1997 Porsche 911 / 993 Targa
The Porsche 993 Targa, produced in limited numbers between 1996 and 1998 – only 4,619 units worldwide, all equipped with the sought-after 3.6L Varioram flat-six engine delivering 285 hp.
My beautiful 1997 example is finished in a desirable Zenith Blue Metallic (Zenitblau Metallic), factory gray interior leather with the sought after sport seats and the original Porsche head unit now equipped with a bluetooth module to keep the classic feel with a modern convenience. This 993 was originally sold in France, changed ownership in Spain and finally imported to the US. The euro models can be easily identified by their clean bumper lines and side markers. The US model had bumper-ets that some removed to achieve the same clean lines and side markers were never an option. Recent awards include: Best in Class (Tuxedo 2025); 2nd Place Air-Cooled (RennZeigen 2025).
A few performance upgrades takes the amazing driving experience of the 993 to another level. The key upgrades include KW suspension, Fister II exhaust, Fister short shifter, two tone BBS LM wheels in metallic gray and chrome, and upgraded shift box bushing with Golden rod.
The 993 was much improved over and quite different from its predecessor, the 964. According to Porsche, every part of the car was designed from the ground up, including the engine and only 20% of its parts were carried over from the prior 911 (964). Porsche refers to the 993 as “a significant advance, not just from a technical, but also a visual perspective.”
The external design of the Porsche 993 was penned by English designer Tony Hatter. It retained the core cabin and body shell architecture of the 964 and prior 911 model iterations, but exterior panels were revised with much more flared wheel arches, a smoother front and rear bumper design, an enlarged retractable rear wing, and teardrop shaped mirrors.
The Targa version of the 993 was introduced in the 1996 model year and was the debut of the so-called “greenhouse” system – a retractable glass roof, a design continued on the 996 and 997 Targa. The glass roof retracts underneath the rear window, revealing a large opening. This system was a complete redesign, as previous Targa models had a removable roof section and a wide B-pillar functioning as a roll bar. The new glass-roof design allowed the 993 Targa to retain the same side-on profile as the other 911 Carrera variants and finish without the inconvenience of storing the removed top of the old system.