Here is an elegant and all-but-new Porsche 968 Cabriolet with extremely low mileage that has a fascinating, albeit brief, history. Its accompanying Porsche Certificate of Authenticity shows it was completed 24 October 1991, and shipped first to California, then to Reno, Nevada. After acquiring the car at auction in 2017, the current owner reached out to Porsche Cars North America to learn its history. He obtained a letter quoting a former PCNA executive indicating that this 968 Cabriolet is believed to have been the first sent to the United States, and “was retained by PCNA for internal use.”

Then-PCNA President Fred Schwab—supporter of a Reno non-profit—offered the car to be sold at the group’s annual fund-raiser. The successful bidder rarely drove it, nor, after his passing, did his widow. Hence, while the car was warmed up to regularly circulate fluids and charge the battery, it accumulated very few miles. When the widow decided to sell the car, several PCNA executives helped facilitate the process; by the time it was offered for sale in 2017, it had recorded just 6,200 miles.

Porsche’s sleek 968 was the final iteration of its “Transaxle generation”, designed by Harm Lagaay. Their most notable feature was their brilliant chassis design. With front-mounted, water-cooled engines and rear-mounted transmissions, they enjoyed an ideal 50-50 balance. The 968 boasted a three-liter DOHC inline-four with strengthened and lightened forged internals that allowed a higher rev limit without the need for a vibration damper. This engine produced a strong 236 horsepower and lots of torque, featuring Variable Valve Timing, a new dual-resonant induction system, and Bosch fuel injection with Motronic DME engine management.

Its accompanying Certificate of Authenticity reveals that this handsome example with a six-speed manual gearbox was completed during the second month of model production. Finished in Polar Silver Metallic paint over Grey partial leather, it had a fully-lined black fabric folding top. Factory equipment and options included power steering, ventilated four-piston disc brakes with ABS, multi-adjustable seats, air bags, power top, windows, and exterior mirrors, air conditioning with automatic climate control, an alarm system, a six-speaker stereo system, and 16-inch “Cup”-style alloy wheels mounted with 205/55 and 225/50 tires. Special Porsche-crested center caps were also specified.

This lovely 968 Cabriolet shows fewer than 6,300 total miles from new at time of cataloguing. Commensurate with its mileage and maintenance, it presents very much as it must have when first delivered to the United States, and it is supplied with its correct manuals, tools, and original documentation, including its window sticker and warranty book.