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Closed Auction- Unsold

1988 Porsche 911 Supersport Cabriolet

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  • Mileage~81,171 on clock
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine3.2L
  • LocationMethyr Tydfil

AUCTION CLOSED

1988 Porsche 911 Supersport Cabriolet

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Introduction

Glyn Parry
Professional Consigner

The Supersport has all the looks from the Turbo and some handling benefits too, with the tried and tested naturally aspirated flat-six.

The Porsche 911 has long been recognised as one of the most iconic and influential sports cars in recent history, with its instantly recognisable styling, low driving position, and precision engineering, it’s not hard to see why. With its 3.2L flat-six air cooled engine producing ~231BHP, it can achieve speeds over ~150MPH and accelerates from 0-60 in just ~5.6 seconds. Introduced in 1984, the Supersport was often referred to as the "Turbo-look" because it closely resembled the Porsche 930 Turbo, featuring wider wheel arches and the iconic rear spoiler. It also shared the stiffer suspension, advanced braking system, and wider Turbo wheels from the 911 Turbo. Extra features such as a headlamp wash system, electric windows and mirrors, Fuchs wheels and central door locking were also part of the Supersport package. Optional additions from factory for this example include tinted windscreen, front and rear impact absorbers, driver and passenger sports seats with electrical height adjustment, electric soft top, sound system and amplifier, and luggage compartment velour carpet.

This car comes to market from just over 1 year ownership, has just 4 former keepers, and is a genuine UK RHD M491 Supersport, one of just 17 cabriolets delivered here. It has a G50 5 speed gearbox from factory, and the car has covered just ~81,000 over its life. It presents in excellent condition having had a ~£12,000 back to bare metal exterior renovation in 2020. Having covered under ~6,000 miles in the last ~5 years, this 911 Supersport Cabriolet is excellent example of a classic aircooled Porsche.

This listing was written from information supplied by Glyn after meeting David the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I grew up dreaming of being able to own one of these cars, I just love the 80’s cool style, wide-body and 911 look and feel.

David, the current owner for the past year, has always been a fan of the 911 for as long as he can remember "I saw this era of Porsches while growing up and dreamt of owning one one day. I've had many 911's over the years, both new and used, but none of them have the allure of this model. I love driving the car with the manual gearbox, shifting through the gears and getting out on the road; it gives a sense of nostalgia". It's undeniable that the Carrera is a beautiful car. David tells us, "The looks are probably what I love most about the Porsche. From every angle—front, side, and back—the car looks fantastic. It's a really pretty car that I've been very proud to own".

The sale of the Porsche comes with some reluctance, as David explains, "I have thought long and hard about whether to sell or keep the car, going back and forth. The main reason for considering a sale is that I have nowhere to keep the car in a dry, warm place during winter at home, I have to keep it at work. It will be the first time in years that I will be sad to see a car go". Should any questions arise about the car, David will be happy to answer them in the comments section below.

David
Vehicle Owner

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Exterior

The wide-body 911 silhouette and iconic whale tail, make the Porsche Supersport stand out for all the right reasons.

Wheels and Tyres

The original 16" Fuchs alloy wheels, finished with black centres and polished edges, all appeared to be in great condition. We didn’t notice any major damage or concerns and these were looking smart.

The 911 is fitted with Continental Conti Sport Contact tyres on all four corners showing 205/55 at the front and 245/45 to the rear. All tyres appeared to be in good visual condition and dated from 2018, with no initial concerns on the tread remaining.

Bodywork

While looking over the Porsche during our visit, we found that the car maintains great visual panel gaps with both doors, the bonnet and boot open and close smoothly. We did not observe any major scratches or marks as the restorative works completed in 2020, have addressed any previous age related concerns.

Our high-resolution images and videos provide a detailed look at these observations, so please take the time to review all the media files to assess the car's condition for yourselves.

Paint

The 911 paintwork has a smooth, glass-like finish across all the panels. The "Grand Prix White" paint looks great, the car having been subject to a back to bare metal ~£12,000 exterior renovation in 2020.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourself. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to form your own opinion about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass and trim sections on the Porsche were in great condition, consistent with the car's age; we didn't notice any cracks or discolouration during our visit. The window seals looked smart and showed no concerns. The cabriolet roof is in excellent condition, including the plastic rear window, which is free from any discolouration or damage. This section was included as part of the previous restorative works completed in 2020, a new hood being fitted.

Front and rear lights, trim sections and badging show with a lovely condition and again, no major concerns noted. Check out the exterior gallery and review video. We guide you through all areas of the car as if you were standing there yourself, so you can see in greater detail how the car is presented.

Interior

Stylish plum red leathers contrast well with the exterior, a comfortable and well equipped interior on the 911.

Seats and Carpets

The 911 features smart "Plum Red" leather sports seats with electric adjustment. These are in good condition, but did show some wear on the driver seat bolster sections. The seats also show with some minor creasing to the leather which is typical with age. On the rear bench of the Porsche, this section showed well, likely not used much at all.

The main carpet in the interior is in great condition and compliments the interior very well. Over in the boot, this area showed without concern and carries the velour carpet (option 975). We cover the cabin area of the 911 Supersport in more detail in our interior review video.

Dashboard

The classic 5 dial Porsche setup looks great, with the black dash in great condition, free from any significant marks or cracking/warps.

All the numbers and dials on the dash appeared clear and legible. The dials showed well and looked smart on the drivers section. The gauges, switches, and controls all appeared to be in great condition, with surfaces free from fogging or scratching. Our interior gallery section offers a closer look at the 911 dashboard.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original black Porsche steering wheel features a leather-covered rim and is in excellent condition, showing only minor signs of use.

The gearstick and handbrake also present well. Although the gear knob has been replaced, the original one is included in the final sale, as shown in the paperwork gallery. Additional images of the cabin area, including the steering wheel, are available in our 'Interior Gallery' section for more details on what the 911 Supersport has to offer.

Mechanics

The 3.2-litre flat-six is the perfect powerplant suited to the 911 Supersport, producing ~231BHP from factory and a 0-60 time of just ~5.6 seconds

Engine and Gearbox

The air-cooled engine has so much character compared to the later water-cooled ones, a unique sound, and with ample power on tap. Starting up from cold, we noted no concerns and the 911 performed without issue when running and out on the road. Showing in good visual condition, we noted no issues, smoke, or unusual noises.

The manual G50 gearbox engaged gears smoothly on the road, with no crunching or other unwanted noises from the gearbox. The gearbox showed no concerns with its performance while driving. We took the car out around some local roads with the current owner to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. On the drive, we run through the motions, taking the Supersport through to the gears and getting an overview from David's perspective on how the car performs.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs or issue from the suspension when we were on the road in the car, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling.

The brakes bring the car to a halt in a straight line with no juddering reported to come through the pedal. The stopping power and control felt great, worked as to be expected and was in line with the expectations of Porsche quality.

The Drive

Excellent handling in the Porsche was proven as it gripped the turns and corners during our test drive without concern.

David, the current owner, lets us know, "The minute I get in the car I have a smile on my face, and the smile turns to a grin when you take it out on the road. Driving it through its manual gearbox, I love changing up and down through the box. It gives you a nostalgic feel of how cars used to drive when I was growing up, unlike today’s modern vehicles that basically drive themselves".

Electrics and Other

The optional equipment codes - detailed in the servicing book, note the Porsche includes; (C16) UK LUX spec including tinted windows, (058) Front and rear impact absorbers, (383 & 387) Driver and passenger sports seats with electrical height adjustment, (439) Electric soft top, (490) Sound system, (491) Turbo-look, (494) Amplifier, (567) Top-tinted windscreen and (567) Luggage compartment velour carpet.

David told us that he has had no issues with the electrical elements on the car and to the best of his knowledge, everything was working as it should do, including the cabriolet roof which we demonstrate in our mechanical review video.

The Porsche features an aftermarket Blaupunkt stereo system, designed to look period. The original stereo is also included as part of the final sale should this be required by the future owner. All switches, dials, and gauges appear undamaged and in great condition. The boot area contains a toolkit and Porsche air compressor.

History and Paperwork

A genuine UK RHD C16 Supersport, G50 gearbox, just 4 former keepers, and with over £12,000 worth of work completed in renovation, this is an excellent example of a rare aircooled 911.

This car comes to market at just over a years ownership with the vendor, and has just 4 former keepers registered. A genuine Supersport (M491), it is one of 17 cabriolets delivered to the UK, making it a rare example of the model. It has clearly been well cared for over the years, and comes in the factory specification of "Grand Prix White" over "Plum Red" leather interior.

The 911 has benefitted from complete restorative works carried out in April 2020. These works consisted of a full strip of all panels and components throughout the car including the glass, cabriolet roof and interior. A bare metal inspection was carried out and preparation of all metal work and fitment of panels to ensure alignment. The next stages of the restorative works consisted of multiple paint base coats and primer being applied to the factory specification colour of Grand Prix White (908). The Porsche was then machine polished and the panels were then hand finished. Panels and bumpers were re-fitted, and new rubbers seals, decals, and trims were replaced. The doors, mechanisms, weather strips, handles, mirrors were refitted and new rubber seals changed over.

To further finish of the interior works, new door cards were fitted. All electrics, switches and speakers were re-fitted, as well as the restored interior sections and carpets. The cabriolet roof was re-fitted with a replacement front seal and adjustments to the mechanisms. A new front windscreen was installed, and wiper arms, blades, headlamp glass and side repeater lights were updated. The inner arches were then wax oiled, new Porsche engine bay decals were updated and a full inspection of the electrics was carried out. To finish the car, a final detailed valet and polish was completed. The total cost of the works to the 911, including parts, paint, materials and labour was over ~£12,000.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
24.07.2023 MOT 80,830
11.07.2022 MOT 79,759
04.11.2021 Service 78,664
26.07.2021 MOT 78,115
14.05.2020 MOT 77,176
05.05.2018 MOT 75,586
12.03.2018 Service 75,560
04.04.2017 MOT 75,204
29.04.2015 MOT 75,132
02.12.2014 Service 75,097
28.04.2014 MOT 75,043
08.05.2013 MOT 74,751
03.04.2012 MOT 74,610
10.06.2009 MOT 71,677
31.03.2008 MOT 69,704
02.05.2007 MOT 69,187
31.05.2006 MOT 67,641
25.10.2004 Service 66,582
04.04.1997 Service 50,327
25.11.1993 Service 37,970
15.11.1990 Service 23,200
04.04.1990 Service 18,861
20.07.1989 Service 13,493
08.09.1988 Service 1,416
Key Details
  • Model911 Supersport Cabriolet
  • TransmissionManual (G50)
  • Reg. Date01.08.1988
  • CC3,164
  • Mileage~81,171
  • HistoryGood
  • ColourGrand Prix White
  • Interior ColourPlum Red
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #WPOZZZ91ZJS151349
  • Engine #63J04130
  • Matching #sYes
  • Last Service04.11.2021
  • RestoredYes
  • MOT ExemptYes
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers4
  • Tyre BrandContinental
  • Tyre Age2018
  • # of Keys2
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~1 years, 1 month
  • Key FeatureMatching Numbers Example and +£12k of Restoration Works Completed
  • Auction ID2158