoing 996. The base 3.6-litre engine remained essentially the same as the Type 996's, while the more expensive 'S' models came with a more powerful 3.8-litre unit. The Turbo, though, kept the '3.6', which now featured Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) turbo-chargers for better throttle response. As is the case with many modern auto 'boxes, Porsche's Tiptronic got the Turbo off the line quicker than the manual-transmission version, the former racing to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds compared with the latter's 3.9.

In developing the Type 997, Porsche had started with the more challenging cabriolet version, reasoning that if the open car could be made sufficiently stiff, the coupé would easily achieve the required rigidity. The Turbo Cabriolet was announced in May 2007, with deliveries commencing in September of that year. Open cars typically suffer an inferior performance when compared with their closed cousins, but not the Turbo Cabriolet, which gave next to nothing away to the Type 997 Coupé, its maximum speed being around 310km/h (193mph).

The rare right-hand drive Turbo Cabriolet offered here has the Tiptronic automatic transmission and is finished in back with matching leather interior. Accompanying documentation consists of current MoT to June 2019, expired MoTs, Porsche Handbook and a V5C Registration Certificate. One of the fastest convertible sports cars ever produced, this beautiful Turbo Cabriolet represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire one of these exclusive Type 997 models that can only become increasingly collectible.