1998 PORSCHE 911 (996) CARRERA 'CLR'

This unique 1998 Porsche 911 (996) Carrera ‘CLR’ is the product of its builder’s singular vision to create the lightest and most driver-focused water-cooled 911 in existence, a feat which it may well have achieved with its 1090kg dry weight.

Under the engine lid is the car’s fully rebuilt 3.4-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six, now producing in the order of 330PS, which drives the rear wheels via the six-speed manual transmission. The odometer displays 93,178 miles from new.

First registered on 10 September 1998, this right-hand drive 996-generation 911 Carrera was delivered new to the UK. It was acquired by its owner – a licensed aircraft engineer and the founder of Carrera Lightweight Racing (CLR) – around ten years ago, and was subsequently recorded as exported in September 2011.

It was then developed and rebuilt with the aim of removing as much weight from the car as possible, while retaining its daily usability. As a testament to the ingenuity and quality of the build, the car was featured on the cover of 911 & Porsche World magazine, which contained a full write-up on its specifications, the design process and the driving experience.

Helping the builder to achieve their quest for lightweight perfection, the car’s roof, bonnet, front wings, doors and rear ducktail are all formed from carbon-fibre, along with the door mirrors – which were an original RUF set remade in carbon-fibre. All of the bodywork has been fitted to a high standard and some of the original steel panels will also be included.

Having been resprayed, the Arctic Silver paintwork presents very well, with the carbon-fibre bodywork’s weave still being visible through the finish. Bright red front and rear bumpers add a striking contrast, with red accents along the sides of the exposed carbon-fibre roof tying the design elements together. This design feature harks back to the iconic 911 racing cars of the 1970s.

In the owner’s focused but considered approach to weight reduction, the car’s side and rear windows are now Lexan, while unique ‘CLR’ logos adorn the tail, lower front wings and the two bespoke carbon-fibre-shrouded exhaust tips. The car sits on a set of 17-inch forged alloy Fuchs RSR wheels, which are in pristine condition and are fastened with titanium wheel bolts.

Inside, the cabin has also received the same lightweight treatment as the bodywork, while still retaining a high level of driver and passenger comfort for touring. The rear seats, dashboard and A-pillars are clad in red leather, while the front carbon-fibre bucket seats are upholstered in black leather.

Other custom elements include the seat mounts, carbon-fibre door cards, driver’s sun visor and glovebox, while an Alcantara-trimmed Porsche Cup steering wheel takes pride of place.

Overall, the interior is in very good order, with only minor scratches to some of the trim, such as the lower passenger-side dashboard. The seller states that all of the car’s buttons, switches and electrical items work without fault, and there are no warning lights displayed on the dashboard.

As with this 911’s bodywork and interior, its mechanical elements have also been fully overhauled in the pursuit of lightweight perfection. The engine has been rebuilt with Hartech closed-deck aluminium alloy cylinders, pistons and liners, and the gearbox and differential have been overhauled, along with the fuel pump, oil system and cylinder head.

There are also a number of custom-fabricated components made exclusively for the CLR project, including the throttle, Inconel625 exhaust system, steering system, engine ancillaries and gearbox mounts.

In addition, the suspension system has been almost completely redesigned and rebuilt, and features CLR castor arms, lower control arms, front and rear drop links, toe arms, upper arms and camber bolt locking plates, as well as Ohlins R+T coilovers with custom adjustable pillowball top-mounts and spring caps.

The car’s last TÜV inspection was carried out on 22 September 2020, with the next test being due in September 2022, no faults were noted. The vendor states that the car’s Michelin Cup 2 tyres are virtually brand-new, having covered less than 500 miles since they were fitted.

Accompanying this unique water-cooled 911 are a number of documents covering its full build and service history, a selection of tools, and a comprehensive package of spare parts.

Already an iconic and engaging sports car, this Porsche 911 Carrera has been transformed to offer the most driver-focused experience possible. Fastidiously redesigned and rebuilt, this one-off road-legal prototype is now 260kg lighter than when it left the factory, and is ready for its next owner to take the wheel and experience its remarkable unique character.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

As this vehicle is not currently UK-registered, it cannot be run through Collecting Cars’ standard online HPI check process. However, as this car was previously UK registered, Collecting Cars can confirm that this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft for the period of 1998-2011 prior to export.