The Rarest Manual Transmission Porsche Ever Produced

Porsche is one of the best sports car manufacturers to have ever rolled out a powerful, thrill-seeking machine - we don't think that there is much arguing over that. Even non-car-lovers know of them and would likely be able to spot one on the road, but for those of us who love their cars, we know that some of their most fawned-over and best models include the 911, the Porsche 356, the 959, the GT1 Straßenversion, and the 918 Spyder.

Some of their best models boast the winning combination of a balanced weight distribution, a potent engine, stylish designs, and maybe most importantly, for the purists among us, a manual transmission. Within some of the best lineups, there are some very rare beasts hiding behind the "everyday" models, some of which are worth millions of dollars, some of which barely see the light of day, and some that boast singular builds.

This is the case with this very rare model. This manual transmission Porsche only saw one example ever built and is the ultimate collector's item, so we are taking a deeper look at this elusive Porsche, why only a single model was produced, its performance features, and other rare Porsche models.

No. 001 Of 001: The 2022 Porsche 911 (996) Classic Club Coupe

2022 Porsche 911 996 Classic Club Coupe parked in warehouse

Eins aus eins, the 2022 Porsche 911 Classic Club Coupe is the rarest manual transmission Porsche ever produced for a very dedicated group of Porsche fanatics. Sadly, even the new 911 Carrera S isn't available with a manual transmission, but we can look back a few years at this creation of uniqueness and can only wonder what this one-off model is like to drive.

Though it gives off the "typical Porsche look" - low-to-the-ground, flowing lines, and the instantly recognizable front end shape - this unicorn of a sports car is not as straightforward as it looks; It is custom-built by none other than Porsche Classic themselves.

Why Only One Was Ever Produced

This one-of-a-kind Porsche was built by Porsche Classic, following the guidelines laid down by Porsche Sonderwunsch (or Special Request), and stands as a truly bespoke model created in collaboration with Porsche Club of America (PCA), the U.S.A.'s oldest Porsche fan club.

Porsche Classic took a 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera (996) and completely reworked it over two and a half years with heritage-inspired design cues blended with modern touches, a handcrafted interior, aesthetic modifications, and features that were never mass-produced for any other 996-generation 911. Because the modifications that Porsche Classic carried out on this 911 took a great deal of time and resources to complete, it was never suitable for mass production. Plus, as this model was developed for the PCA as a tribute to its long-standing relationship with Porsche, it was never intended for public sale or replication - so it remained a 1 of 1 model.

A Real Collector's Item With A Real Collector's Price

Today, the 1998 Porsche 911 has an average auction price of $123,568, so not a small amount of money in anyone's books, but though the Classic Club Coupe was never intended to be sold to the wider public, a member of the PCA got the opportunity to buy this special model for a huge price tag of $1.325 million in 2023.

Not only is the Porsche 911 Club Classic Coupe the rarest manual transmission Porsche ever produced, but it is also up there with some of the most expensive 996-generation 911s ever sold.

The 911 996 Classic Club Coupe Is A Potent Beast

2022 Porsche 911 996 Classic Club Coupe parked in warehouse

The 996-generation Porsche 911 originally ran from 1997 to 2006, so a 2022 model doesn't strictly make sense, but because the Classic Club Coupe was based on the '98 model, we say based on as there are some very non-996 parts utilized, the name stands. One of the standout additions that were never intended for a 996 911 but used in this unique build is the engine of a 996.2 911 GT3, so you know it is smuggling a beast made for speed.

2022 Porsche 911 996 Classic Club Coupe Performance Specifications

The Club Classic Coupe was speed-tested several times before being handed over to the PCA, but as this is a one-off model, the test car was dismantled to keep it unique. Test results haven't been shared, so we have used the performance specifications of the 911 GT3. The 996.2 GT3's powertrain is a naturally aspirated, legendary Mezger engine. It boasts a compression ratio of 11.7:1, a split crankcase with water-cooling jackets, forged pistons, a high-lift camshaft, and forged connecting rods.

Essentially, the engine utilized in the Club Classic is a close relative of the fully water-cooled engine boasted in the 962 race car, making it a high-revving (limited to 8,200 RPM) and a very useful engine to have under the hood.

The Manual Transmission Driving This Gem

To give the Classic Club Coupe a heritage, engaged, and pure feel that the PCA is likely to appreciate up there more than anyone, the same transmission as the one originally utilized in the 996.2 GT3 has been used. Not only does this give the Club Classic a very connected feel, but it also makes the transmission easier to assemble in the unique model, considering that they were meant to be mated together anyway.

Renowned for its durability and responsiveness, the G96/50 transmission boasts a Borg Werner synchromesh and a hydraulically assisted pull clutch, meaning that it can take the high revs from the engine and feels silky through the gears.

Standout Features Of the 2022 911 Classic Club Coupe

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The whole Classic Club Coupe is a standout model for what it represents out of all the rare Porsche models ever produced, but what makes it appealing outside its unicorn status is that it blends everything we love about modern Porsche engineering and the allure of the classics. We have already talked about the legendary iteration of the inline-six under the hood and the transmission it is paired with, which we can guess gives it some intense performance guts, but this rare Porsche also has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

A Blend Of Heritage And Modern Performance In One Rare Model

On the outside, the Club Classic Coupe boasts beautiful Sport Gray Metallic paint inspired by the 2009 911 Sport Classic, the iconic double-dome roof and ducktail rear spoiler are a nod to the 1972 911 Carrera RS 2.7, and 18-inch forged aluminum Fuchs wheels complete the throwback vibe while giving the custom-made beast a modern touch.

Inside, the craftsmanship is off the charts. The seats and door panels feature a Pepita houndstooth pattern, giving it a classy vintage touch, but with a twist. You'll also find accents in PCA's signature Club Blue, and the dashboard displays the finishing touch; the 001/001 plaque.

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Underneath, the 911 CCC also boasts the suspension from the GT3, which features adaptive dampers, to provide the lucky owner a balance between comfort and sharpness, dual-coil springs for better cornering, while the ceramic composite brakes that are featured (also taken from the GT3) are lightweight (around 25-pounds on each corner) and disperse and resist heat better than the brakes originally found on the '98 911, which means exceptionally reliable stopping power.

Other Rare Porsche Models

Porsche

With only one ever produced, the 2022 Porsche 911 Club Classic Coupe is not only the rarest manual transmission Porsche ever created, but also the rarest Porsche model ever created, but it is not alone as a mythical German beast of performance. Porsche is a master at releasing just the right number of limited-edition models and runs to keep real collectors very invested and the rest of us extremely green-eyed with envy. The rarest Porsche models known to the auto world also include:

• 1967 Porsche 911R. 19 Produced.
• 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GTR. 17 Produced.
• 1989 Porsche 964 Speedster Widebody. 15 Produced.
• 1995 Porsche 911 993 Turbo S Cabriolet. 14 Produced.
• 2012 Porsche 911 991 Club Coupe. 13 Produced.
• 1995/1998 Porsche 911 993 Speedster. 2 Produced.

The Most Expensive Porsches Ever Sold

The $1.35 million paid for the 911 CCC looks like child's play compared to the prices of some of the most ludicrously expensive models to ever go to auction. From the most expensive Porsches, models include race-spec examples, rare designs, and legendary iterations, all of which would make the most avid Porsche collector want to swap in what they have for one.

• Porsche 917/30 Spyder. Can kick out up to 1,100 horsepower and is one of the most powerful Porsche race cars ever produced and a solid fan favorite thanks to its CanAm dominance. Sold for $3 million.
• Porsche 550 A Spyder. Sold for $5.17 million.
• Porsche GT1 Straßenversion. The road-legal version of the Le Mans-winning GT1. Sold for $5.6 million.
• Porsche 956. Chassis No. 956-003 - Overall winner at Le Mans in 1983, driven by Jacky Ickx, Al Holbert, and Derek Bell. Sold for $10 million.
• Porsche 917 K. Chassis No. 917-024 - The bona fide model used in the film Le Mans. Sold for $14 million.