(1995) Porsche 911 Speedster (993) – Ultimate Guide
Porsche faithful are probably shaking their heads right about now. Porsche never officially made a production 993 Speedster. Notice we said “production.” In 1995, the company created a dark green 993 Speedster for Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche 60th birthday. Jerry Seinfeld apparently felt left out; he commissioned a silver 993 Speedster in 1998, though it seemed to have begun life as either a Targa or Cabriolet before being sent to Porsche Exclusive. Only two 993 Speedsters were ever made; if you see one that’s not silver or dark green, chances are it’s a phony. The rarest among these models is the 911 Speedster.
Just to be on the safe side, if someone should offer you a 911 Speedster of the 993 series and tell you it’s an ‘original’ – be skeptical! There’s a good chance that it’s a replica because the pure two-seater from the last air-cooled generation of the classic sports car is one of the rarest cars Porsche has ever built. In fact, only two genuine units were made. One was actually sold and the other was given away, but it found its way back to the factory museum on loan. Today it is of inestimable value and is looked after like a fragile egg. It is only allowed out on special occasions, and a photo shoot with the new 911 Speedster just about qualifies. The location of the meeting is also exclusive: the roof terrace of the Porsche Museum. Rarity meets modern legend.
One question remains unanswered: What about the second 993 Speedster?
Jerry Seinfeld was responsible for the fact that the one-of-a-kind model built for ‘Butzi’ Porsche should not remain such. The American actor, star of the sitcom named after him, is an ardent fan of the brand and proud owner of a veritable treasure trove of mostly rare Porsche models. In 1998 he ordered and received a silver 911 Cabriolet. Two years later, he sent the turbo-wide, manual transmission 4S model back across the Atlantic, together with a heartfelt request to transform it into a real Speedster like the prototype. Porsche fulfilled the wish of its good friend. In October 2001, the finished car again embarked on its journey to America. There is thus a second original. So if someone should offer you a 993 Speedster and tell you it’s ‘genuine’, you have been warned …
