An exceptionally rare 1993 Porsche 968 Turbo S is poised to test the upper limits of the collector car market when it crosses the block at Gooding Christie’s annual Amelia Island sale next month.
The Zermatt Silver coupe is expected to bring between $900,000 and $1.2 million during the March 5–6 auction in Florida. If bidding reaches the high estimate, it would mark the first time a 968 has sold for seven figures and establish a new benchmark for the model.
Produced from 1991 to 1995, the 968 often lived in the shadow of the 911, Porsche’s defining sports car. Marketed as a more accessible offering, it followed the front-engine lineage of the 928 and 944. While those models developed loyal followings over time, the 968 remained comparatively underappreciated. The Turbo S variant, however, has long stood apart as the most focused and potent expression of the platform.
Available only in 1993, the Turbo S built on the lightweight foundation of the Club Sport introduced a year earlier. Engineers added significant performance upgrades, including a KKK turbocharger, an air-to-air intercooler and a revised engine management system to the 3.0-liter inline-four. Output climbed to 305 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, a substantial increase over the standard car’s 237 horsepower and 225 pound-feet.
The enhancements transformed performance. The Turbo S could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, compared with 6.5 seconds for the standard version, and achieve a top speed of 175 mph.
Just 14 examples were built, including a prototype, making it the rarest and most desirable 968 variant. The car offered at Amelia Island was originally delivered to tennis champion Helena Suková. It features a black leatherette corduroy interior and shows 18,872 miles on the odometer. Another Turbo S sold for $792,000 in 2021, and the upcoming sale could reset expectations for the model.
Shawn Henry