What's all this about?

This is the 911 Sport Classic, a new special edition with styling and design inspired by some of the Porsche’s greatest hits. The 550hp car will sit somewhere between the GTS and the Turbo in the 911 range, and just 1,250 examples will be built.

Hasn't there already been a Sport Classic?

Well remembered. Back in 2009, Porsche launched another 911 along similarly retro-inspired lines, but just 250 examples were built and they all sold out within 48 hours. Since then, there have been other heritage inspired models including the 911 Speedster of 2019 and the 911 Targa 4 S Heritage Design Edition in 2020.

What are the main differences between this and a standard 911?

The Sport Classic gets the same wider body as the 911 Turbo, although it does without the Turbo’s large air ducts on its flanks. Instead, the car supplies air to the engine via a smaller intake above the fixed rear spoiler, which the standard 911 doesn’t get. The roof and bonnet (and the spoiler for that matter) are made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and feature a central recess which gives the roof a double-bubble effect, accentuated by the double racing stripe running from the nose to the rear of the roof. The graphics including the stripe and the racing roundels on the doors are standard, but they can be deleted at no extra cost. The colour, dubbed Sport Grey Metallic, is standard too, though others are available.

What are its influences?

The Sport Classic’s design influences stretch all the way back to Porsche models from the 1950s. The gold-coloured badging across the rear and on the wings, for instance, is inspired by the Porsche 356, as is the analogue instrument cluster with white hands and green digits on the dials. The “ducktail” spoiler is an homage to the 911 RS 2.7 from 1972, while the Fuchs-style alloy wheels with their black background and silver spokes have been a mainstay of Porsches since the 911S of 1967. The fabulous houndstooth fabric found inside the Sport Classic is also clearly inspired by that found in various Porsche models throughout the 1970s and ‘80s.

That interior is really nice, isn’t it?

It really is, especially with the contrast between the houndstooth fabric and the semi-aniline Classic Cognac tan leather that adorns the seat bolsters, head rests, door trims and the lower dash. The good news is that for those who can’t get their hands on a Sport Classic, the Heritage Design Package Classic option will be available from September across much of the rest of the 911 range bringing the same leather, houndstooth and instrument cluster combo.

What's powering the Sport Classic?

There’s a 3.7-litre twin-turbo flat six sending 550hp to the rear wheels via a seven-speed manual gearbox, making it the most powerful manual-only car in the Porsche range.

Is there a watch to match?

Funnily enough, there is. Porsche Design has created a watch that mimics the Sport Classic’s white hands and green digits as the car’s rev counter. It’s a nice watch, certainly, but it doesn’t come included with the car and costs around £12,500.

It sounds like the Grecale has all bases covered...

If you can get in early and snatch one of the limited number due to be built, the Sport Classic will set you back at least £209,540. First deliveries are expected in July.