Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 CS

Once a rare but undervalued asterisk in the porsche pantheon, it’s now recognised as the ultimate G-Series 911

- Nathan Ponchard

IF YOU THINK trying to find a 911 variant that’s off most people’s radar is harder than playing Uno blindfolded, then you probably deserve a gold medal. But if you think that’s because the model in question isn’t quite up to scratch, then you would be profoundly mistaken.

By the time the 911 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport arrived in 1987, the rubber-bumpered ‘G-series’ 911 had been on sale for more than 13 years. There had been a few significant updates to the everyperson’s 911 (notably the SC of 1977 and the Carrera 3.2 of 1983), but in terms of new-model action, the 911 appeared to have been sidelined by the 944 and 928. Remember when Porsche thought its future was water-cooled and front-engined?

What few people knew at the time was just how comprehensive the forthcoming 964-generation 911 makeover would be, even though the 959 of 1985 certainly provided plenty of hints. But wedged in between these landmark 911 developments is the car you see here – the 911 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport.

For decades, this forgotten (and rare) 911 model was an undiscovered gem. As per the ‘Club Sport’ ethos, it’s what Porsche left out that makes it better – achieving performance gains via weight reduction rather than mechanical enhancement. But there’s also plenty of detail finessing in the Carrera Club Sport to serve as a reminder that Porsche doesn’t do special editions by halves.