911 Carrera

Make
Porsche
Segment
Coupe

After decades of persecution, the 1997-2006 Porsche 911 is cool. The press release from Porsche is tantamount to an official announcement on the rise in values of 996 911 models from the folks in Stuttgart. This 911 Classic Club Coupe restomod might only be a one-off, but it's confirmation of the spike in values we've seen in the 996 over the last few years.

In a world of Singers, Sharkwerks, and Guntherwerks, Porsche Classic stands out. That, by the way, is Porsche's in-house "heritage" center, responsible for the restoration of older models. Think of it sort of like Lamborghini's Polo Storico. Just about anyone (see above) will build you a restored 911 these days, but there's nothing quite like a factory restoration.

The car in question is based on a 996-generation 911 Carrera. Back in the day, it left the factory with a manual transmission and 296 hp. Now, the model boasts some nods to what Porsche loves doing most: referring back to its storied heritage. Porsche say the ducktail spoiler is reminiscent of the 1972 911 Carrera RS, and the double-bubble roof is a reference to classic racers found throughout the 911's history. Both these pieces had to be handmade, with the latter necessitating a totally new rear window. Of course, the Fuchs-style 18-inch wheels are also a reference to 911s of yesteryear.

Then there's the interior. What's a restomod without a few mods, after all? Porsche swapped out the now-outdated head unit for one with Android Auto and Apple Carplay compatibility, as well as totally restoring and changing the materials inside the 996 Carrera.

Black houndstooth seats are a favorite touch of ours, but the stitching reading "911 Classic Club Coupe" also oozes cool.

Unfortunately, technical details are a little light. All Porsche will say is that the Classic Club Coupe went through rigorous testing to ensure it was still compliant with US regulations. The brand also dismantled the test car, ensuring this really is a one-off in the most literal sense. Frankly, it's probably best to assume things were left stock. Don't go telling anyone, but the 996 911 was actually a cool, well-performing 911 all along.