5 Porsche 911 Special Editions That Exhibit Exclusivity

Porsche's limited-edition models give enthusiasts a reason to spend up.

Ronan Glon | 

Aug 25, 2023 | 6 min read

Porsche

Part of the Porsche 911's appeal is that it's firmly anchored to tradition.

With a handful of exceptions, the Porsche 911 has received evolutionary visual updates since making its debut as the 901, eight generations and nearly 60 years ago. Resisting the urge to cancel the 911 or follow the industry's shift to a front-mounted engine has earned the Stuttgart-based firm a deep well of heritage to inspire its modern designs.

Unveiled in 2022, the rally-inspired 911 Dakar is the latest limited-edition model that channels the past. Like the 911-derived rally cars built in the 1980s, it features a lifted suspension, meaty tires, and four driven wheels. It's limited to 2,500 units and priced at $224,000 — and that's before optional extras. That's supercar money, but Porsche's previous limited-edition 911s confirm enthusiasts are happy to pay that much for one if it's special enough — and they don't mind paying a lot more if they missed their chance to buy one new.

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Porsche 911 Sport Classic (997.2 generation, 2009)

One of the most sought-after variants of the 997-generation 911 is the limited-edition Sport Classic unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show. Porsche capped production at 250 numbered units and only sold the model in the European market.

Created by Porsche Exclusive, the division in charge of making one- and few-off models, the first Sport Classic stood out from the 911 Carrera S on which it was based. It featured a double-bubble roof, wider quarter panels, a ducktail-style rear spoiler inspired by the one fitted to the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7, and other heritage-laced styling cues. The 19-inch Fuchs-like wheels added a finishing touch.

Porsche didn't stop there, though. The idea wasn't to create an appearance package. Offered exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, the Sport Classic used a 3.8-liter flat-six engine rated at 408 horsepower, a 23-hp bump over the Carrera S achieved through updates like a redesigned intake manifold. Grabby carbon-ceramic brakes and a lowered sport suspension system were fitted as well.

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The Porsche 911 Sport Classic cost $243,200 new and only "very special 911 enthusiasts" were eligible to order one, according to Porsche. Buying a new Sport Classic required more than a high income; you also needed to be on good terms with Porsche. The firm pegged the Sport Classic's appeal at the intersection of design, performance, rarity, and exclusivity, and it had no trouble finding a home for the 250 units.

Predictably, the Sport Classic's value increased significantly after Porsche announced every build slot was filled. Auction house RM Sotheby's sold serial number 002 for $654,000 in 2019. The car in question was imported to the United States under the Show and Display rule and had around 150 miles.

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Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Edition (991 generation, 2013)

Porsche celebrated the 911's 50th birthday by unveiling the limited-edition 50th Anniversary model at the 2013 Frankfurt auto show. Visually, the commemorative coupe gained edition-specific two-tone 20-inch wheels, bright accents on the front air intakes, and a grille with horizontal fins on the decklid, among other styling cues. It was based on the 400-hp, rear-wheel-drive Carrera S but it featured the all-wheel-drive model's wider rear quarter panels, a combination that wasn't offered elsewhere in the range.

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It took less than a year for Porsche to sell the 1,963 units planned globally in spite of a $125,000 base price. The model's value has increased since: Bring a Trailer has sold several examples for more than $150,000.

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Porsche 911 R (991 generation, 2016)

The 911 R, limited to 991 units worldwide, simultaneously stands out as one of the most desirable and one of the most controversial special-edition 911s. Unveiled in 2016 as the lightest 911 in the lineup, it offered a naturally-aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six sourced from the track-oriented GT3 RS, a six-speed manual transmission, and chassis updates including a rear-wheel steering system and a mechanical limited-slip differential.

Pricing started at $186,000 and Porsche offered the first examples to owners of its $845,000 (in 2013, and even more now) 918 Spyder. The 911 R sold out quickly, demand far exceeded supply, and values skyrocketed: RM Sotheby's sold serial number 967 for $550,852 in 2017 and the model often trades hands for more than $400,000 on Bring a Trailer.

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Porsche said it wasn't happy to see 911 Rs going to investors rather than collectors and it released a Touring Package for the 911 GT3 in a bid to keep values in check. GT3 Touring production wasn't limited and the package included many features found in the 911 R, including a six-speed manual transmission.

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Porsche 911 Speedster (991.2 generation, 2019)

Introduced as a concept created to celebrate Porsche's 70th birthday, the 911 Speedster was the 991-generation model's swan song. It drew inspiration from the original 911 Speedster presented in 1988, so it was characterized by a two-seater interior (other convertible 911 variants offer four seats), shorter window frames, and a cover over the rear part of the car. Porsche left out the power-folding cloth soft top and instead delivered each car with a tonneau cover. Center-locking 21-inch wheels came standard.

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While the Speedster looked markedly different from the standard 911 convertible, it used mechanical and chassis components borrowed from the 911 GT3 including a naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six. Combining a sleek, roofless design that echoes the 356, Porsche's first car, with the 911 GT3's race-bred drivetrain struck a chord with enthusiasts. Porsche limited production to 1,948 units globally and set the model's price at $276,000 before options, and enthusiasts quickly reserved every available build slot.

Porsche hasn't released another 911 Speedster since, which partly explains why well-preserved cars with relatively low mileage are worth around $100,000 more than when they were new. Bring a Trailer notably sold a 126-mile Speedster assigned serial number 1,751 for $386,000 in November 2022.

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Porsche 911 Sport Classic (992 generation, 2023)

Porsche dusted off the Sport Classic nameplate for a limited-edition version of the 992-generation 911 unveiled in 2022. Like the original Sport Classic, the second-generation model was born in the Porsche Exclusive division. Heritage-laced styling cues included 20-inch front and 21-inch rear center-locking wheels with a Fuchs-like design, a double-bubble roof, and a ducktail rear spoiler.

Here again, Porsche's goal wasn't to create a simple appearance package, so the Sport Classic's appeal transcends its exterior design. It's powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.7-liter flat-six borrowed from the 911 Turbo and detuned to 543 horsepower. The cavalry reaches the rear wheels via a seven-speed manual transmission; in comparison, the Turbo ships with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive. This makes the Sport Classic the most powerful stick-shifted model in the 911 lineup. It's also the only way to get the Turbo's flat-six with rear-wheel-drive, a manual transmission, or both.

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This combination comes at a high cost: Porsche priced the 2023 911 Sport Classic at $274,000 including a $1,450 destination charge. Global production is limited to 1,250 units and this time the coupe will be sold in the United States; Porsche Exclusive has grown enough to handle the extra production. We don't know how many build slots are left but previous limited-edition models suggest Porsche will easily fill the order book, and the enthusiasts who sign the dotted line may find themselves with a drivable investment.

Ronan Glon

Ronan Glon is an American journalist and automotive historian based in France. He enjoys working on old cars and spending time outdoors seeking out his next project car.