Porsche 997 GT3

The vehicle in detail

Instantly recognizable by its vented nose and rear wing, the second-generation 911 GT3 pushed the performance envelope and further established the model’s place within the Porsche lineup. Engineered to deliver a motorsport-like driving experience on the road, the 911 GT3 featured a lightened, enhanced chassis, a stiffer, lowered suspension, and a potent “Mezger” 3.6-liter flat-six. Named after its designer Hans Mezger, this water-cooled engine was derived from the 911 GT1 racecar that won the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, benefitting from robust engineering tracing back to the earliest air-cooled Porsches.

On offer is an immensely special, one-of-kind creation built by Porsche Santa Clarita, the 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 “MR.” The last two letters, recognizable to any motorsport fan, stand for Manthey Racing, Porsche’s longtime racing partner and conqueror of the Nürburgring.

Drawing inspiration from the team’s famed car, Grello, this GT3 was stripped down to its tub and reassembled with a raft of motorsports-derived performance componentry. Starting with the powerplant, the engine was bored out to 4.2 liters and fitted with a GT3 R intake, 997 Cup manifolds, an Akrapovič exhaust, and a lightweight flywheel resulting in an output of 523 horsepower. This unit sends power to the rear wheels through shortened gear ratios controlled by short-throw shifter for rapid acceleration. Manthey-specification KW coil-overs, control arms, and alignment settings control the body, while center-lock BBS E88 wheels surround upgraded brakes on all four corners.