Porsche 911s don’t come much rarer than this pre-production 964 Turbo

There was a time when the penultimate Type 964 series of Porsche’s air-cooled 911 were among the least-loved versions of Germany’s best-loved sports car. During the early 2000s, the ubiquity and relatively low value of regular 964s made them highly appealing to the burgeoning number of 911 restomod builders (notably California’s Singer Vehicle Design), meaning original, unmodified examples are becoming steadily rarer.

And original 964s don’t come much rarer, or more original, than this one on offer with Geneva-based classic car broker Simon Kidston. Believed to be the earliest example of what many consider to be the ultimate road-going 964 – the 3.6 Turbo – it features serial numbers and components which point to it having been a pre-production model. Most significant of these are the matching engine and gearbox, which carry the marking ‘PV-O’ signifying they are non-standard.

According to its chassis number, this is the third of five pre-production prototypes that were likely used for testing and, until recently, it was thought that only one had survived. That changed with the emergence of this example after almost 20 years in storage which, despite its left-hand-drive configuration, is UK registered. Sold new in Germany, it was subsequently acquired by a Sussex-based owner who arranged for its UK registration 25 years ago prior to passing it on to a French enthusiast who, although living in London, initially had the car serviced and maintained in Paris by long-standing Porsche agent and race team Sonauto.

By 2004, the 360bhp, 3.6-litre Turbo was in the hands of the current, Swiss owner who has consigned it for sale with Kidston having kept it in what is described as ‘deep storage’.

Comprehensively serviced and road tested at the end of last year (to the tune of more than £7000), the car is now offered in superb condition, has clocked-up fewer than 57,000km/35,000 miles and remains finished in its striking, factory combination of Midnight Blue paintwork with a leather interior in Matador Red.

Still fitted with its original CD changer, Blaupunkt radio cassette player and centre-mounted tape storage box, heated seats and electric sunroof, the car appears to be absolutely as it left Stuttgart, save for a freer-flowing RUF exhaust system which has been in place since 2001.

The first turbocharged 964 was introduced in 1991, but used only a mildly upgraded version of the previous 930 model’s 3.3-litre engine and was made in approximately 4500 examples compared with only around 1600 3.6-litre cars. With a 0-60mph time of just 4sec and a top speed of 175mph, the far rarer 3.6-litre models are, inevitably, more desirable – and the fact that this was among the first five built only adds to its appeal.

What is perhaps most alluring, however, is that unlike the four-wheel-drive Type 993 Turbo that replaced it, the 964 Turbo is rear-wheel-drive only.

Could that qualify it as the ultimate analogue driver’s car? Well, that’s a matter of personal opinion – but our personal opinion says a resounding “yes”.

1992 Porsche 911 Turbo

On sale with Kidston, Geneva, Switzerland. Asking: £315,000. kidston.com

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