Porsche 964 Turbo S Leichtbau

O veículo em detalhes

Porsche has a well-earned reputation for building wonderfully paradoxical special editions—stripped down and engineered for track driving yet also lavished with extravagant options at the behest of the elite clientele well-connected enough to acquire them. Ground zero for these track-focused collector cars is, arguably, the type 964 Porsche 911 Turbo S Lightweight—reportedly the first model developed and built entirely by the German automaker’s inhouse customizing department, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.

A January 1992 brief from Porsche Exclusive manager Rolf Sprenger stipulated a small run of 3.3-liter type 964 Turbo coupes that would essentially be road-legal versions of the 964 Turbo that won the 1991 IMSA Supercar Championship. Sprenger’s team prepared a Turbo S Lightweight (or Leichtbau) prototype for the 1992 Geneva Motor Show in March, which drew not just accolades but “60 enquiries and 25 firm orders,” according to Porsche 911—Air-Cooled Years. On 22 May 1992, management authorized a limited production run of 80 chassis. Eventually, a total of 86 would leave the factory.

Each received a substantial power increase over the standard Turbo S, with an uprated M30/69 SL flat-six featuring more aggressive camshafts, larger fuel injectors, and a more efficient turbocharger. Lighter bodywork, thinner glass, and removing nearly all comfort and convenience features dropped curb weight by more than 400 pounds relative to the standard Turbo S. The bodywork featured rear-quarter vents derived from the 959, new front air intake ducting, and a rear spoiler slightly different than that of the standard Turbo S. A seam-welded and reinforced tub, alloy front strut brace, 40-millimeter lower ride height, and 18-inch three-piece Speedline wheels further enhanced driving dynamics. Though clearly created with motor sports in mind, management refused to define a target customer for the Turbo S Lightweight, which led to some examples inevitably ending up with influential collectors who worked with Porsche Exclusive to create some of the most extravagantly finished track-focused 911s ever produced.

One such example is offered here. Ordered by a prominent client well-connected to Porsche Exclusive, it completed production on 16 July 1992 and features among the most distinctive color combinations of any type 964, with its Midnight Blue Metallic exterior, Bordeaux leather interior, Amethyst Metallic wheel centers, and gold brake calipers. Nearly every interior surface is covered in either Bordeaux or dark blue leather, including the optional Matter roll cage and sport steering wheel, as well as the steering column, center console, gauge bezzles, air vents, switchgear, and turn signal stalks.

The original owner ordered this Turbo S Lightweight as part of a small series of 964s built to his exacting standards by Porsche Exclusive, each with Amethyst wheel centers and opulently trimmed leather interiors. These are now some of the most desirable 964s in existence, coveted for their exclusive specifications and features.

The original owner kept this example hidden away in his vast collection for many years until it was imported to the United States in 2009. The car has been a prominent fixture of the Todd Blue Lapis Collection since 2018, when it had just 95 kilometers. Mr. Blue has carefully enjoyed the car over the last seven years, making a few memorable appearances with it at Southern California events. At cataloguing time, the Turbo S Lightweight showed just 633 kilometers (393 miles) from new and remains in impeccable condition as one would expect for a car with such low mileage and conscientious ownership.

Included with the sale of the car are a set of original tires, owner’s manuals, tools, first aid kit, certificate of authenticity, and service records.

With its known provenance, incredibly unique factory customization, and extremely limited production run, this Turbo S Lightweight will be of great interest to Porsche collectors wishing to own a landmark model that helped establish the trend of highly customized track-focused 911s now keenly sought by so many.