A Porsche 911 Turbo that was among Collecting Cars’ first auctions run in New Zealand has set a new record auction price for a standard 993 Turbo outside of the US. The car in question, finished in Ocean Blue and cherished by the previous owner for 17 years, sold for a remarkable NZD$480,888 (equivalent to around $295k or £234k).
A New Zealand-delivered car, the 1998 993 Turbo remained highly original, featuring black leather upholstery and the correct 18-inch ‘Twist’ alloy wheels housing red brake calipers. No doubt the critical factor in achieving such a high price was the low mileage of just 27,400km.
In recent weeks Collecting Cars has enjoyed a number of high value sales, particularly for rare and in one example, unusual Porsches. One of the highest achieving cars was the 1972 Porsche 911 ‘STR II’, an instantly recognisable custom build, conceived and created by the inimitable Magnus Walker. Inspired by the early 911 S/T and 911 R models, and fitted with a bespoke 275hp 3.2-litre short-stroke flat-six, the STR II is a revered car in the classic Porsche community, and its worldwide fame no doubt helped it achieve an astonishing high bid of £315,000.
In early November, an impressive example of the exceptionally rare 930 Turbo LE was offered for sale. First registered in November 1989, just 53 examples were produced exclusively for the UK market, and this particular example had been with the seller for five years. The odometer showed just 33,197 miles, and the 911 remained unmodified and beautifully preserved, selling for £155,500.
It is thought that only around 1,600 examples of the 997.2-generation 911 GT3 RS were built, and today it is one of the most celebrated ‘Rennsport’ models. In another November sale, a UK-market car with just 16,980 miles and strong main dealer and specialist history sold for £175,000.
An ever rarer Porsche is the 997 GT2 RS (of which just 500 were made), which blends a hugely powerful twin-turbocharged flat-six with rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox. An original German-market car imported to the UK found a new home for £227,000, reflecting this car’s sought-after status.
Porsche remains the best-selling marque on the Collecting Cars platform, with more than 2,000 sales completed - including no fewer than 1,300 examples of the 911 from every generation, spanning the 1960s through to the present day. It is no surprise to find lesser-seen models for sale on the online platform, such as a 2019 911 Speedster listed in the classifieds.
Market observers cannot fail to have noticed the drop in prices for certain models over the last few months, but what has always been true in the collector car world is that the best-presented cars with sought-after specifications can sell for very strong money. The old adage of ‘buy the best you can afford’ is heeded by many bidders, so sellers must be realistic about the effect of any flaws with their car. If you own an outstanding example of any particular model, then you can expect plenty of competition for the car.
PCGB members are reimbursed for photography costs if their car sells, so it is the ideal platform to market a special 911. Visit the Collecting Cars website to find out more about getting a great result at auction.