Anniversary

We wish we did anniversaries as well as Porsche does, because its celebratory 996 Anniversary, or 40 Jahre, is very special. A good portion of its appeal lies in the fact that to the uniformed it’s just another 996, but if you know, you know. You’ll note the reduction in ride height thanks to the MO30 sports chassis, the GT silver paintwork, aerokit sills – but no rear wing – and a Turbo-derived front bumper. Slim hipped, just as Pinky intended, there’s a neat little 40 Jahre badge under the simple 911 badge. The Anniversary is the only 996 to have 911 adorn its engine cover.

What’s underneath that simple cover is special, too, with this 996’s flat six gaining the X51 powerkit.

It increases power to a quoted 345hp from the 320hp of the Carrera. Indeed, the combined changes make the Anniversary feel more GT3 than Carrera in its immediacy and keen edge. That’s hardly surprising when you hear that the X51 kit hails from the Motorsport department. It includes cast aluminium intake manifolds with a modified cross-section; larger, freer-flowing exhaust ducts; a revised valve train; improved dual-chamber suction pump for cylinders four to six; bulkhead baffles in the oil pan to remove high G oil surge; and bespoke engine management. We could go on to talk about the fitted luggage and key pouch, wallet and the other neat interior changes. That, and the fact Porsche only built 1963 of them, each numbered, but we’re off to search the classifieds instead, because when we last tested one at Total

911 we said, “The specification verges on perfection” and, really, that still stands.