Thursday 27th July 2023

Manthey-tuned Porsche 911 (996) GT3 RS for sale

The now-factory team has been making barmy 911s longer than you might think...

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The Manthey name is now synonymous with the most hardcore Porsches known to man. Porsche annihilated the production car lap record around the Nurburgring back in 2017 with the ballistic 991.2-gen 911 GT2 RS, clocking a time ten seconds faster than the million-pound 918 hybrid hypercar. Four years later, Manthey took its own GT2 RS to the Nordschleife – with a few upgrades, of course – and bettered Porsche’s efforts by nine seconds. Unbelievable.

That’s what decades' worth of racing laps logged in Stuttgart’s finest machinery looks like. You’ve likely seen the outfit’s iconic ‘Grello’ cars racking up victories at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, which the team holds the outright record for, though it’s also been operating Porsche’s works 911 RSRs in recent years, taking the Pro class win at last year’s Le Mans 24 Hours. If there’s anyone who can muck about with a 911 and do it properly, it’s Manthey. Heck, it’s done such a good job of tuning the cars from Stuttgart that Porsche took a 51 per cent stake in the company in 2013. The good news: ultra-tuned Porsche that come with a factory warranty. The bad news: GT2 RS MR does look a bit dodgy on a door sticker.

You’d think that Manthey’s foray into road car tuning is a recent endeavour, but this stunning 996-gen 911 GT3 RS proves otherwise. Sift through the pictures below and you’ll notice the team’s name etched onto the stainless-steel exhaust system, which forms part of Manthey’s K410 upgrade package. The uprated exhaust is said to save 6.9kg, while a tweaked ECU is said to unlock an extra 30hp and 22lb ft of torque. That’d bring the RS up from 380hp (a figure that many believe is conservative) to 410hp, while amplifying the bark from the 3.6-litre Metzger flat-six out back.

The Manthey goodness doesn’t stop there. The suspension has been refreshed with Manthey’s own adjustable coilovers. Cars fettled by the racing squad are known for being a tad on the firm side (to put it lightly), but that’s sort of the point. Manthey is squarely focused on lap time. To that end, the previous owner has fitted the final drive from the 996 GT3 cup car, shortening sixth gear in the process, and ditched the standard brakes for beefier Alcons. Even the rear wing has been tweaked to provide more adjustability.

What we have here might be one of the most capable 996 track cars shy of a full-fat GT3 RSR racer. And that’s what makes this a particularly interesting example, because the interior retains all the trimmings of the standard RS. Well, apart from a Momo steering wheel and a full roll cage. Only the brave will use it as a daily driver, but it’ll get you to a circuit, lap said circuit at a blistering pace and get you home without the faff of a trailer.

If you want to go the whole hog and use it as intended, that is. Just 113 of the original GT3 RS were brought to the UK, making the 996 considerably rarer than the models that proceeded it. Remarkable that this example is up for ‘just’ £159,995. Not the cheapest GT3 by any stretch, but a 911 that’s been breathed on by a legendary motorsport outfit (let alone Porsche’s factory GT team), is probably a safe investment. Just don’t treat it like one. It's brimming with some of the finest hardware you can stuff in a 911 – go see what it’s capable of.

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SPECIFICATION | PORSCHE 911 (996.2) GT3 RS

Engine: 3,600cc flat-six
Transmission: six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 381@7,400rpm (claimed 410hp with Manthey upgrade)
Torque (lb ft): 284@5,000rpm (stock)
MPG: 22
CO2: 315g/km
Year registered: 2004
Recorded mileage: 40,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £159,995

See the original advert here

[GreatScott2016]

Have always loved that colour combo. What a thing too

[redroadster]

Lots don't like 996 ,but to me this gt3 works really well in both red and blue striped up colour schemes I'd luv one .

[WY86]

Its a small thing but the exhaust tips look on the small side to me.

Edited by WY86 on Thursday 27th July 10:48

[911Spanker]

My favourite 911 ever.

[Jon_S_Rally]

That's bloody lovely! Would have that in a heartbeat.

[cerb4.5lee]

redroadster said:

Lots don't like 996 ,but to me this gt3 works really well in both red and blue striped up colour schemes I'd luv one .

It seems petty really, but the headlights always put me off this generation of 911. I just don't find it very easy on the eyes to look at(especially in comparison to previous generations of 911).

[asci.white]

cerb4.5lee said:

It seems petty really, but the headlights always put me off this generation of 911. I just don't find it very easy on the eyes to look at(especially in comparison to previous generations of 911).

There are a few companies selling 997 front end kits so that could be altered without too much fuss.

Overall it looks quite understated compared with the last few GT3s to come out. I'd imagine its great fun to drive. Definitely a lottery win car for me.

[Evil.soup]

Yellow callipers don't seem to work on any car for me, just look quite cheap...nice car though.

I also agree the exhausts don't seem quite right.

[Gecko1978]

Love this the look the size the colours.

So let's assume a euro millions win Friday and I buy this. Can you actually drive it to the track I thought a roll cage meant it's dangerous without a helmet on. An given my track of choice would be the ring (I have won the euros no more 9 to 5 for me). Could I safely drive there?

[daveco]

As much as people hated the egg type headlights that were on the original 996, I have to say these look far worse and always have in my eyes. The whole car is curves and then all of a sudden you have angular ends to the headlights. It just doesn't look right.

[Oz83]

It's Mezger not Metzger

[cayman-black]

I had a 2004 standard car which was one of the best cars I have ever owned I sold it with 6k miles on it for £68k.

[howardhughes]

When you look at this and realise how vulgar the current models are.

[Dombilano]

Gorgeous, but I just can't get the Renault Megane R26.R out of my head when I look at it

[WPA]

Stunning car

[Slippydiff]

WY86 said:

Its a small thing but the exhaust tips look on the small side to me.

The Manthey exhaust was originally designed for the Mk1 996 GT3 (whose tailpipe position and size differs from that of the Mk2, as do the bumper cutouts) hence they look wrongly located and somewhat undersized on the later car. But Manthey also changed the manufacturer of their silencers/tailpipes and the early iterations had what I think are better looking tips (even though they didn't have "Manthey" etched into them.

I also briefly owned a 996 GT3 RS :



I didn't gel with it at all, and found it too low, too harsh riding, and over all, too compromised for use on our bumpy, poorly maintained blacktop here in the UK.

Edited by Slippydiff on Wednesday 6th September 16:12

[Robertb]

daveco said:

As much as people hated the egg type headlights that were on the original 996, I have to say these look far worse and always have in my eyes. The whole car is curves and then all of a sudden you have angular ends to the headlights. It just doesn't look right.

IMO the 'fried egg' lights look better on the narrowbodies, the 'crying eyes' work better on the widebodies as they are counterbalanced by the air intakes and bigger bumper.

The mk 1 GT3 is a particularly handsome car I think, but I also love the 4S.

[seawise]

Wonderful cars, i've had two over the years since they were new (a well used blue decal car with the Manthey K410 conversion and a red completely standard minter). Both long gone from my garage now alas.

They work better on the track than road as others have pointed out, but the sense of occasion they afford in road use almost compensates. Plus you can adjust ride height, camber, etc to your preference, ie fast road or track focused.

Perfect blend of performance versus grip, plenty of challenge for the driver, and compared to all the modern stuff pretty reasonably priced for a very low production run RS.

[cerb4.5lee]

Slippydiff said:

I also briefly owned a 996 GT3 RS (it belonged to Keith Flint of The Prodigy prior to my ownership) :



I didn't gel with it at all, and found it too low, too harsh riding, and over all, too compromised for use on our bumpy, poorly maintained blacktop here in the UK.

I'd imagine them to be pretty punishing as a road car for sure. I bet they are cracking to drive on a nice and smooth track though.

[Slowlygettingit]

Is this car - this car?
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2004-porsche-9...

Sold for £132k +£6k CC fee…….

Edited by Slowlygettingit on Thursday 27th July 19:36