Happenings

The Porsche 911 Sport Classic is the retro manual RWD 911 Turbo of your dreams

BY Jonathan Lim

This limited edition model by the Porsche Exclusiv Manufaktur programme is the most powerful stick shift Porsche 911 ever made

Few car companies like to keep as keen an eye on their own back catalogue as Porsche does, which it often raids for ideas and inspiration - and to tantalising effect. The latest product borne from this love of history is this, the Porsche 911 Sport Classic. 

The 911 SC is the second of four special “Heritage Design” 911s that will be made by Porsche Exclusiv Manufaktur, all limited edition and each paying tribute to a different iconic decade of Porsche style. The first was 2020's 911 Targa Heritage Edition (below, right), which was a throwback to the 1950s and the Porsche 356, while the SC here takes inspiration from the early 911s of the ‘60s and early ‘70s. The next two models are due in 2024 and 2026.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Porsche has made a 911 Sport Classic. 13 years ago, Porsche revived its Exclusiv customisation programme for the 21st Century with the 997-gen Sport Classic. Just 250 were made, much rarer than the 992 Sport Classic, which will have a production run of 1250. Like the old car, the most obvious specific homage on today’s SC is the ducktail rear spoiler, a clear nod to the revered 1973 Carrera RS 2.7.

But there are other, more general touches which are inspired by '60s Porsches, such as the centre-lock Fuchs-style wheels, the Sport Grey metallic paint, and gumball door decal on which drivers can specify a 2-digit "racing number".

Then on the inside, there's "Pepita"-patterned cloth upholstery, which was introduced with the first-gen 911 in 1964, open-pore mahogany dashboard trim, as well as green-faced instrument dials like on the 356.

Retro aesthetic features are cool of course, but for serious petrolheads, the most delightful throwback is probably the stick that pokes up out of the console in between the seats. Yup, the Sport Classic is available as a manual, and a manual only, specifically the seven-speed unit shared with the Carrera and Carrera S.

Unlike the basic 911s though, the SC has a lot more poke. 550hp and 600Nm, to be precise. In fact, it’s the fastest and most powerful manual Porsche 911 ever, because unlike the 997 Sport Classic, which was based off the Carrera S of its generation, the new car is based off the Turbo model instead. The 3.7-litre twin-turbo flat-six is detuned slightly from its application in the Turbo, but then the Sport Classic also loses the all-wheel drive system, making it rear-wheel drive only.

Hmm, a RWD 911 Turbo - maybe they should have reserved this powertrain for the ‘70s Heritage Design car, then they could call it the Widowmaker, after the 930 Turbo…

If, like us, the thought of the 911 Sport Classic has got you drooling, you’re going to need deep pockets. Though this limited edition is available in Singapore, it’s also the most expensive Porsche on sale here, at S$1,234,488 without COE. Deliveries are expected in 2023.