Porsche Built Just 86 Of This Air-Cooled 911, And One Just Sold For $2.48 Million

Air-Cooled Lore

Most Porsche enthusiasts (at least the original ones) claim that the air-cooled 911s represented the very peak of the model. The second-to-last air-cooled generation, the 964, serves as a transitional model, with the 911 entering the next generation while still retaining the rawness and purity of the generations that came before.

One of the most loved and sought-after 964s is a very rare specification that was launched just as the 964 was about to head off into the sunset.

Leichtbau Turbo S

The car in question is the 1993 Porsche 911 Turbo S Lightweight (also known internally as the Leichtbau). This car represents what most people say was a hardcore version of the 964 Turbo. It was the first ever car built from scratch by the Porsche Exclusive division, the brand's bespoke arm. Not only is the car hardcore, but it is also extremely rare, with Porsche only building 86 units in total.

One of the very few just sold for a whopping $2,480,000 at RM Sotheby's, and it was first commissioned by a Porsche VIP client, with various modifications done by the Porsche Exclusive department. It's finished in Midnight Blue Metallic over a very period-correct Bordeaux leather interior. The iconic Speedline rims are painted in Amethyst Metallic paired with gold brake calipers. Almost all interior surfaces are covered in leather, including the optional three-spoke sport steering wheel, A/C vents, switches, and the hand-stitched Matter roll cage.

Shedding Weight

Powering this car is an updated 3.3-liter turbocharged flat-six that makes 381 hp, a massive 61 hp bump over the standard model. It is paired to a 5-speed manual transmission, and power is sent to the rear wheels. This car was first brought to the U.S. in 2009 and has only accumulated 393 miles since it rolled off the production line.

To achieve the Leichtbau moniker, Porsche Exclusive really went to town with the weight-saving program. Many of the car's creature comforts were removed, including air conditioning, radio, power steering, rear seats, and soundproofing. Porsche also used thinner rear and side windows, which all led to a massive weight drop of around 400 pounds compared to the standard Turbo S.

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