Uzone.id – The Porsche 911, an automotive icon, has undergone countless transformations over its decades-long production. While millions of 911s have been made, some limited-edition variants remain rare and highly sought-after.
Introduced in 1964 as the 356’s successor, the original 911 captivated enthusiasts with its sleek design, respectable power,and legendary reliability. This formula has proven so successful that the 911’s basic shape has remained largely unchanged for over 60 years.
Throughout its history, Porsche has released numerous limited-edition 911s, each with its own unique character. Let’s explore five of the most surprising and exclusive cars.
Porsche 930 (Turbo) Limited Edition
Porsche introduced the groundbreaking 911 Turbo in 1975. One of the first production cars with a turbocharger, it was a major departure from the naturally aspirated 911s that preceded it. Turbocharging was previously limited to racing and seen as too risky for everyday driving.
While Porsche aimed to make the 911 Turbo manageable, its raw power and unpredictable handling earned it the nickname ‘Widowmaker.’ Despite this, the Turbo remained in production until 1989, undergoing several refinements along the way.
To honor this innovative concept, Porsche released the UK-specific version called Limited Edition (LE), which offered several improvements setting it apart from the Turbo coupe model.
The 1987 911 Turbo S featured a more powerful 3.0-liter engine, producing 330 horsepower compared to the standard model’s 325 horsepower. Other enhancements included larger rear air intakes, a unique front spoiler, painted wheel badges, a tinted windshield, and various interior upgrades.
In 1989, Porsche released the limited-edition 911 Turbo LE. With only 50 units produced, it’s one of the most coveted 930 models today.
Porsche 911 (964) Speedster Werks Turbo Look
While it was never officially produced, this car had a factory-tuned turbo look, with concept models being the only examples ever made. When the 356 was at its peak, Porsche introduced a sporty Speedster version that became an iconic symbol of the model.
Naturally, when the 911 arrived, fans were eager for a similar short-windshield, driver-focused version. However, they had to wait until 1987 for the Acura NSX prototype and another two years for the production model.
Based on the Series II 911 but with a factory-tuned turbo look and performance upgrades, the first 911 Speedster was a hit. Unfortunately, this version was discontinued when the 964 generation was introduced in 1989.
A new rear-wheel-drive Carrera 2-based Speedster was released in 1992, but it lacked the turbo-inspired features of its predecessor.
Finally, in 1994, a limited number of standard 964 Speedsters were given the iconic turbo look treatment.
This Speedster featured wider wheel arches, bumpers, and wheels, similar to the 964 Turbo. This combination proved successful, based on the popularity of the Turbo model. However, under the hood was still the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter engine from the Carrera 2.
The transmission and weight distribution remained the same as the Carrera 2, ensuring a well-balanced driving experience. The engine was a flat-six unit with 250 horsepower.
Porsche originally planned to build 20 of these Speedsters with the Turbo look. However, there’s no official record of exactly how many were produced. Estimates range from 15 to 20, with some sources suggesting even fewer.
Porsche 911 (991) Club Coupe
If you’re a fan of fast acceleration and high top speeds, you’ll want to know how the Porsche 911 (991) Club Coupe performs.
In 2011, Porsche introduced the 991, a completely redesigned version of the iconic 911. Sleeker and more powerful than ever before, it was a significant departure from the previous 997 model.
The 991 was produced until 2019 and came in many different versions. One of the most special was the Club Coupe,released in 2012 to celebrate 60 years of Porsche clubs.
Based on the Carrera S, this limited edition model featured a unique green color, a sporty body kit, larger wheels, a distinctive spoiler, and an upgraded engine. The engine’s power was increased by 30 horsepower to 400 horsepower through modifications to the cylinder heads, camshafts, intake, and exhaust.
Porsche 911 (993) Speedster
In 1994, the 964 was replaced by the 993, the last 911 model to have air-cooled engines. The 993 is famous for its high-performance versions like the Club Sport and the turbocharged GT and GT2. But even these don’t compare to the most unusual 993 ever made: the Speedster.
Porsche never officially offered a 993 Speedster. However, they built two special versions. The first was created in 1995 to honor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s 60th birthday. The second was built in 1998 for comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
Both were based on the Carrera 2 Cabriolet but had different features. The birthday car had a narrow body and standard wheels, while Seinfeld’s car had a wider body and Turbo wheels.
Porsche 935 Straßenversion
The 935 was Porsche’s factory racing car, based on the 911 Turbo. It competed from 1976 to 1981 and became famous for its unique ‘Moby Dick’ long-tail design. While the 935 was originally a race car, Porsche decided to create a road-legal version in 1983.
This one-of-a-kind car was a gift to Mansour Ojjeh, the owner of TAG. Based on the earlier 934 model, the 935 Straßenversion had a similar look to the racing car. It featured a powerful 3.3-liter turbocharged flat-six engine with 400 horsepower. Ojjeh eventually sold this rare Porsche, and it’s now part of a private collection.