A lot of money for 25 Hp and no durability improvements.

 

I am assuming that is just the part cost. Add in labor, you have a sub optimal build to an FSI build.

 

Found it. Interesting stuff

 

Let's say someone were to own one of these uber rare 996.1 "Carrera Cup" editions (C2 drivetrain in a C4 chassis, factory Aerokit, X51 package, M030 suspension, etc.) with relatively low mileage. What does everyone think market value would be? Is there even enough knowledge about these cars to create a premium? Any guesses how many were built?

Edit: found some info online saying 55 units total for the 996.1 "Carrera Cup" edition.

 

cool

 

I've never even heard of that

 

I am having trouble understanding how a company builds a C2 and a “Carrera Cup” simultaneously. A camshaft is a camshaft. An intake is an intake. A head is a head. Why not just build the good one, the cost difference was essentially naught.

 

Agreed.

Found my Targa on a used car lot in Tarpon Springs Fl. I noticed the aluminum intake, Headers, center radiator and S stamped on engine serial #. When I dropped the sump plate, X51 baffles are there. Found that thread and took a chance I may have found a unique 996.

No records from dealer. Carfax showed engine out at Brumos Porsche in 2004. I tracked down the salesman from Brumos who’s card was in owners manual on Facebook. He works at Porsche experience in Atlanta. He remembered the car and (for what’s it’s worth…) verified the original owner wanted to create a Gt Touring Targa.

Also PSE was added along with Aerokit.

It definitely sounds and feels different above 5500 rpm, in a good way. I ‘think’ I have the Power kit. I’m sure an FSI engine is more durable. But I’m happy with what I have, and I got that going for me 😎

 

Love it especially as a targa good catch regardless

 

An easy "tell" to visually see if it's an X51 is to look at the intake manifolds. On the M96 engine, they are black plastic. On the X51, they are aluminum.

 

Porsche was under contract at the time to supply and run Carrera Cup cars for the F1 opening races. Rumor has it that if the Megzer equipped GT3 was not ready in time...or didn't meet the regulations...Porsche developed a tweaked M96.01 engine package as a "just in case" back-up plan. We all know the GT3 landed successfully on the track, so Porsche took the tweaked M96.01, added an "S", and branded it the X51 option package. The 55 "Carrera Cup" cars with the full GT bodywork (Aerokit) are a unique package. They are basically a GT3 "lite" with the X51, stiffer chassis, M030 suspension, etc. They did not have a roll cage installed, but they did have GT3 wheels as standard. The X51 incorporates increased/improved oil lubrication & water cooling designs, so by all accounts this engine does seem to have been developed with racing in mind. Who knows what the original intent of the 55 Carrera Cup cars was (possibly a celebrity race series?), but somewhere along the way Porsche changed course and they were sold off to the ROW market in 1999.

 

That's a beauty you have right there! Targa's aren't that numerous, and as optioned....pretty unique & special.

 

Thank you very much for the added detail to the history of X51. I guess I need to edit my question: I don't understand why, once Porsche had identified the M96 weak points and made efforts to address them, they didn't just start building them all that way. A cam is a cam, a head is a head. Essentially zero cost to Porsche.

 

Profits.

If you invent a better widget and sell it for the same price as the lesser widget, you're giving away profits.

 

Bingo!!! Also, the X51 in 996.1 guise never met the stringent US emissions at the time, but the original M96 design did...so no sense messing with your largest consumer market!