Last month we lost a legend. Hans Mezger was Porsche’s Chief Engineer, and he passed away of natural causes at the age of 90. During his reign at Stuttgart, he designed the first flat-six engine for the 1963 Porsche 901, the model that evolved into the 911. From there he oversaw it evolve from carburetors and air-cooling to twin-turbos and full water jackets. The 996 series 911 was forced to abandon his air-cooled design to meet emissions laws, so he literally went back to the drawing board.
The last air-cooled Porsche was the 993 series that concluded in 1998. Development of the Carrera engine was well underway in the mid-90s, with Hans utilizing some of the water cooling principles he pioneered on the TAG twin-turbo V6 that dominated Formula 1. While the Carrera debut went without a hitch, things get tricky when boost is introduced. That’s why he spent over two years perfecting the 996 GT2’s 3.6 to make sure it was a beast with no leaks.
Due to the complexities in sending 456 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, only 303 examples of the 996 Series GT2 made it to the U.S. between ’02 and ’05. Needless to say, this car is rare, but it was also ordered by a Porsche collector with all options and Special Wishes. The gauge needles are machined aluminum, the Sport Seats are painted to match, and the pillars are covered in leather. If the color is appealing, you might want to know this is the ONLY GT2 ever ordered in Adriatic Blue.
This is a fleeting opportunity to own one of Mezger’s final masterpieces, and it deserves to be the centerpiece of your collection. Because Bruce Canepa specializes in classic Porsches, his team has all the details and service records, so click the link below to view our listing and stay with us for more amazing finds from Canepa Motorsports.
