This 2008 GT3 is the perfect driver-quality example, showing 75,406 miles at the time of cataloging. Sold new in Southern California, the clean CarFax shows 3 owners, with the first racking up an astonishing 60,000 miles in the first 3 years of the car’s life before selling it to a buyer in Northern California in March of 2012. Finished in non-metallic black, the 997.1 GT3 is built on a narrow-body 911 and is regarded by many as the final GT3 that can truly be exploited on many back roads thanks to its narrower track. From the factory, this car was equipped with a number of desirable options, including the sought-after Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes that offer nearly fade-free performance and the desirable yellow calipers sitting behind the 19” wheels.
The interior of this GT3 is fitted with black leather and Alcantara that is accented with white deviated stitching throughout. Fitted with heated, power-adjustable sport seats, this GT3 is perfect for the enthusiast who wants to use their car more frequently and doesn’t want to have to put up with climbing in and out of Porsche’s more extreme hardback bucket seats. The interior accents are largely finished in Alcantara, including the steering wheel, shifter, e-brake, center console lid, and headliner, all of which give the car a nice, upscale feeling. Given the higher mileage, the interior is in remarkably good condition, with a bit of bolster creasing shown on the driver’s seat, but otherwise is quite clean.
Powering this GT3 is a 3.6-liter Mezger Flat-6 rated from the factory at 409 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. The Mezger engine is well known for its durability and racing lineage, tracing its design back to the engine found in the 1998 LeMans winning GT1 race car. Connected to a mandatory 6-speed manual gearbox, this car was capable of 0-60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and a top speed in excess of 190 mph. During the 997 GT3 run, this engine grew from 3.6 to 3.8 and finally to 4.0 liters, but many enthusiasts cite the 3.6-liter unit as the one that revs the best and offers the most visceral racecar-like feeling. The experience on this car is enhanced with a Sharkwerks muffler delete which gives the car a great noise, but isn’t overly loud during daily use.
In the never-ending pursuit of track performance, the GT3 has become faster, grippier, and more aerodynamic, but for the driving enthusiast, not necessarily better. The 997.1 GT3 is a sweet spot that strikes a perfect balance of size, power, and handling, which makes it one of the most fun road cars Porsche has ever produced.
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