LIGHT SPEED

The stripped-out Porsche 911 S/T is an exclusive sportscar that is low in weight, but big in driving thrills.

- DAVID KHOO

There's a huge grin plastered on my face at the breakfast table. In fact, looking around the room, it's the same expression shared by quite a few other gents in my group. No, it wasn't the cold cuts and omelette, but the remembered pleasure of my session with the 911 S/T the day before... and the anticipation of spending another full day in it on the serpentine roads from Crotone to Falerna in southern Italy as we further explore the upper reaches of the sportscar's vocal and dynamic range.

As far as birthday presents go, Porsche's gift to itself pretty much takes the cake and we're glad to be there to partake. Limited to a production run of just 1,963 units, the 911 S/T celebrates the 60th anniversary of the iconic 911 sportscar, which was launched in 1963.

Special models like the 911 S/T, which are fettled by the Porsche GT division, are highly-coveted among the brand's fans not just to drive but, in some quarters, as potential investment vehicles.

Being able to stump up the $1,373,588 (before COE and options) isn't even the bare minimum to be considered for admission into this exclusive inner circle.

Like the most popular timepieces, money alone doesn't guarantee a seat at the table...well, at least as far as buying new from the AD at retail price is concerned. Purchase and ownership history is just one of the considerations, and we're pretty sure that the waiting-list for the handful of cars allocated to the Singapore dealer reads like a who's who of Porsche collectors.

The 911 S/T takes inspiration from a late-1960s to early-1970s factory upgrade package to modify the 911 for competition use. These cars were tuned to be lightweight, boasted punched-up engine performance and, most importantly, they served up visceral driving thrills sorely missing from many of today's fast cars.