1987 Porsche 911 Carrera G50 Coupe Sport Seats Original Paint Fresh Clutch & Light Flywheel

The final run of the impact bumper cars ran from the model year 1987 to halfway through 1989.  Although horsepower increased to 217, the most significant upgrade was the transmission.  From 1972 through 1986, Porsche relied on the 915 model gearbox.  It was more fragile and took precise shifting behavior to ensure a longer life.  Starting in 1987, the G50 transmission was introduced.  It was built by Getrag and had a Borg Warner synchromesh.  The result was a more forgiving shifting experience as well as increased reliability.  Also, the turbo hydraulic clutch system provided easier clutch pedal use.  Headlights were upgraded to H5 models as well.  The final mechanical upgrade was a thermostatically controlled fan for the front fender oil cooler, which improved oil cooling on hot days.

This Carrera was built on September 9th, 1986.  It was sold new on December 20th, 1986, by Paul Miller Porsche + Audi of Parsippany, New Jersey. 

It was ordered with the following factory options:

• US Equipped (emissions/C02)
• Steering Wheel with Elevated Hub
• Cassette Radio Blaupunkt Reno SQR46
• Central Locking System
• Front and Rear Spoilers*
• 16” Fuchs Forged Alloy Wheels*
• Electric Sunroof
• Cruise Control
• Dunlop Tires

*Rear spoiler was removed decades ago and is no longer available.  The wheels were upgraded with +1” width factory Fuchs (16×7 and 16×8).  Lastly, the factory leather sport seats were added at a later date as well.

The first owner was Peter Karnig of New York.  After a few years, Peter moved to Redwood City, California, and brought his Carrera.  He serviced the car regularly with local independent specialists until he sold it to Roger Holdsworth of San Jose, California, in 1991 with somewhere around 30k miles.  Roger continued the service regimen with local experts.  He kept the car for about 5 years and added another 36k miles before selling it in March of 1996 to Jeff Isozaki of San Jose, California, with 67,000 miles.  Jeff continued the routine service program, as well as replacing the sunroof cables.  He added another 25k miles before selling it in November of 2006 with 94k miles to Kenn Lara of San Carlos, California.

Kenn was an engineer at Apple at that time.  We met him around the same time as we purchased an Alfa Romeo GTV from him.  Despite Kenn being one of the briefest owners of this 911 (2 years), he still added 16k miles as he used it as his part-time daily driver to Apple HQ in Cupertino, California.  Furthermore, during his short tenure, he did more to improve the condition of this 911 than all the previous owners combined.  His engineering nature took over as he strove to make this 911 drive the best.  Highlights of services performed during his care include:

• Routine oil services
• Brake and suspension work with misc. upgrades (1/07 @ 95,390 miles)
  • Major service
  • Spark plug wire set
  • Upgrade turbo tie rod ends
  • Install new door stays/stops on both doors
  • Rebuild brake calipers
  • Steel brake lines
  • New Bilstein shocks and struts
  • Service A/C system and convert to R134a
  • 4 wheel alignment
• Total service bill: $6,500
• Shift rod coupler and shift bushing kit (2/07)
• Adjust valves, new Nology wire set, and repair door locks (3/07 @ 96k miles)
• Front & Rear brake pads, Replace all CV boots, and oil service (5/07 @ 97k miles)
• Top end engine rebuild , clutch, and further suspension work (12/07 @ 100k miles est)
  • Valve job
  • New valves and valve guides
  • Heads machined
  • Replace fuel injectors and seals
  • Reseal complete engine with new seals and gaskets
  • Replace oil lines
  • Temperature sender and oil sensor
  • Engine sound pad
  • New starter
  • New alternator
  • Steve Wong computer chip
  • New clutch kit
  • Machine, lighten, and balance flywheel
  • Elephant racing street camber kit
  • Adjustable fuel pressure regulator
  • New oil return lines
  • Hot air hoses
  • HP cooling fan
  • Disassemble exhaust system, clean, ceramic/jet hot coat, and new seals
• Total service bill: $20,200

• Adjust ride height and 4 wheel alignment (6/08)
• Elephant racing Poly Bronze spring plate bearings and rear sway bar mounts (6/08)
• Further suspension work (7/08)
  • Remove and restore front and rear suspension bushings
  • Reinforce rear sway bar mounts
  • Refinish sway bars
  • Index torsion bars to set ride height
  • Swaybar bushings
  • Swaybar drop links
  • Repair driver door lock
  • Lower ball joints
  • Heimjointed bushing kit
  • 4 wheel alignment
  • Total service bill: $3,400

This owner invested over $30,000 in improving this 911 and taking it to the next level.  Kenn sold this 911 at the end of 2008 with around 110k miles to a Northern California enthusiast.  I’ve known this next owner for quite some time.  He’s in the automotive industry and has a passion for air-cooled Porsches.  He is an extremely conscientious owner who (like the previous owner) tends to go beyond most in his fastidious care of his Porsches.  This example is certainly no exception.  During his ownership period, he sold the car to his brother in Reno, Nevada, but eventually, bought it back and went to town with even more services.  These services include:

• Oil service, air filter, spark plugs, drive belts, tires, charge a/c (6/10 @ 116,762 miles)
• Oil service, inspection, a/c charge (8/11 @ 119,694 miles)
• Annual service, steering column bearings, brake flush, chg a/c (8/12 @ 122,016 miles)
• Sunroof repair and misc. services (12/13 @ 124,122 miles)
  • Oil service
  • Clean throttle body
  • New sunroof seals
  • Replace headliner
  • Oil return tubes
  • Oil cooler tank hose
  • Front brake pads
  • Reseal cam housing
  • Replace engine oil seals

• Oil service, charge A/C, brake switch (6/16 @ 127,203 miles)
• Brake master cylinder with fluid flush and L/R wheel bearing (8/16 @ 127,245 miles)
• Clutch job and oil leak repairs (10/18 @ 127,944 miles)
  • New clutch kit
  • Resurface flywheel
  • Pilot bearing
  • Clutch slave cylinder
  • Transmission input shaft, crankshaft and rear main seals
  • Oil service
  • Valve adjustment
  • Valve cover gaskets
    Spark plugs
  • Spark plug wires
  • Oil line from thermostat to oil tank
  • Replaced a/c O-rings and recharged
  • Front and rear brake rotors
  • Repacked front wheel hubs
  • Brake fluid flush

• Major service and misc. repairs (1/21 @ 128,699 miles)
  • New drive & A/C belts
  • Spark plugs
  • Air filter
  • Fuel filter
  • Brake fluid flush
  • Transmission fluid flush
  • Ignition cap and rotor
  • Full vehicle inspection
  • Front crankshaft seal and intermediate cover O-ring
  • Service/recharge A/C system
  • New Porsche front floor mats

• Michelin Pilot Exalto P2 tires (3/21 @ 129,164  miles)
• Right rear wheel bearing, passenger door lock linkage bushings (3/21 @129,164 miles)
• Dry ice cleaning the underside (6/23)
• Suspension and A/C work (7/21 @ 130,078 miles)
  • Replace alternator
  • New turn signal switch
  • A/C condenser blower motor
  • Recharge A/C
  • New Bilstein front struts and rear shocks

• Replace sunroof felt seals (10/21 @ 130,321 miles)
• Oil service, AC recharge, left door lock actuator rod (7/22 @ 131,736 miles)
• Install Continental Bluetooth radio with new rear speakers (7/22)
• A/C system service and recharge (6/23 @ 133,094 miles)
• Most recent oil service and vehicle inspection (10/26/23 @ 133,940 miles)
• Services upon receiving the car from the owner (11/22 @ 134,397 miles)
  • Careful paint correction over the entire car
  • Ceramic coating of all painted surfaces
  • Remove minor shallow dents
  • Replace upper and lower valve cover gaskets
  • Replace both power switches (L&R) for raising seat bottom

In just the past few years, this recent owner invested over $12k on routine services.

We helped this owner sell this Carrera to the current Orange County enthusiast on November 27th, 2023 with 134,500 miles.  For the past 16 months, this owner has added another 7k miles of fun weekend driving.  He’s continued the proper maintenance schedule, just like the prior owners.  Services during his care include:

• New window switches
• New Porsche exhaust tip
• Porsche Classic Performance steering wheel by Momo with hub adapter
• Install steering wheel*, lube/adjust passenger window regulator (1/24 @ 135,938 miles
• Install Rennline aluminum foot pedals (3/24 @ 137,238 miles)
• Semi-major service at C&F (4/24 @ 138,563 miles)
  • Oil service
  • Brake fluid flush
  • Spark plugs
  • Transmission fluid flush
  • Gas tank screen filter and gas cap seal
  • New fuel pump
• Refinish the black wheel centers, wiper arms, and grill at Doctor Detail (5/24)
• Replace sunroof cables, plastic clips, and felt seals at AAA Sunroof (8/24)
• Recharge A/C system (4/25)

The exterior of this Carrera is in excellent survivor condition, especially considering the miles.  It looks as good as the examples we’ve seen with half the miles.  It’s clear that each owner took care of this 911, and it appears to have always been garaged.  There are minimal signs of wear with no significant blemishes.  The black paint has a deep luster, which has been further protected with ceramic coating treatment.  The roof has a slight burn spot from years of polishing.  A paint meter confirms the paint’s originality.  The decklid was replaced years ago when removing the rear spoiler.  The paint matches perfectly to the rest of the car.  The trim and exterior light lenses are in good shape.  The glass is wearing all the proper factory stampings.  There are no significant chips or cracks.  The Fuchs wheels retain their original anodized finish and have no major curb rash.  The satin black centers are equally as nice.  They are wearing Michelin tires dated middle/end of 2020 and installed on 3/21. Just under half-life of tread remains.  The brake pads have around half of their life remaining, while the rotors have no lips.

The interior is equally as nice and quite remarkable considering the miles/age.  The leather sport seats were added later and show minimal signs of age with no tears or rips and just some very light typical exit bolster wear.  The leather has been conditioned as well, but the bottoms are a bit stiff.  The seats have plenty of cushion and aren’t collapsed.  The rear seats look unused.  The headliner is relatively new and free from any blemishes.  All the interior lights work, including the glove box.  The carpet is in great shape and original.  The door panels are equally as nice and hardly any signs of door pocket warping, which is so common with a car of this age.  The dash is perfect with no cracks or warping.  All the gauges work, including the clock.  The Continental Bluetooth radio is a nice upgrade.  It connects easily, sounds great, and looks vintage.  The power windows, mirrors, and sunroof all work.  The cruise control does not work.  The A/C system was just serviced and blows very cold.

This 911 is a joy to drive, and like our photographer stated, the odometer is misleading.  It looks and drives better than most examples with a third of the miles.  This Carrera starts easily on the first try and holds an even idle.  The power delivery is strong across the entire rev range with no hesitation.  The G50 transmission shifts smoothly up and down the gears with no grinding.  The clutch engages a tad bit higher, but no issues and no slipping at higher rpm shifts.  The brakes bite strongly with no fading or pulling.  The car tracks straight and surprisingly compliant on uneven surfaces, yet very balanced on a twisting road.  This example would be ideal for someone looking to get involved with vintage touring events.

California registration is current to the end of January 2026, and it passes California’s strict smog test.

This Carrera comes with 3 keys, owner’s manual with vinyl cover, original maintenance booklet with dealer stamps,  satin-style indoor car cover, jack, space saver spare, tool kit, air compressor, original factory leather steering wheel with extended hub, Porsche logo front floor mats, new custom front Cocomats, and 3-ring binder of service records back to new.

**Note: VIN and other numbers withheld to protect against fraud.  All numbers including VIN, Engine, and color will be provided to serious buyers.