This Porsche 911 Turbo S, one of just 183 examples produced for North America in 1997, was conceived long before its April 1997 production date. As documented in fascinating detail, John Howe of Rancho Sante Fe, California custom-ordered this Porsche in late November 1996. Copies of the original order form, faxed to Howe on 25 November 1996 from Porsche dealer Pioneer Centres of San Diego, California, denote both the seemingly endless list of options available to Porsche customers at the time and the tasteful array of options he ultimately chose for his car. Handwritten notes show the customer’s desire for racing-style sport seats up front while deleting both the rear seats and rear windshield wiper.

Luxurious add-ons include a digital sound package with multi-channel loudspeaker and amplifier, six-disc remote CD changer, and the coveted all-leather package, which lavished the material throughout the cabin—including the power window switches, safety belt covers and rosettes, sun visors, and steering wheel. A handwritten notation mentioning Howe’s desire for painted rims rounds out the option list, with the Pioneer Centres salesperson reminding Howe the order must be placed no later than 4 December 1996.

Howe ultimately placed the order on time, and his custom 993 Turbo S was delivered to Pioneer Centres in June 1997. Per a copy of the original bill of sale on file, Howe received the car on 2 June 1997 for the total sale price of $182,496. Other documentation shows Howe and his wife joined the Porsche Club of America upon taking delivery and that a Lo-Jack anti-theft system was installed before purchase. The car would remain under single ownership for the next 10 years, with documented regular maintenance by Hoehn Porsche of Carlsbad, California throughout that span.

In 2008, ownership passed to its next caretaker. During their ownership the car was serviced by the marque experts at Barrier Porsche in Bellevue, Washington. The White Collection acquired the car in 2014 and immediately sent the Turbo S back to Barrier Porsche for a thorough sorting, which included reinstallation of a factory exhaust system, new sway bar links, new brake calipers, rotors, and fluid flush as well as electrical sorting. Copies of invoices showing nearly $20,000 in documented parts and labor accompany the sale. While in the White Collection, it has been run to operating temperature monthly, yet it has remained a low-mileage car showing 5,267 miles at time of cataloguing; its accompanying original window sticker and maintenance book underscore its beautiful state of preservation.

Exhilarating performance, advanced, 959-inspired engineering, and a bevy of bespoke features came together in perfect harmony for the final evolution of Porsche’s air-cooled technology. The next owner of this Turbo S will be presented with the rare opportunity to experience what many aficionados consider to be Porsche’s greatest era.