The development of Porsche’s 991-generation 911 R was a direct result of the introduction of another 991 model: the GT3 RS. In review, the earlier 997-generation 911 GT3 RS was one of the manufacturer’s most beloved creations, a lightweight, track-ready car that was also street-legal. It was the ultimate driver’s 911 of its era, and the car to which all modern 911 owners aspired. Offered solely with a six-speed manual transmission, it held out against the ever-increasing popularity of automated manual and semi-automatic gearboxes in modern supercars, including the very well-engineered Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK gearbox).

With the 991 GT3 RS, Porsche essentially kept the same formula—but in the name of performance, the company replaced the beloved manual gearbox with PDK, not even offering a manual gearbox as an option. There was no denying the superiority of the PDK on the track, with lightning-quick shift times and smooth gear changes, but Porsche’s faithful soon voiced their displeasure with the lack of a manual transmission option. As conventional wisdom would have it, without the time-honoured interface of a manual short-throw shifter, the venerable Porsche sporting identity had lost a shade of its soul.

Keen to keep its clientele happy, Porsche soon introduced a limited-edition 911 powered by the GT3 RS drivetrain, but fitted with a manual transmission. Dubbed the 911 R, the new model was introduced at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show. While it was mechanically similar to the GT3 RS, the 911 R had a slightly different design brief. With numerous adjustments to its suspension and steering, and the addition of the six-speed manual gearbox, it became clear this 911 was not built to achieve the fastest possible lap time, but rather to deliver the most enjoyable and harmonious driving experience possible—a more authentic interface between man and modern speed machine.

As demonstrated by its numbered dashboard placard, this ravishing 911 R is a very late-production example, being the second-to-last car built, number 990 out of 991. Chassis number 194315 is ideally equipped with the desirable single-mass flywheel with reinforced clutch, 90-litre fuel tank, and the Sport Chrono package with the Porsche Track precision app.

The 911 R was handsomely finished by Porsche Exclusive in paint-to-sample Sport Classic Grey with black stripes, including painted side skirts with Porsche script and side stripes in black, and wheels painted in Satin Platinum. The interior was upholstered by Porsche Exclusive in black leather with tartan seat inserts and GT Silver stitching with complementary silver safety harnesses and door-release pull straps. Further appointments include the front-axle lift system, LED headlamps in black, Porsche Dynamic Light System, cruise control, two-zone automatic climate control, the light design package, and a premium Bose surround-sound audio system.

This beautiful boutique Porsche was delivered new in September 2016 to a collector in Switzerland via the Porsche Centre Geneva. As confirmed by the 911 R’s service booklet, the car has enjoyed a life of fastidious care and very minimal driving use, with three service visits to the Porsche Centre Geneva from November 2020 to December 2024. At the time of cataloguing, the odometer displayed a desirably low figure of just 7,193 kilometres, demonstrating how little the car has been driven over the last 10 years.

For the Porsche purist thirsting for the thrill of the 991 platform’s most exhilarating driver connection, a better example of the 911 R would be difficult to imagine. Ideally maintained and barely driven, this exceptionally presented and rare manual-transmission supercar would make an unparalleled acquisition for most any Stuttgart enthusiast.