Traditionally, in Porsche circles, the trio of front-engined, four-cylinder transaxle coupes made by the company from the ’70s to the ’90s – the 924, 944 and 968 – have been among the least desirable Stuttgart sports cars among collectors. It’s why, even today, they remain relative bargains compared to other sports cars of their era.
That’s slowly changing, though, amid the seemingly unstoppable collector interest in all things Porsche as well as a general growing appreciation of cars from the ’80s and ’90s. That might all be about to culminate in this 993 968 Turbo S, which is going under the hammer at Gooding & Co’s Amelia Island auction on March 5 and 6 and which, per the auction house’s estimate, could sell for as much as $1.2 million.
Gooding Christie’s
No Ordinary 968
Clearly, this isn’t a run-of-the-mill version of the 968. That short-lived model, launched in 1991 as the third and final evolution of the four-pot transaxle platform, spawned a couple of noteworthy special editions, one of which was the Turbo S.
Launched in 1993 as a homologation special for the Turbo RS racing version, the roadgoing Turbo S started with the standard car’s massive 3.0-liter four-cylinder, to which Porsche added a turbocharger to boost output from 237 to 305 HP. Other upgrades included a close-ratio six-speed manual, limited-slip diff, lowered and firmed up suspension and a set of brakes borrowed from the contemporary 911 Turbo 3.6.
Gooding Christie’s
The Turbo S was treated to a series of visual and aero updates too, including a bigger front splitter, adjustable rear spoiler, NACA ducts cut into the bonnet and a set of delectable lightweight Speedline rims.
Market conditions were always tough for the 968, though, and it was no different for the Turbo S. Porsche intended to build 100, but it ended up being far rarer – just 14, including a prototype, were produced before the plug was pulled on the project. Ironically, this initial market struggle and subsequent rarity has made the 968 Turbo S one of the most coveted transaxle Porsches of all.
Gooding Christie’s
A Sporting Heritage
That means it’s always an event when one comes up for sale. This particular example, finished in PTS Zermatt Silver over black leather and corduroy seats, was ordered new by Czech tennis star Helena Suková, a multiple Grand Slam winner and two-time Olympic silver medallist.
Service documents suggest that Suková kept the car in Monaco until 2014, after which it made its way to Germany, and then, around 2021, to the US, where it was sold again in 2024. Its four previous owners have only covered an indicated 18,872 miles.
Gooding Christie’s
Record-Breaking Potential
There are past instances of the 968 Turbo S changing hands for seriously big money – one sold in 2021 for $792,000 – but with an estimate of between $900,000 and $1.2 million tagged onto this one, it could shatter records for front-engined Porsches, potentially becoming the first to publicly sell for seven figures.
Whether this kind of upward momentum for non-911 Porsches will continue is anyone’s guess, but for now, we’ll be watching this sale closely next month.
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