Collector values for late air-cooled Porsche 911s continue to rise, as a 1997 911 Turbo S logged a $650,000 high bid on Bring A Trailer, reinforcing appetite for the final 993-era Turbos. The car is not the Guards Red example driven by Michael Jordan, but it closely resembles that celebrity-owned machine and is drawing comparable attention from bidders.
The Story in Pictures
The Turbo S is one of the rarest variants from the air-cooled era, with just 176 U.S.-spec examples originally sold. This particular coupe wears Guards Red paint over black leather, shows 24,000 miles on the odometer, and comes with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity. The car underwent a thorough mechanical overhaul in 2023, during which perishable belts and seals were replaced, leaving it ready for regular driving.
The S badge denotes hardware upgrades over the standard Turbo, including larger turbochargers and revised cooling and engine management to support increased boost. That package raised output to 424 horsepower, routed through a six-speed manual gearbox to all four wheels. For buyers seeking an all-weather grand tourer with usable performance, the Turbo S remains a compelling choice rather than a pure track-focused 911.
At the current high bid, the car is priced in the stratosphere relative to modern equivalents; the auction bid already equals the cost of two modern 911 Turbo S models. The sale underlines how scarcity and the end-of-era status of air-cooled 911s continue to inflate values, turning well-preserved examples into both drivers and speculative assets for collectors.
The Bring A Trailer auction closes September 18, and interest so far suggests bidders may push the final price higher. For now the listing offers a snapshot of how fiercely the market is competing for the most exclusive 993-chassis Turbos.
