Find out why this pristine 993 911 GT1 Le Mans race car has the makings of the most expensive Porsche to cross the auction block
by Dimitar Angelov on July 17, 2024, 19:30Porsche has no shortage of iconic race cars that have dominated in motorsports, and one very race 911 model is about to be the main star at the upcoming, Monterey Auction (August 14 and 15). We are referring to the only mid-engine Porsche 911 in existence – the GT1. The low-slung supercar was developed by Porsche for endurance racing like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What’s special about this particular 911 GT1 is that, unlike, most cars that were used in endurance racing, this mid-engine Porsche was kept in surprisingly good condition, even after scoring many racing wins. The Porsche race car was freshly listed (on July 16, 2024) on Broad Arrow Auctions, and judging by the car’s estimated value, this 911 GT1 has the potential to become one of the most expensive Porsches ever sold, at an auction.
- Uniquely preserved racing variant of the Porsche 911 GT1
- One of only 9 cars to be sold to privateer teams
- The only mid-engine Porsche 911
- Powered by one of the last Mezger engines
- One of the most successful Porsche 911 GT1 race cars
- Estimated at $8.5-$10.5 million
What makes the Porsche 911 GT1 special?
The Porsche 911 GT1 was produced between 1996 and 1999 in a few different variants. The car was solely intended for Le Mans GT1 and FIA GT2 racing, where it would compete against other track-bred monsters like the Mercedes CLK GTR LM and McLaren F1 LM. Power for the 911 GT1 race variants ranged from 536 to 600, depending on the racing class. Due to homologation requirements, 25 street-legal versions of the Porsche 911 GT1 were produced – two for 1996, around 20 for 1997, and one for 1998. The rest are believed to be prototypes.
Early variants were called the 993 GT1 because they featured 993-style headlights while later models adopted the "fried-egg" headlights of the Porsche 996, which also happens to be the generation that gave us the last, truly analog Porsche 911.
The 1996-1999 GT1 is the only Porsche 911 to feature a mid-mounted engine. At the time, the iconic Porsche 911 still featured an air-cooled, flat-six engine. While Porsche’s iconic boxer engine also blessed the GT1, its M96/80, 3.2-liter, twin-turbo unit featured water cooling and four valves per cylinder. This also happens to be a variant of Hans Mezger’s last Porsche engine. Road variants of the 911 GT1 also came with a six-speed manual, while the competition-spec 911 GT1 cars featured a six-speed sequential.
Specifications | |
---|---|
Engine | 3.2-L 6-cylinder boxer (M96/80) |
Power output | 600 hp @ 7200 rpm |
Torque | 478 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm |
Gearbox | 6-speed (G96/80) |
Weight | 2,204 lbs |
0-60 mph | 3.8 sec |
Top Speed | Approx. 199 mph |
What makes this particular 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 race car special?
The car in question is chassis number 108 – a 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Rennversion, which means it is the racing variant of the car. Porsche’s official team entered the car in the LM GT1 and FIA GT2 classes. What we have here is a 993 GT1 (with the round headlights) and it is one of just nine cars Porsche sold for long-term, private ownership. According to Broad Arrow Auctions, which is where the 911 GT1 Rennversion is listed, the car spent a significant amount of time in the hands of an esteemed Porsche collector. Before that, this 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 saw significant track time, winning multiple races in the above-mentioned racing series. But the most surprising fact is that, despite the car having entered multiple races, it never saw serious accidents, allowing it to retain a surprisingly fresh look, considering its age and the fact this 911 GT1 was extensively used as intended by Porsche.
One of over 40 iconic vehicles to be auctioned
The race-hardened Porsche 911 (993) GT1 may be the star of the show, but it will be accompanied by 40-plus other epic vehicles. Among the more exciting cars, consigned for the auction are other Porsche and RUF models. The most attainable among them is a 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar and a 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Slantnose Cabriolet, both of which are estimated at $350,000 - $400,000.
Set to become one of the most expensive Porsches to be sold at auction?
The race-bred Porsche 911 GT1 can become one of the top five most expensive Porsche cars ever made. According to the auction website, this 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Rennversion is estimated at $8.5 - $10.5 million. Currently, the top three most expensive Porsche cars ever sold are the 1956 Porsche 550 Rennsport Spyder - $6.1 million, the 1982 Porsche 956 - $10.12 million, and the 1970 Porsche 917K - $14.08 million. For comparison, the most expensive recorded sale of a Porsche 911 GT1 Street is for $5.66 million.
Highlights:
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Never severely damaged during racing
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Chassis number 108
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Highly successful race car, debuted at the 1997 FIA GT Championship
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Raced in the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans with Allan McNish and Stéphane Ortelli behind the wheel
Dimitar Angelov
Dim has been an automotive journalist since 2014. Although he is interested in all things automotive, his main interests revolve around, Asian, classic, and sports cars. He is particularly fond of Porsche sports cars as well as JDM classics from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and others. Dim operates mainly from Bulgaria, but can, occasionally, be seen attending Europe's most reputable Auto shows, and events. Read full bio