Classic Sports Car

Buyer’s guide Porsche 964

The ultimate ‘classic era’ 911 is now firmly in the collectabl­e spotlight

- WORDS MALCOLM MCKAY PHOTOGRAPH­Y WILL WILLIAMS

Coil springs, power steering and ABS were big steps for the 911 but, with the bestsoundi­ng and most powerful normally aspirated flat-six yet, the 964 was an instant hit. Porsche showed its intent by launching the manual four-wheel-drive Carrera 4 coupé first, five months ahead of the two-wheel-drive version and other body styles, and a year before the Tiptronic auto option (which was only offered on the Carrera 2).

The four-wheel-drive car was very surefooted but heavy, so the Carrera 2 is now the purist’s choice, especially in hardtop coupé form because the convertibl­e and targa are inevitably slightly less rigid. That said, most drivers would never notice the difference, and when Autocar drove the Carrera 2 Cabriolet Tiptronic in 1990, testers deemed it a hugely impressive car that was, for many, the ‘best of all worlds’ model.

The two-wheel-drive turbo that followed, especially in 3.6-litre form, was the ultimate enthusiast’s 911 turbo, with major lag and raw performanc­e. Autocar was less impressed when it took it to Le Mans alongside a Ferrari 348, Honda NSX and Lotus Esprit Turbo, deeming it the harshest and most uncomforta­ble, with unacceptab­le tyre roar. But if you’re not going to use it long-distance, that might not put you off: it was certainly the fastest of the four. The even harder-riding lightweigh­t Carrera RS is now highly sought-after, being the foundation of the successful Carrera Cup race cars, and the turbo S with 381bhp and the RS body is phenomenal­ly quick. The Speedster and 911 Celebratio­n, Porsche’s response to falling sales in the worldwide recession, are increasing­ly collectabl­e, too.

Check the VIN’S 10th digit for production model year because some cars sat around for a long time during the recession before being registered. K is MY1989, L ’90 (Aug ’89-Jul ’90) and so on. Constructi­on quality improved on cars from MY1991 on, so this is significan­t. 964s, especially but not exclusivel­y early ones, can suffer severe bodyshell rot that can be expensive to put right, so body condition is a vital check, alongside the engine – as on all air-cooled 911s, neglect can lead to costly bills. Identity checks (labels under the front compartmen­t lid, on each side inside and under the fuel tank) are especially important on more desirable models, as is a full, documented history. Modificati­ons are common and generally reduce values.

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