1988 Porsche 911 3.2 Club Sport

When Porsche wanted to build a 911 2.7 RS for the 1980’s, it came up with the Carrera 3.2 Club Sport, a car which much like an RS has gone on to become a sought-after classic. In common with its RS predecessor, the key to the Club Sport is weight, or more specifically, less of it.

Less is more

By modern standards, even the weight of the standard Carrera at 1210kg would be enough to celebrate, but Porsche shaved around 40kg from this. Very much a forerunner to the succeeding RS lineage, and certainly with a mindset similar to that of the 964 RS and onwards, Porsche removed the luxuries that have, over time, become the norm in the 911 range. Out came electric windows, rear seats, rear wiper, radio, rear quarter panels, door pocket lids, central locking, engine and luggage-compartment lights, passenger sun visor, and even some sound-deadening and coat hooks! Porsche reinstalled manual heater controls from the parts stock instead of an automatic thermostat system.

Power

Mechanically the car was fitted with a lighter starter motor, a simplified wiring loom, and an alloy spare wheel. The Club Sport retained the standard 3.2-litre unit but is now blueprinted with stiffer mounts and hollow inlet valves. The Club Sport features a revised ECU which nominally lifted the red line by 500rpm, but power output wasn’t changed. The gearbox was that of the 1987-introduced G50; a five-speed now fitted with a short shifter and revised, longer ratios in fourth and fifth. Firmly intended for use as a driver’s car, the Club Sport was fitted with a limited-slip differential from the factory.

Dig the seats

Despite the reduced options list, the Club Sport‘s interior stands the test of time and was far from the sparse, stripped-out racecar you might assume from the above. The Club Sport received full carpeting, including where the rear seats were removed; and wonderful pinstripe fabric sports seats. The Club Sport can be identified by its livery in tribute to the 2.7 RS, Grand Prix White with Guards Red ‘Carrera CS’ decals, and matching wheel centers. Only a handful of cars were built outside this colorway. Just 340 Club Sports were built, and of those, just 53 C16 right-hand-drive examples for the UK.

Highlights of chassis *105123

1 of 53 UK-supplied examples
Confirmed as a Porsche GB press car by Porsche CoA
Comprehensive service history folio with over 20 invoices and stamps, complete ownership records and freshly serviced by Tuthill in March 2024
Accompanied by its original books, lightweight spare wheel, tools and tire compressor
Dry ice underside clean in March 2024

Vehicle specifics

As the majority of Club Sport examples were, this car is finished in Grand Prix White and Black leatherette with pinstripe black seats with Guards Red piping. As one of the original 340 factory Club Sport examples, it is fitted with the limited slip differential, upgraded Bilstein sport shock absorbers, top-tinted windscreen, and retains its original Blaupunkt radio cassette. Furthermore, this Club Sport retains its original tools, tire compressor and lightweight spare wheel. The UK received just 53 examples of the Club Sport and whilst it arrived in the UK with JCT600 Bradford, it was in fact Porsche UK themselves who took first ownership, subsequently becoming the official UK Press Car, as confirmed by the Porsche certificate of authenticity in the accompanying history file.

Options & Specification

220 Limited slip differential
243 Shorter shift lever for G50 transmission
395 16″ Fuchs forged alloy wheels
front 6″ with 205/55
rear 7″ with 225/50 tires
Luggage compartment instead of rear seats
473 Front and rear spoiler
474 Bilstein Sports shock absorbers
567 Top-tinted windscreen
637 Club Sport

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This comprehensive folio even includes an original press release for the Club Sport, as well as some further myth-busting facts about Porsche and their audience in 1988. Benefitting from known ownership from new, this example remains accompanied by its original leather wallet, original well-stamped service book, user manual, radio guide, and key blanks. The service history in the folio mirrors the book with a ream of service invoices dating back to 1988, including the original invoice to Mr. Steel when the Club Sport was sold from Porsche care. The most recent previous keeper was none other than Silverstone Auctions M-D, Nick Whale. Under his ownership, the Club Sport was maintained by respected Porsche specialist Tuthill Porsche.

Purchased by the current keeper in 2020, this example has since been stored in our secure storage facility. Today this example is supplied with a comprehensive history file, the stamped original service booklet and 2 original keys. This 3.2 Club Sport presents in superb order, freshly serviced once more by Tuthill Porsche and treated to a dry ice underside detail. Ready to be enjoyed by its next custodian, this Club Sport presents with 90,300 miles from new.