The last air-cooled 911 — and arguably the most desirable.
Launched in late 1993 and produced until 1998, the Porsche 911 type 993 represents the final evolution of the air-cooled 911 — a 34-year arc that began in 1963. Visually it retained the silhouette every Porsche enthusiast recognises, but underneath sat a comprehensively re-engineered car: multi-link rear suspension, integrated bumpers, hydraulically-tensioned timing chains and, on later cars, a six-speed gearbox. It was, in Porsche's own words, the 911 that finally drove the way it had always looked.
The 993 is now the dividing line between vintage Porsche ownership and the modern era. For many collectors it is the sweet spot: usable enough for long touring, mechanically robust enough to run for decades, and rare enough — only 68,881 cars were built — to be unambiguously appreciating.
No air-cooled 911 came after it, and no 911 before it combined the analogue charm of the original car with the engineering discipline of the modern company. The 993 is the bridge between two Porsches, and its values reflect that — a clean Carrera 2 manual today commands more than a brand-new GT4. For long-term collectors the question is rarely whether to own a 993, but which one.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrera | 1995–1998 | 14,855 | Base coupe, RWD, 272 hp (later 285 hp Varioram). |
| Carrera 4 | 1995–1998 | 11,522 | Lighter, viscous-coupling AWD; rare manual option. |
| Carrera S | 1997–1998 | 3,714 | Wide Turbo body, RWD — the connoisseur's pick. |
| Carrera 4S | 1996–1998 | 6,948 | Wide body + AWD + Turbo brakes; modern-classic blue chip. |
| Targa | 1996–1998 | 4,583 | Glass-roof Targa; controversial then, collectable now. |
| Turbo | 1995–1998 | 5,978 | First twin-turbo 911; 408 hp, AWD, 6-speed. |
| Turbo S | 1997–1998 | 345 | 450 hp; auction blue chip. |
| GT2 | 1995–1998 | 194 | Rear-wheel-drive homologation special — now seven-figure. |
On a 993, history files are worth more than miles. Look for a continuous service record, ideally including the £5–8k 'major service' completed within the last 30,000 miles. Cars with original tools, books, spare key, window sticker and matching-numbers engine command 15–25% premiums and are far easier to resell.
Inspect the front bumper support, inner wings and floor pans with a paint-depth gauge. A 993 that has been off the road is not necessarily disqualified, but the work must be specialist-grade and fully documented. Check the windscreen surround and Targa roof seal for corrosion bubbles — a leaking Targa is a five-figure restoration.
Carrera 2 manuals offer the purest driving experience and the best value/usability ratio. Carrera 4S cars are the modern-classic blue chip — wide body, AWD, Turbo brakes. Turbos are rocketing in value and increasingly bought as investments. Tiptronic cars trade at a meaningful discount and represent the best value entry point for owners who genuinely prefer two pedals.
Budget £600–£1,200 ($800–$1,500) for a PPI by a recognised 993 specialist (Autofarm, Tuthill, Canford Classics, RUF, Cantech Automotive, GMG, etc.). Do not skip this even on a dealer car. The inspection should include a compression and leak-down test, full underbody photography, and an OBD-II scan of the DME for fault codes.
Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion
An annual minor service at a specialist runs $900–$1,500. Every 24 months expect a major service ($2,500–$4,500) covering valve clearance check, full fluids, plugs, brake fluid, and inspection of secondary air system and exhaust manifolds.
Air-cooled engines suffer from prolonged inactivity. Plan for monthly fluid-circulation drives and a battery tender. Climate-controlled storage extends paint and interior life materially — see recommended providers below.
Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions
The 993 market completed its first major repricing between 2013 and 2016, when wide-body Carrera 4S values doubled. After a multi-year plateau, demand has firmed again since 2023 as buyers of early water-cooled 996/997 cars trade up — and as the last generation of new buyers who can remember air-cooled cars from new enter peak collecting years.
Variant spread continues to widen. Turbo S and GT2 cars now live in their own market, indexed to seven-figure modern Porsche specials. Carrera 2 manuals remain the most liquid segment and the truest barometer of the 993 market overall.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-17 | RM Sotheby's Monterey 2024 | 1997 Carrera 4S | 32,400 mi | $312,500 Sold |
| 2024-08-15 | Gooding & Co. Pebble Beach 2024 | 1998 Turbo S Original Polar Silver, full Porsche CoA. | 18,900 mi | $1,435,000 Sold |
| 2024-05-12 | Bring a Trailer Online | 1996 Carrera | 67,000 mi | $118,000 Sold |
| 2024-03-02 | Bonhams Amelia Island 2024 | 1995 Carrera | 44,500 mi | $142,800 Sold |
| 2024-01-27 | Mecum Kissimmee 2024 | 1997 Targa | 51,200 mi | $96,250 Sold |
| 2023-08-19 | RM Sotheby's Monterey 2023 | 1996 GT2 One of 194. | 12,400 mi | $2,205,000 Sold |
The 993 occupies the same structural position in the 911 market that the 275 GTB occupies in the Ferrari hierarchy: it is the last of an era, with a fixed production number and a permanent narrative. Downside risk is limited by a deeply liquid global market and an aging collector base unlikely to deaccession.
Within the range, Carrera S and 4S wide-body cars and all Turbo variants offer the strongest risk-adjusted appreciation. GT2 sits in a market of its own and behaves more like a hypercar than a 993.
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