Paul Stephens

Porsche 911 996 GT3 Club Sport Mk2 - Deposit taken - £37,995 

Last year we sold the original 1999 GT3 Club Sport that Porsche GB used as their press car. It was featured on Top Gear and in all the magazines, it was the actual Evo Car Of The Year and we rather thought that this provenance would see it sell for more money than another similar GT3 that didn't have this interesting history.

It didn't. It sold for less.

This one is the Mk2 press car.

Again it featured in various magazines at the time (we have found a couple that the buyer can take with the car) and it even wore the prestigious 911GB registration that Porsche GB still use. We still think it ought to be worth more than another comparable Club Sport, we still think that in time these famous GT3s will be massively desirable, but for now we've decided to join them rather than beat them, admit defeat for now and sell it at what we think is a giveaway price.

It was originally registered to Porsche GB on 4th August 2004. With the following options :

XSJ - 6 point belts
XSM - Cage
XSX - Red belts
003 - Club Sport
288 - Headlight washers
441 - Radio preparation
450 - PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes)
571 - Carbon filter for passenger compartment
573 - Air conditioning
601 - Litronic
697 - CDR23 Audio
741 - Press / Display / Publicity car
981 - Leather equipment (dash and door cards)

The 741 code doesn't appear to have a specific definition but is found on press cars, motor show cars and the like.

It has now covered 39,000 miles.

We bought the car from a European businessman who worked between offices in London and Holland and the most recent servicing work was carried out by Dutch specialist Beek Auto Racing. The car has been serviced more regularly than Porsche's suggested 2 year / 20,000 mile interval and the history file shows numerous receipts and bills. Recent work includes a new clutch and service in June 2011 and new brake pads for the PCCBs all round in September 2011. New KW suspension was fitted in 2007 at 21,117 miles. We have just had all four wheels refurbished and fitted four new Michelin Pilot Sport tyres.

A few choice modifications have been made :
The car has been fitted with a wonderfully tactile GT3RS style alcantara steering wheel with red stitching. This small modification adds a surprising amount to the sense of occasion in the car and heightens the feeling that you are driving something more special than a vanilla 996.
A smaller fire extinguisher is fitted to allow passengers more legroom (the original is included).
An RS style front bumper is fitted and gives the car a more aggressive appearance from the front than the standard item. According to the previous owner it was fitted after a minor collision with some debris and a receipt from Beek confirms that none of the radiators or air con condensers required replacing, which backs his assertion up as these are always the first to go in any significant front end nudge.

We are happy to discuss putting the car back to standard if a buyer would prefer, but we rather like what has been done.

The 996 GT3 Club Sport is an utterly incredible machine and any good example is astonshing value under £40,000. Once the world wakes up to the fact that we are right and owning an ex-press car is actually a good thing, this one will probably look like even better value.

Maintenance

• 03/06 - 8,600 miles - Porsche Exeter
• 08/07 - 19,860 miles - PCT Porsche Specialst Coventry
• 06/08 - 23,865 miles - Ninemeister
• 06/09 - 29,773 miles - Jaz Porsche Specialist
• 06/10 - 33,386 miles - Beek Auto Racing
• 06/11 - 36,524 miles - Beek Auto Racing

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