It’s been over a decade since Porsche last offered a manual gearbox with the powertrain of the Turbo, and nearer 30 since one last came without front drive shafts. But the Sport Classic is both of those things: a car with a 3.8-litre flat six from the 911 Turbo, three pedals in its footwell and rear-wheel drive only.
Sounds like we should all be whooping for joy; but hang on for just a minute. This is a Porsche Heritage Design car, limited to 1250 units (1000 more than the previous Sport Classic) and distinguished as much by its styling as its engineering. You’ll have spotted the ducktail ‘burzel’ rear spoiler, the roundels on the door, the houndstooth upholstery and the double bubble roofline. But even though it is the most powerful rear-drive 911 ever sold, the engine’s output has been cut by 100bhp over the standard Turbo S to help protect the 7-speed manual gearbox. That’s right, not the sweet-shifting six-speeder from the GT3.
The result is good to drive, fast, fluent and fun, but what modern 911 coupé cannot be described that way? None that I’ve driven. And enjoy it though I did, not once did I think I’d have enjoyed the lighter, more tuneful 911 GTS any less. And here’s the kicker: the Sport Classic costs £214,000, or almost an entire 911 Carrera more than the GTS. This then is a car for collectors, for lovers of design and, probably speculators. But if you want a 911 for the driving, there are others which do it just as well, possibly better, for vastly less outlay. AF
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