1997 Porsche 911 Turbo WLS1 | The Quail Auction 2026
Chassis No. WP0ZZZ99ZVS370101
Introduced for 1995, the 993-generation 911 Turbo rewrote the formula that had defined Porsche's flagship for two decades. In place of the single-turbocharger, rear-wheel-drive layout of its predecessors, the new model paired its 3.6-liter flat six with twin turbochargers and, for the first time on a 911 Turbo, all-wheel drive adapted from the Carrera 4 and informed by the pioneering 959. The result was 408 horsepower delivered with newfound traction and civility, clothed in widened rear fenders and crowned by a fixed rear wing housing a pair of intercoolers. Quicker and more secure than any Turbo before it, the 993 would also prove the last of the line to employ Porsche's famed air-cooled flat six, a distinction that has since placed it among the most sought-after of all modern 911s.
For the inaugural model year, Porsche Exclusive offered the X50 Power Kit, better known as Werksleistungssteigerung (WLS1) in markets outside the United States. For an additional DM 12,500, the X50 option equipped the already powerful 911 Turbo with revised engine tuning, an additional oil cooler, and stainless steel exhaust tips, raising peak output to 430 horsepower, bringing the twin-turbo's output to nearly that of the vaunted 993-generation 911 GT2.
This special WLS1-equipped 911 Turbo is one of 28 left-land-drive C33 "Overseas Market" examples produced. Completed at Porsche in Zuffenhausen in September 1996, it was selected in Firnweiss (Glacier White) over a Black leather interior. In addition to its desirable X50 option code, this example was equipped from Porsche Exclusive when new with seven additional X-code options. Chief among them are Aerokit I (XD1) and Aerokit II (XD2) Front and Rear Spoilers, Front Air Intakes (X78), and Rear Side Air Intakes (X79). It should be noted that this Turbo is currently fitted with a standard rear Turbo tail. Interestingly, these five X-code options combined create, in effect, a U.S.-market 911 Turbo S in nearly everything but name, a year before the model was officially introduced in the United States. Additional selections at the time of ordering include Litronic headlights, an electric sliding sunroof, and heated seats. A complete digital build sheet for the car is on file and available for review.
According to paperwork and its clean CarVX Report from Japan, this example, a showcase for the talents of Porsche's Exclusive Department, was first registered in January 1998. The report reveals a slow and steady accumulation of kilometers until a "Last Registration" is noted in March 2026. In that time, the Turbo's Japanese service book corroborates the low mileage listed in the CarVX Report and documents the servicing it received in Japan.
Destined for the United States and Broad Arrow's inaugural Quail Auction, these specially ordered, Rest of World 993-generation 911 Turbos are beginning to find their way stateside. Once forbidden fruit, these cars are introducing U.S.-based enthusiasts to the full breadth of what Porsche's Exclusive Department offered in the late 1990s. When special examples like this WLS1-powered 911 Turbo reach our shores, they are highly prized for their rarity, appointments, power, and engaging drive that define the very best of Porsche's most iconic model.