Mixing a wide body with traditional rear-wheeldrive, the Carrera S is a highly desirable 993. Here’s your complete dossier of information on this collector’s gem

Written by Kieron Fennelly Photography by Damian Blades

HISTORY AND TECH

In Porsche nomenclature, ‘S’ usually denoted sporting or ‘Super’ and its first application to a 911 was in 1966. The 911S would set the standard as the fastest 911 until the 2.7RS usurped its crown, and the S was demoted to second fiddle before it disappeared in 1976.

Subsequently there was a 911CS (Clubsport) and a 911RS (Rennsport) and even a Turbo S, but a plain 911 with an S, in this case ‘Carrera S’, had to wait for the mid-term facelift 993 in 1996.

The 993 was the evolutionary descendant of the 964 which had arrived at a time when Porsche’s financial woes were beginning. The 964’s disappointing sales led to a fundamental reappraisal of the 911: in the performance stakes it was still classleading, but in terms of handling and refinement, critics felt it was falling behind competitors. Plans for the 993 were laid in 1989 as soon as new broom engineering director Ulrich Bez arrived and the objective, challenging given Porsche’s impoverished resources, was clear enough: refine the 911 to extend its appeal while reinforcing its ‘911-ness,’ that palpable collusion between driver and car which had so characterised the 911 from the outset.

Porsche was barely profitable and plans to revise the roof line, countersink the exposed windscreen wipers and update the cabin never materialised. Nonetheless, Tony Hatter’s fared front wings and smoothed and subtly flared haunches met universal approval; all the road tests commented on the more secure handling endowed by the new rear suspension, the multi-link configuration which would underpin at least two more 911 generations, and above all the much-improved ride and refinement. A systematic lightening of reciprocating parts and better breathing enhanced both smoothness and the 3.6’s power and torque; Japanese consultants brought improved manufacturing techniques and the 993 not only cost less to make than its predecessor, it proved more popular and started making profits again.