Is Denzel Washington’s Porsche 911 Turbo Really Worth $405K?
If you really want to plunk money down on a Porsche 911, the Turbo is the way to go. Even without options, a 2022 911 Turbo S costs $207,000. However, that still pales in comparison to what some classic 911s cost these days, especially ones with celebrity status. And while one 2022 Turbo S is expensive, you could almost buy two for the price of Denzel Washington’s 993 Porsche 911 Turbo.
The 993 Porsche 911 Turbo turned the air-cooled widow maker into “an all-weather supercar,” Road & Track says
| 1996-1998 ‘993’ Porsche 911 Turbo | |
| Engine | 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six |
| Horsepower | 408 hp |
| Torque | 398 lb-ft |
| Transmissions | Six-speed manual Four-speed automatic |
| Curb weight | 3305 lbs |
| 0-60 mph time | 4.0 seconds (Road & Track) 3.6 seconds (Hagerty) |
The latest Porsche 911 Turbo is no performance slouch, especially in S trim. But it’s also a supercar that you can genuinely drive every single day. And that’s thanks to the 993 911 Turbo, Road & Track says.
With 1970s turbocharger tech and a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, the first 911 Turbo quickly earned a widow-maker reputation. Its successor was a bit better, but still rather hairy. The 993 Turbo, though, has AWD, just like its modern descendant. So, even though it has two turbos, rather than one, it’s remarkably easy to drive, R&T reports. And while it’s a genuine classic today, it’s almost as fast to 60 mph as the 502-hp 911 GT3.
In addition, the 993 Turbo comes from the final iteration of the air-cooled Porsche 911 formula. So, it still offers an analog sports car experience, with communicative steering, a solid shifter, and a simple but well-made and comfortable interior. And it benefits not just from the 993’s stiffer chassis and bigger brakes, but also from a limited-slip rear differential, multi-link rear suspension, brake-based torque vectoring, and the previously-mentioned AWD. Furthermore, on top of wider bodywork and that whale-tail spoiler, the 993 Turbo has 959-style hollow-spoke ‘turbo-twist’ wheels.
It might be a classic supercar, but it’s one you can still legitimately commute in today.
Denzel Washington’s 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo was a $405,993 BaT budget breaker
Sky-high air-cooled Porsche 911 prices are nothing new, whether those cars are Turbos or not. And restomod shops like Gunther Werks and Singer haven’t exactly helped 993 prices stay low. But even so, seeing one go for $405,993 on Bring a Trailer is rather unusual. Yet that’s exactly what happened with Denzel Washinton’s 1997 911 Turbo.
Now, celebrity ownership undoubtedly played a factor in this sale. However, that high price tag might also stem from this car’s spec, features, and overall clean condition.
Firstly, Denzel Washington specced his 993 Porsche 911 Turbo in black with black leather upholstery. This 1997 car also has stainless-steel exhaust outlets, xenon headlights with washers, cross-drilled discs with red calipers, integrated fog lights, and a power sunroof. Its door sill guards are stainless steel, too, while it has an aluminum shift knob, parking-brake trim, and instrument dials.
Speaking of the interior, Denzel Washington ordered his 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo with a front-trunk-mounted six-disc CD changer and Nokia DSP audio system. His car has cruise control, power front seats, leather-edged floor mats, and automatic climate control, too. And the leather upholstery is pleated.
Also, this car is pristine. It’s not just rust-free with a clean title, but it only has 18,000 miles on the clock. Even the factory tool kit is in solid shape.
Is it really worth that much?
Admittedly, this isn’t the first classic Porsche 911 Turbo to sell for 400,000 at auction. It’s also not the most expensive Porsche sold on Bring a Trailer by a long shot. However, it’s still a lot of money for a 993.
It’s also a lot of money for a 993 Turbo. According to Hagerty, a 1997 911 Turbo in excellent condition usually costs around $219,000. So, someone paid roughly double the average market price for Denzel Washington’s car. And even on BaT, low-mileage examples tend to peak at the $300K mark.
If you ask the buyer, they’d undoubtedly say it was worth it to own a desirable car owned by a famous actor. And driving a 1997 911 Turbo is no doubt an experience worth having. But with this car’s low odometer reading, the current owner might not want to risk damaging their new investment.
That makes this a solid case of over-payment.
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