New Porsche 911 Classic Club Coupe one-off revealed
Restomodding comes to the the 996-generation Porsche 911
Porsche has pulled the covers off a unique restomod version of its 996 generation 911. Called the 911 Classic Club Coupe, it's the latest special project to be completed Porsche Classic’s recently expanded Sonderwunsch program in Germany.
Commissioned by Porsche Club of America, the Classic Club Coupe is based on a 1998 911 Carrera that was found neglected and in poor condition on a dealer forecourt in Virginia, USA. Brought back to Porsche Classic’s workshops in Stuttgart, Germany, it received a comprehensive restoration over two and a half years.
The 911 Classic Club Coupe shares plenty of exterior design cues with the 2009 911 Sport Classic, which in turn paid homage to the famous 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7. The black 18-inch Fuchs forged rims and a ducktail fixed rear spoiler are the most obvious new additions, as is the Sport Grey Metallic paintwork that’s coupled with twin stripes running from the bonnet to the spoiler. There’s also plenty of details in ‘Club Blue’ - Porsche Club America’s signature colour.
Beneath the wind tunnel-tuned spoiler lies a second-generation 911 GT3 engine pumping out 376bhp - 76bhp more than the standard Carrera delivered when new. The GT3 inspiration doesn’t stop with the engine, because the transmission, chassis and brakes also come from the track-focussed special. Performance details haven’t been revealed, but expect a 0-62mph time of around 4.5 seconds and a top speed of over 180mph.
Inside, black leather is contrasted by houndstooth fabric inserts in the seats and on the doors cards. The standard three-spoke steering wheel has Club Blue stitching added, while the instrument cluster features a ‘911 Classic Club Coupe’ logo and racing stripes. To emphasise the car’s unique status, a “911 Classic Club Coupe No. 001/001” plaque sits on the dashboard.
Modernisation of the interior runs to the addition of a Porsche Classic Communication Management Plus infotainment system with a seven-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
A prototype version of the 911 Classic Club Coupe was tested at numerous proving grounds, including Nardo in Italy, Idiada in Spain and Weissach in Germany, before being dismantled to ensure the finished car remained a one-off.
The 996-generation 911 is one of the most popular versions of the firm’s famous rear-engined machine, with a total of 175,262 examples being built between 1997 and 2006.
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