Two years after the release of the type-996 911 in 1997, Porsche launched the track-focused GT3 variant. Its Hans Metzger-designed 3.6-litre flat-six engine derived from the Le Mans-winning GT1 racecar was rated at 360 horsepower, providing 60 horsepower more than the base 3.4-litre engine. The GT3 was fitted with a lowered, adjustable suspension and a unique body kit, including a dual-plane rear wing for increased downforce. The interior was stripped of trim deemed nonessential to keep weight down and featured deeply bolstered sport seats.
A quintessential “driver’s car”, the 996.1 GT3 won the coveted Car of the Year award from evo magazine in 1999, relegating Ferrari’s 360 Modena to second place. Porsche updated the GT3 for 2004, releasing what insiders call the 996.2 or Mk 2 version, featuring more power, revised front fascia and rear wing, among other updates. Despite the upgrades, evo would later place the GT3 Mk 1 above the Mk 2 for driving pleasure, putting it third in the all-time drivers’ car ranking, behind only the Pagani Zonda and Lotus 340R.
The 911 GT3 Mk 1 offered here is one of 1,360 produced for the 2000 model year. Built for the South American market, it completed production on 18 January 2000. Though little is known of its early history, documents on file indicate that the car was in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by 2001. The next owner, a resident of Paradiso, Italy who sometimes vacationed in the Dominican Republic, acquired the car in October of 2015 and had the clutch replaced and other work performed at Porsche Center Santo Domingo, according to copies of invoices on file.
In 2016, the car was shipped to Italy, where it underwent more repairs. Carrozzeria Maxicar in Alessandria Italy replaced both rear wings and the rear bumper, recommissioned the rest of the bodywork, and resprayed the entire car in silver. The consignor acquired the restored GT3 from the Italian owner in July 2017, adding it to The Carrera Collection, where it has remained since.
Desirably equipped from the factory with the Clubsport Package, a stronger battery, top-tinted windscreen, automatic air conditioning, Becker CDR-220 AM/FM stereo with CD player, and stainless-steel tailpipes, this 911 GT3 has been sparingly driven under current ownership, showing only 30,063 kilometres on the odometer at the time of cataloguing. It is offered with copies of previous sales and service invoices, Italian registration, and import documents.
Fans of the type-996 model need look no further than this example of one of the finest—and fastest—versions of its 911 generation.