The third-generation GT2 was the most powerful, fastest roadgoing 911 that Porsche had ever produced when it launched for the 2008 model year. Its outrageous performance vaulted the 911 into supercar territory, with a 0–60 time under four seconds and a top speed of 204 mph—still remarkable today.

Upgraded turbochargers and a revised intake manifold brought peak output to a heady 530 horsepower—50 hp more than the type 997 911 Turbo on which it was based. A stripped-down interior and titanium exhaust reduced weight, while widened bodywork with scoops, inlets, and a large rear wing improved aerodynamics and cooling. Much to the delight of purists, a six-speed manual gearbox—not available on its type 991 successor—was the only transmission, and unlike the all-wheel-drive 911 Turbo, the GT2 featured rear-wheel drive, which further saved weight and improved steering feel.

“The minute you start driving the GT2, it comes alive,” wrote Georg Kacher in his review of the 2008 GT2 for Car magazine. “Turn-in is instant and the wheel jitters with feel and road detail, letting you know exactly what’s what.”

Diehard enthusiasts appreciate the type 997 GT2’s engine architecture, which, although water-cooled rather than air-cooled, did retain some of the robust design developed by noted Porsche engineer Hans Mezger decades prior, particularly with the single-piece cylinder heads—a design that had mostly been relegated to motorsports applications by the late 2000s. As one of the last roadgoing models produced with this bulletproof legacy architecture and having less than 1,300 examples produced for the 2008 to 2009 model years, the type 997 GT2 is particularly prized among Porsche collectors.

This example completed production on the last day of March 2008 and was sold new in Canada. It left the factory finished in black over black and equipped with numerous options, according to its Porsche Certificate of Authenticity. These include the Sport Chrono Package, Bose surround sound system, adaptive sport seats with heating, navigation, carbon interior package, silver seatbelts, self-dimming mirrors, rain sensor, carbon doorsill guards with illumination, Porsche crests on the headrests, and red taillights.

It entered the Dare to Dream Collection in 2012, shortly after which the wheels were refurbished, exterior graphics and custom floormats installed, and the windows tinted, according to invoices on file. In keeping with the collection’s lofty standards, the GT2 remains well-preserved, showing fewer than 31,364 kilometers (~19,489 miles) on the odometer at cataloguing time.

Revered for its scorching performance, mechanical purity, and legacy engine architecture, the type 997 represents the last of a breed of ultimate 911s and thus offers among the most rewarding ownership experiences of any Porsche 911—whether to be enjoyed on the road or on display.