You Can’t Have Porsche’s New 911 Speedster Concept, But You Can Have This One

Porsche took our breath away when it unveiled the 911 Speedster concept last week at its 70th anniversary celebration. And it may even put it into production, but we’re just speculating. So for now, at least, if you want to get your hands on a 911 Speedster, you’ll have to look to the second-hand market – to examples like this rather splendid one that just so happens to be coming up for auction this summer.

A two-seat version of the 911 Cabriolet with a chopped-down windscreen, the Speedster is something of a rarity among 911s. The first version emerged in 1989, based on the original 911. The second came in ’93, the third in 2011.

The example you see here is one of just 936 examples made as something of a swan song for the 964 model. It was based on the Carrera 2, but with a smoother nose and tail, a lower windshield, a cowled rear deck (where the cramped rear seats would otherwise be), and an electric rear spoiler that rose at speeds above 50 miles per hour. It packed a 3.6-liter flat six – still air-cooled in those days – sending 247 horsepower to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual.

It left the factory painted in Guards Red, with matching hard-shell seats, tri-tone interior, and black soft top. It was delivered to a customer in California, who has kept it ever since – something of a rarity in the fast-moving market for second-hand 911s, especially of such rarity. That owner has put just 1,500 miles on it over the course of the past quarter-century, and is now putting it up for auction. RM Sotheby’s will sell it off to the highest bidder at its sale in Monterey come this August, and it’s sure to sell for a pretty pfennig or two.