Will this Immaculate 2002 GT2 Finally Redeem the 996 Series 911?

By James Sapienza - November 9, 2018

This GT2 could be the bargain of a lifetime.

By now, anyone who has an opinion on the Porsche 911 has even stronger feelings about the 996. Built from 1998 to 2004, it was the first with a water-cooled engine, has the now-cliche IMS bearing issue, the “fried egg” headlights, and so much more to grouse about. For the record, the 996 is a damn fine car and one of the best sports car bargains in the world. But in GT2 spec, it could still be a little controversial. Will this car, a 2002 GT2 offered at Mecum’s Las Vegas auction on November 15 to 17, end up a blockbuster or a bargain?

The GT2 variant was introduced in 1992 on the air-cooled 993 Series. It was a no-holds-barred homologation special – exactly the type of Porsche that sets records at auctions. But the 996 version was different. It wasn’t built to race; it was designed to be a driver-focused road car. And while the current 997 GT2 is a bonafide supercar in high demand, it remains to be seen where this middle child falls in terms of collectability.

The middle child

Make no mistake, this 2002 GT2 is one serious Porsche. With just 317 sent to the United States, it’s rare too. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six, making 456 horsepower. Zero to 60 comes in just 3.9 seconds. Drivers row their own gears via a six-speed manual transmission. Power is sent to the rear wheels via to a limited-slip differential. Stopping power comes from four-wheel antilock brakes with factory-painted yellow calipers.

Inside, the 996 GT2’s focus on the streets is clearly an asset. There’s power steering and a telescopic steering column. There’s also black leather everywhere, automatic climate control, power windows and locks, and aluminum and carbon fiber trim. A no-frills race car this is not. And with just 34,775 on the clock, it looks great for its age.

So will this driver-focused GT2 garner the attention of hardcore Porsche collectors, or will it remain just barely under the radar? Only time will tell. All we know is that this car is a great looking 911 that perfectly straddles the line between Porsche’s analog past and tech-heavy present. If this one doesn’t go for big bucks, we’ve got a feeling that collectors will be kicking themselves in a few years for missing out on this one. For 996 fans, this is one auction to watch.