Sales debate - are the 30th, 40th and 50th Anniversary Porsche 911s sought after?

Porsche is no stranger to producing special edition models. Philip Raby of Philip Raby Specialist Cars has sold examples of both the 964 30th Anniversary and the 996 40th, and rates both cars highly. “The 40th is incredibly special,” says Phil. He points out what a great car they are to drive, thanks to the most powerful naturally aspirated engine in a non-GT 996. “For a long time they were a little forgotten, and got confused with the Millennium edition, which is a totally different model,” he adds. These days, the 40th is rightly recognised and sought-after with buyers.

Avantgarde Classics’ Jonathan Aucott echoes this, having also sold examples of the 40th. “They’re a rare car, and for those that appreciated what it was, probably always saw it so,” he says. “A 996 halo model, they sit square in the gap between Carrera and GT3,” continues Jonathan, thanks to the Powerkit and sports suspension specification.

Aucott says the 964 30th Anniversary is the car that’s most sought-after, however, thanks to its low numbers and wide body. “A very rare car, highly desirable; the most desirable of all the Anniversaries” says Jonathan, “and perhaps the ideal 964,” he thinks, with the aggressive yet clean look. “They have huge rarity value,” says Philip, adding that, “they’re a good investment 911.” To drive, he says they perhaps don’t feel as lithe as a narrow body, but offer a different proposition to the similar-bodied Turbo. Philip reveals the factory went on to produce a number of other widebody 964s, to use spare widebodies up, but didn’t name them 30ths. For a collector, they may be an interesting one to seek out.

Of the 50th, Philip points out the potential appeal of owing the full set. Jonathan though, raves about the special 991 model. “Although it’s mechanically identical to a regular car, the attraction is in the details,” he says. “It’s such a nice place to sit, and the tech is all useful, before the point of where it got frustrating,” he says. “The real one to seek is a 50th with a Powerkit,” he tells Total 911.

The lesser-known ones might be the 25th Anniversary of 1975, marking 25 years of sports car production, and the 25th Anniversary of 1989 that was produced after 25 years of 911 production. Both are perhaps overlooked, likely because their spec is principally cosmetic. To the informed, however, that understatement may hold appeal of its own.