Marketed between 2004 and 2013, the Porsche 997 was introduced by Porsche as the successor of the much-maligned 996. The complaints about the revised ‘fried egg’ headlamps on the previous model were addressed by reverting to a more traditional oval design, along with a multitude of mechanical upgrades and a wide array of configurations, from the powerful ‘Turbo S’ to the track-focused ‘RS’ variants, each with a particular focus on the driving experience.

The Carrera model is this generation’s purest iteration, with a naturally aspirated 3.6-litre flat-six producing 325 horses and two gearbox options: a five-speed tiptronic transmission, and a 6-speed manual. The model’s simplicity, practicality and reliability make it an ideal everyday car for the enthusiast, one that can endure daily use with the comforts of cold air conditioning, ABS, airbags, and traction control; but with the qualities of handling, power, heritage, and style that make it a bona fide 911.

This particular example was delivered new to Orland Park (Illinois, USA) as a corporate fleet car and then changed hands in 2010 and moved to Columbia City (Indiana, USA) to finally be exported three years later to Japan, with under 20,000 miles in the clock. The car remained in Japanese hands until our acquisition in late 2022; after receiving it in Dubai we performed a full service on it, bled the coolant, removed most aftermarket equipment, repainted the bumpers, performed minor cosmetics in the interior, replaced the shock absorber bushes in the back, and added a state-of-the-art Porsche PCCM+. This non-IMS 997.1 has a clean CARFAX and less than 35,000 miles on the odometer, and it can now be enjoyed with all the peace of mind that a well-sorted Porsche can offer.

Note: this vehicle is a 2007, but titled as a 2012.