Launched in 2018, the new 911 Carrera T positioned itself between the Porsche’s entry-level Carrera and its 420-horsepower Carrera S sibling. All three co-existed in a dense 911 range that encompassed 26 model variants and 10 different engine options. All utilised the type-991 platform, introduced in 2011, while a major mid-series facelift in 2016 represented a radical departure in Porsche philosophy—for the first time a turbocharged engine was available in a base-level 911.
Unlike its cost-conscious 1960s namesake, the 911 T, the Carrera T was aimed squarely at those seeking the purest of 911 driving experiences, and was endowed with performance components cherry-picked from the wider Porsche range. Indeed, while the chassis and 365-horsepower 3.0-litre turbocharged engine of the standard Carrera were retained, to these were fitted the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system of the Carrera GTS, a shorter final-drive ratio of 3.59:1—as deployed on the Carrera S—and a limited-slip differential.
The Carrera T also showcased Porsche’s highly-rated Sport Chrono package—featuring dynamic engine mounts and a steering-wheel mounted driving-mode selector—as well as a twin-exit sports exhaust and 20-inch alloy wheels. Elsewhere, GT3-inspired fabric door pulls were fitted in place of conventional interior door handles, while the omission of rear seats and the use of lighter glass—as modelled on the flagship GT2 RS—contributed to a modest weight saving of 20 kilograms over the standard Carrera. Although the 0 to 100 km/h time and top speed remained virtually identical—at 4.5 seconds and 291 km/h respectively—it was in handling, agility and driver involvement that the “T” offered the most substantial gains over the Carrera.
First ordered in November 2017, this example was delivered via Porsche Zentrum Saarland, Germany. It was duly finished in the distinguished colour scheme of GT Silver Metallic with black leather and pinstripe interior. The car was specified with almost €30,000-worth of factory extras, including rear-wheel steering, electric sunroof, Park Assist, front axle lifting system and the Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus—itself a €3,200 option alone. Furthermore, it also benefitted from Adaptive Sports Seats, a Bose Surround Sound System, Lane Change Assist and the track-focussed Porsche Chrono Package.
Showing just 135 kilometres on its odometer at the time of cataloguing, this magnificent Carrera T could easily be the source of much enjoyment in the hands of its fortunate next owner. Offering unparalleled driver feel and spectacular performance with discreet aesthetics and commendable practicality, the Carrera T is a car in which the spirit of the original 911 lives on and with all-but-guaranteed future collector appeal.