1992 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe

This 1992 Porsche 964 Carrera Cup USA car is finished in a Grand Prix white exterior with a black leather interior. It is powered by a six-cylinder 3600cc, air-cooled engine that produces 260 horsepower. It is equipped with hydraulically ventilated disc brakes on all four tires. It was auctioned at the 2006 Christie's auction in Monterey, CA where it was expected to fetch between $70000-$90000. At the conclusion of the bidding, it had found a new home for $99,875.

The latest installment of the 911 which was introduced in January of 1989 were internally known as the 964. The factory reported that more than 80 percent new. In the engine compartment the 3.6 liter unit had been given ceramic liners in the twin plug area. Catalytic converters were adapted but still it produced an impressive 250 horsepower. Bumpers in both the front and rear were all knew and one of its most distinguishable characteristics from the prior series. The under tray was modernized and given better aerodynamics.

Porsche gave the 964 a rear spoiler that would raise and lower depending on the speed of the car. Modern instrumentation could be found on the interior. The European markets saw the bulk of the highly tuned Porsches as they failed emission regulations in the US. The RS America, though slimmed down, was intended for the US market and helped satisfy the requests from the most enthusiastic Porsche enthusiasts. During its two year production nearly eight hundred examples were sold.

The Carrera Cup USA was the rarest of the street-legal 964 derivatives. These vehicles had ten extra horsepower and a lightened flywheel. Additionally, the Carrera Cup USA had standard seats, central locking, electric windows, US-spec bumpers, air bags and door beams. A mere forty-five examples were built and the intention was for the cars to provide the basis for their own race series; all of the cars were finished in Grand Prix white except for one car which was Guards red.

There were around twenty-five examples created before the series was canceled. Most of the cars were converted back to street use.

The example shown is one of only four cars that was not converted to race trim. It has just 500 miles.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2019

Internally known as the 964, Porsche's engineers started production on the latest manifestation of the 911 in January 1989. The claim was made that the 964 was more than 80 all-new and subtle though it may have been, it is a worthy statement. The familiar 3.6 liter engine utilized a twin plug format and benefited from ceramic liners and hydraulic tensioners, and amazingly the engine was tuned to produce the same 250bhp in all markets regardless of the addition of catalytic converters. New front and rear bumpers gave an updated visual and the underside was also treated to an aerodynamic undertray. The 964 was also the model that introduced the innovative rear spoiler that rose (or lowered) depending upon the speed the car was traveling. The interior also received an updated instrument panel. Largely due to emission regulations the American market did not receive the bevy of models that Europe did, although the slimmed-down RS America (for the American and Canadian markets only) was produced over two years and nearly eight hundred examples were sold.

The rarest road-legal derivative of the 964 was the Carrera Cup USA. It was basically a European specification RS base model which benefited from a lightened flywheel and produced an extra 10bhp. Additionally, the Carrera Cup USA had standard seats, central locking, electric windows, US-spec bumpers, air bags and door beams. A mere forty-five examples were built and the intention was for the cars to provide the basis for their own race series; all of the cars were finished in Grand Prix white except for one car which was Guards red. California-based marque race specialists Andial were charged with the job to convert the cars to race trim and had even converted approximately twenty-five before the series was cancelled largely due to a drop in the economy, forcing a lack of entries and thus the cars were converted back for street use. Most of the unconverted cars remained at the port in Charleston, South Carolina until they were all sold off through the dealer network.

This example was one of only four cars that was neither left at the port nor converted to race trim. It was shipped to Andial's workshops and had the engine dyno-tested and sealed in addition to the installation of a racing clutch.

Having covered just 500 miles, this 'as new' Carrera Cup USA provides a unique opportunity to acquire one of these limited production and well documented Porsche specials. The loosely fitting rear carpet (so uncharacteristically Porsche) is about the only sign that is not a regular production car. This has to be one of (if not the) lowest mileage examples in existence, condition is suitably excellent throughout and it is hard to think what this car may have otherwise endured if the series had actually gone ahead.

Source - Christies