Vehicle Description
Eventually all legends have come to an end, and this 1997 Porsche
911 Carrera Targa is the motoring equivalent of The Last of the
Mohicans. Porsche 911 enthusiasts and casual car fans alike know
this is the ONE - the last of the air-cooled 911s, the final
iteration of the original masterpiece from Stuttgart. This
particular 1997 Carrera targa is a winner in every way, from the
great color combination to the super low miles, and if you were
thinking that it was time to get a new Porsche, you'd be
hard-pressed to find a cooler one than this. And mark my words,
this will be the last time we see a final-year Type 993 this clean,
and with so few miles, under a six-figure asking price.
There's no doubt this is a 911, from the headlights to the subtly
curved rear end, there's sports car DNA in this Targa that
stretches back two generations. The 993 was highly refined but lost
none of the proportions that made the 911 so special, and Porsche
engineers were careful to keep the essence intact while adding
performance, comfort, and confidence. The Arctic Silver Metallic
paint accents the Teutonic shape perfectly, neither flashy nor
invisible, knowing that this car needs no extra flash. Fit and
finish are to typically excellent Porsche standards, and with just
31,845 original miles, it has obviously been a special car from the
day it came home. The paint shines up beautifully, and while there
are a few incredibly small signs of use (and you really have to
look close to find them), it certainly doesn't look the better part
of 23 years old. In fact, a nice wax and polish and this Porsche
will look very close to how it did the day it left the showroom
floor. Of course, some of that is due to the timeless design, but
there's also no question that this car has been expertly
maintained. Further expanding on that awesome design is the Targa
roof, which is only called a targa out of respect to the days of
old. A killer panoramic sunroof takes it's place in this 993 and it
really adds a slick and practical touch to the cars' design. And
speaking of slick and practical touches, the speed-activated rear
spoiler has both in droves.
Supportive leather bucket seats in gray give the interior a serious
look that shows off the minimalist design. There's practically zero
wear on the seats that have been lightly acquired through the
years, showing only wrinkling that's expected over time, but the
seating surfaces are in overall excellent shape and there are no
splits or tears in the upholstery. The plush carpets are in very
good condition as well, protected by a set of matching floor mats
that were probably designed in wind tunnels to reduce any drag
coefficient. The dash is laid out in familiar Porsche style, with a
big VDO tach in the center and all the other clear, round VDO
instruments on either side. The 993 was a big step forward in terms
of ergonomics, so all the controls are right where you'd expect
them to be and operation is at least a little intuitive, unlike
many of its forebears. Power windows, locks, and seats, cruise
control, A/C, and even the original stereo system are all included,
making this a Porsche that's a joy to drive even in traffic, and
everything works thanks to years of careful maintenance. The
panoramic Targa roof above is downright fantastic, transforming
into a huge sunroof that slides under the rear window with a flick
of a switch. And if you're looking to travel, the storage space in
both the trunk and boot is ample, both of which are lined with
beautiful plush carpets.
The last of the air-cooled 911s offered 3.6 liters of displacement
and that familiar flat-six howl. Completely stock and properly
maintained from new, this low-mile 911 runs superbly and thanks to
their known reliability and its lifetime of careful owners, it
should continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The 4-speed
Tiptronic transmission slips through the gears with more precision
than any previous 911 and the very user-friendly suspension almost
completely tames the 911's famous tail-happy antics. Always famous
for massive binders, the cross-drilled and vented disc brakes on
this car will detach your retinas if you're not careful and a quick
glance underneath reveals that this car was never used in anything
but pleasant weather. Beautiful 18-inch Fiske wheels look fantastic
and wear slightly staggered Sumitomo 225/45/18 front and 265/35/18
rear performance radials with plenty of grip.
Few other "used" cars have held their values as well as the 993,
and if you're looking for a high-quality, low-mileage sports car
with all the right equipment and plenty of documentation, you'll
scarcely do better than this. Call today!
