One-off Porsche 911 Classic Club Coupe is a reborn 996

MANILA: Porsche has taken the wraps off the single-example Classic Club Coupe — a 996-generation 911 that has been restored by Porsche Classic and Porsche Club of America (PCA) with newly-made parts and design details inspired by other 911 models. 

Aside from the "no. 001/001” badge on the dashboard denoting its scarcity, the Porsche Classic Club Coupe sports a ducktail spoiler reminiscent of the 1972 911 Carrera RS 2.7, a double-bubble roof, 18-inch forged aluminum Fuchs wheels, and unique paint to create a striking resemblance to the 997-generation 911 Sport Classic. 

The Club Coupe is based on a 1998 911 Carrera, which PCA Executive Director Vu Nguyen found in a state of neglect in Colombia, Virginia.

The car was then sent to Porsche Classic workshop in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen to undergo a complete restoration including total disassembly, and strengthening of the body-in-white using both original and newly developed parts. The project took two years and a half years to complete, Porsche said. 

Meanwhile,  chassis, brakes, and engine in this sports car are both taken from the 996 911 GT3, the first such model homologated for sale in the U.S. The Classic Club Coupe's naturally aspirated 3.6-liter flat-six generates 381hp. 

Outside, the Club Coupe wears Sport Grey Metallic paint and Sport Grey Metallic with Club Blue stripes that run the length of the hood, roof and spoiler — a reference to the 997 911 Sport Classic. Accents in light Sport Grey along the sides of the car also feature “Classic Club Coupe” script with an accent line in Club Blue.

As a nod to motorsports, the car's double-dome roof reference tall racing drivers who used to bulge the roofs to make enough headroom for wearing a helmet.

The fixed rear spoiler made of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic takes the shape of the legendary “ducktail” of the 911 RS 2.7 from 1972. The third brake light is built into it, while the model designation “Classic Club Coupe” appears in the middle between the tail lights.

Inside, custom door sill plates call out the model name and upholstery is composed of  black leather with Slate Grey accents and a perforated Alcantara headliner. Most notably, the seat centers and door panels feature woven black and grey leather in a twill Pepita pattern.

Club Blue stitching decorates much of the interior including the steering wheel and “911 Classic Club Coupe” embroidery on the headrests. That logo is also visible in the tachometer, flanked by two grey stripes and lines in Club Blue.

Finally, the Classic Club Coupe is equipped with Porsche Classic Communication Management Plus, which offers modern infotainment conveniences including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as preparation for Sirius XM. By special request, the start screen on this model shows “Classic Club Coupe.”

In the technical aspect, Porsche said in a release that the modifications to the 911 Classic Club Coupe were "evaluated by a team of experts from Porsche Individualization and Classic, Porsche Cars North America, and the Porsche Development Center in Weissach."

A test vehicle was reportedly made to test the Club Coupe's dynamics, and once the car's technical aspects were finalized, the test vehicle was destroyed to ensure the rarity of the Club Coupe, the carmaker added. 

 

Photos from Porsche

Also read: One-off Sally Carrera-inspired Porsche 911 to go under the hammer for Ukraine relief