Porsche 993 Production Numbers: Which Air-Cooled 911s Are Rarest in the US?

The Type 993 is the last Porsche 911 with an air-cooled engine. But "993" isn't one car. It covers coupés, cabriolets, a glass-roof Targa, all-wheel-drive and wide-body models, twin-turbo cars and homologation specials, each built in very different numbers. Some were sold new in the US and some never were.

This guide sets out how many 993s were built, how the total splits by variant, which figures are worldwide and which are US-only, where published numbers disagree, and how a US buyer can check what a specific car really is. Where sources conflict, we show each figure with its source rather than picking one. If you're shopping now, you can browse every car currently listed on RareCars.com, including a 1998 993 listed as a Carrera S coupé.

How many Porsche 993s were built?

Porsche's own figure: 68,881 Type 993 cars were produced between 1993 and 1998 (Porsche Newsroom, sources 1 and 2). That's the headline number throughout this guide.

You'll also see a second number. The widely used per-variant production table (Wikipedia, citing Kittler's Deutsche Autos seit 1990, and repeated in an independent buyer's guide; sources 3 and 4) sums to 68,029, about 850 short of Porsche's total. The table doesn't break out low-volume specials such as the Turbo S and the GT2, and that likely explains much of the gap (source 5). The two figures count different things.

Porsche 993 production numbers by variant

Market column: "World" means worldwide production. "Not federalized" means the car wasn't sold new in the US.

#	Variant	Units built	Market	Source
1	Carrera coupé (272 PS)	14,541	World	3, 4
2	Carrera Cabriolet (272 PS)	7,730	World	3, 4
3	Carrera coupé (285 PS)	8,586	World	3, 4
4	Carrera Cabriolet (285 PS)	7,769	World	3, 4
5	Targa	4,583 (table) / 4,619 (year-by-year count)	World; about 1,151 US + Canada	3, 4
6	Carrera S	3,714	World; 1,752 North America	3, 4
7	Carrera 4 coupé (272 PS)	2,884	World	3, 4
8	Carrera 4 Cabriolet (272 PS)	1,284	World	3, 4
9	Carrera 4 coupé (285 PS)	1,860	World	3, 4
10	Carrera 4 Cabriolet (285 PS)	1,138	World	3, 4
11	Carrera 4S	6,948	World	3, 4
12	Turbo (3.6 twin-turbo)	5,978	World	3, 4
13	Carrera RS (including about 227 Clubsport)	1,014	World; not federalized	4, 6
14	Turbo S	345	World; 183 or 176 for the US (sources differ)	7, 8, 9
15	GT2 road cars	57 road-legal (one source); Porsche says "edition of 100"; about 194 if racing derivatives are counted	World; not federalized	2, 4, 6

The plain rear-drive Carrera, coupé and cabriolet, makes up well over half of all 993s. The wide-body naturally aspirated Carrera 4S and Carrera S together number about 10,700. The Carrera RS, Turbo S and GT2 are in the hundreds, or close to a thousand for the RS.

Where the sources disagree

Turbo S: worldwide vs US

1. Worldwide: 345. RM Sotheby's lot essays state that Porsche's Exclusive department built "only 345 examples" (source 7). Gooding & Company says "one of 345 examples produced" (source 8), and a Porsche specialist reference lists 345 worldwide for 1997–98 (source 6).
2. US: 183 or 176. RM Sotheby's describes cars as "one of only 183 Turbo S models produced for the U.S." and, in another catalogue, "183 examples built for North America" (source 7). Gooding & Company says "just 176 imported to the US" (source 8). The gap may come from how each counts "built for" versus "imported", and from whether Canada is included. We show both.
3. A figure we no longer use: an earlier draft cited "about 182 to 183" as the total. One research site gives about 183 (source 5), and that matches the US count, not the worldwide total. An earlier Wikipedia quote of "the final 182" could not be found in the current article, so it has been removed.

GT2: 57, 100 or about 194?

Porsche's history article says the rear-drive GT2 was "limited to an edition of 100" (source 2). Wikipedia, citing Road & Track, says "only 57 road-legal variants were built" (source 4). A Porsche specialist reference gives about 194, "depending on whether racing derivatives are counted" (source 6). The higher counts include race cars. For a road-going GT2, 57 is the most specific sourced figure.

Targa: 4,583 or 4,619?

The per-variant table gives 4,583 (sources 3 and 4). Wikipedia's year-by-year Targa list sums to 4,619 but is marked "citation needed" (source 4).

Total: 68,881 or 68,029?

Porsche's total is 68,881 (sources 1 and 2). The variant table sums to 68,029 (sources 3 and 4). We use Porsche's number.

Production numbers by year: what's on record

Year-by-year splits are published for only a few variants:

1. Targa (US + Canada, by model year): 462 (1996), 567 (1997) and 122 (1998), a total of 1,151. Worldwide: 2,442, 1,843 and 334 (source 4, marked "citation needed").
2. Carrera RS: built in 1995 and 1996 only (source 4).
3. Carrera S: the 1997 model year plus a brief stub period later in 1997, sold as 1998 models (source 4).
4. Turbo S: built for 1997–98 (source 6), with production starting in 1997 (source 7).

We haven't found a reliable year-by-year split for the other 993 variants, so we don't publish one.

The US view: which 993s actually came here?

1. Not sold new in the US: the Carrera RS (Wikipedia says it "was not approved for import to the United States") and the GT2 road car (sources 4 and 5).
2. US share of the rare ones:
3. Turbo S: 183 (RM Sotheby's) or 176 (Gooding & Company) of 345 worldwide.
4. Carrera S: 1,752 for North America of 3,714 worldwide (source 4).
5. Targa: about 1,151 for the US and Canada of 4,583–4,619 (source 4).
6. Carrera S Cabriolet: never officially offered. About 5 were reportedly built to special order through Porsche Exclusiv in 1997 for the US (California), plus 1 for a European client (source 4). These are reported, not confirmed.

When a listing says "one of X", ask whether X is a worldwide or a US figure.

How to verify a rare 993 (for US buyers)

Production numbers only matter if the car really is the variant claimed. Before you rely on a rarity claim:

1. Get the factory record. Porsche offers a Porsche Production Specification (PPS), ordered online by VIN at vehicledocumentation.porsche.com. It shows the car's original production card details, including optional equipment, exterior and interior colors, engine and transmission type, and production completion date. The PPS replaced the former Certificate of Authenticity (COA) program (sources 10, 11 and 12).
2. Consider an inspection-backed certificate. The Porsche Classic Technical Certificate (CTC) covers the 993. It adds a physical inspection by a Porsche Classic-trained technician and checks that the engine and transmission numbers currently in the car match the original records. It can be ordered only through a Porsche Classic Partner or a qualified authorized dealer (sources 10 and 11).
3. Read the VIN. US-market 993s have a 17-character VIN starting "WP0" (Porsche). The 10th character is the model year, for example "S" for 1995, "T" for 1996, "V" for 1997 and "W" for 1998 (US standard VIN model-year codes, source 13). Check that the VIN on the car, title and paperwork all match. The VIN alone may not tell you the variant, so use the PPS for that.
4. Check option codes against the factory record. Special versions are often recorded as option codes. The Carrera RS Clubsport, for example, is option M003 (source 4). Compare any code on the car's option sticker or paperwork with the PPS rather than trusting a badge.
5. Don't rely on badges or body panels alone. Several 993 variants share visual features: the Carrera 4S and Carrera S use the Turbo's wide body (sources 2 and 4). A wide body doesn't prove a car is an S or a Turbo.

Rarest to most common: a quick ranking

Worldwide counts, with US notes:

1. Carrera S Cabriolet: about 5 (US, California) plus 1 (Europe), reported
2. GT2 road car: 57 road-legal (Road & Track via Wikipedia); "edition of 100" per Porsche. Not federalized
3. Carrera RS Clubsport: about 227 (part of the RS's 1,014). Not federalized
4. Turbo S: 345 worldwide; 183 or 176 for the US
5. Carrera RS (all, including Clubsport): 1,014. Not federalized
6. Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 285 PS: 1,138
7. Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 272 PS: 1,284
8. Carrera 4 coupé, 285 PS: 1,860
9. Carrera 4 coupé, 272 PS: 2,884
10. Carrera S: 3,714 (1,752 North America)
11. Targa: 4,583–4,619 (about 1,151 US + Canada)
12. Turbo: 5,978
13. Carrera 4S: 6,948
14. Carrera Cabriolet: 7,730 (272 PS) and 7,769 (285 PS)
15. Carrera coupé: 8,586 (285 PS) and 14,541 (272 PS)

Porsche 993s on RareCars.com

Listings change when cars sell. These were live on RareCars.com when we last checked (Oct 25, 2026). Variant names below are as each dealer listed them; we haven't independently verified them, so check with a PPS as described above. If a link no longer works, the car may have sold: browse all current listings on RareCars.com. Contact the listing dealer through RareCars.com to check availability.

1. 1998 Porsche 911 (993) listed as a Carrera 4S

   

2. 1997 Porsche 911 (993) listed as a Targa

   

3. 1996 Porsche 911 (993) Carrera

   

4. 1995 Porsche 911 (993) Carrera 4 coupé

   

5. 1995 Porsche 911 (993) Carrera

   

6. 1998 Porsche 993 listed as a Carrera S coupé

7. 1998 Porsche 911 (993) listed as a Carrera S
8. 1997 Porsche 993 Carrera 2 coupé
9. 1995 Porsche 993 Carrera 4 Cabriolet
10. Browse every car on RareCars.com

FAQ

How many Porsche 993s were made?

Porsche reports 68,881 built from 1993 to 1998. The widely used per-variant table sums to 68,029 because it leaves out some low-volume specials.

Which Porsche 993 is the rarest?

Among the named variants, the GT2 road car is the rarest: 57 road-legal per Road & Track via Wikipedia, or "an edition of 100" per Porsche. About 227 RS Clubsports and 345 Turbo S cars were built worldwide. A handful of factory-ordered Carrera S Cabriolets (about 5 for the US plus 1 for Europe, reported) are rarer still.

How many 993 Turbo S were built?

345 worldwide, per RM Sotheby's, Gooding & Company and a Porsche specialist reference. For the US, RM Sotheby's says 183 and Gooding & Company says 176 imported.

Was the 993 Carrera RS sold in the US?

No. It wasn't approved for import to the US, and neither was the GT2 road car.

How many 993 Carrera S were sold in North America?

1,752, out of 3,714 worldwide.

How can I confirm a 993's original specification?

Order a Porsche Production Specification (PPS) by VIN from Porsche. It replaced the old Certificate of Authenticity. For a physical inspection plus a check that the engine and transmission numbers match, ask a Porsche Classic Partner about a Classic Technical Certificate.

What's the difference between the 993 and the 964?

1. Rear suspension: the 993 introduced a new light-alloy rear subframe with a multi-link rear suspension, which reduced the lift-off oversteer of earlier 911s (source 4).
2. All-wheel drive: the 993 Carrera 4 replaced the 964's three-differential system with a lighter setup that uses a viscous coupling, based on the 959's layout (source 4).
3. Gearbox: the 993 was the first 911 generation with a standard six-speed manual (sources 2 and 4).
4. Turbo: the 993 Turbo was the first 911 Turbo with twin turbochargers and standard all-wheel drive (source 2).
5. Targa: the 993 replaced the removable roof panel with an electric glass roof that slides under the rear window (sources 2 and 4).

Sources

1. Porsche Newsroom, "911 Across the Generations: Type 993" (PDF, 68,881 total): https://newsroom.porsche.com/dam/jcr:824e3a92-94b8-4078-ae82-279c97a917b6/05_911er_Generationen_993_EN.pdf
2. Porsche Newsroom, "The 993: Pinnacle of the air-cooled era and the last of its kind": https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/history/porsche-911-seven-generations-part-4-type-993-16486.html
3. R&D Automotive, "Porsche 993 Buyers Guide" (production table): https://rd-automotive.com/porsche-993-buyers-guide/
4. Wikipedia, "Porsche 911 (993)" (variant table citing Kittler; Targa and Carrera S regional counts; RS 1,014 including 227 Clubsport, citing RM Sotheby's; GT2 57 road-legal, citing Road & Track; Clubsport option M003; 993 vs 964 technical changes): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_911_(993)
5. Fully Sorted, "Porsche 911 (993)" research page (federalization; reconciliation of the total): https://fullysorted.com/research/models/porsche/911-993
6. Porsche Knowledge, "Porsche 911 Limited Production models" (specialist reference: RS Clubsport about 227, Turbo S 345 for 1997–98, GT2 road car about 194 depending on racing derivatives): https://www.porscheknowledge.com/porsche-911-limited-production-models/
7. RM Sotheby's lot essays, 993 Turbo S (345 built; 183 for the US / North America): https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/po18/lots/r0061-1997-porsche-911-turbo-s/ ; https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo25/lots/r0147-1997-porsche-911-turbo-s/ ; https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/lf15/lots/r167-1998-porsche-911-turbo-s/
8. Gooding & Company (now Gooding Christie's), "1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S", Lot 8, Amelia Island Auctions 2018. Quote: "One of 345 Examples Produced and Just 176 Imported to the US" (verified live Oct 25, 2026; evidence in blog-drafts/evidence/): https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1997-porsche-993-turbo-s-8
9. Road & Track, article on a 993 GT2 (the GT2 road-car source cited by Wikipedia; not opened directly): https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/news/a30706/this-porsche-911-gt2-tho/
10. Porsche Vehicle Documentation FAQ (PPS, CTC, COA renamed): https://vehicledocumentation.porsche.com/usa/faqs
11. Porsche USA, "Porsche Classic Technical Certificate": https://www.porsche.com/usa/accessoriesandservice/classic/classic-partner/technicalcertificate/
12. Porsche Newsroom, "New online service charts the origins of your classic Porsche": https://newsroom.porsche.com/pdf/f55cd793-ba31-48e0-a502-ab6708335ed4?print=
13. US standard VIN model-year codes (49 CFR Part 565): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-565