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Kaege Retro's Backdated 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo Heads to Auction
A rest-of-world 993-generation Porsche 911 Turbo modified by Germany's Kaege Retro with carbon-fibre bodywork, a 510bhp engine and a bespoke green leather interior is being offered for sale in California.
By Eleanor Ellington · 4 min read
A 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo that was comprehensively reworked by the German specialist Kaege Retro is being offered for sale through a California dealer, giving collectors a rare chance to acquire one of the firm's built-to-order backdated coupés. The car, finished in Firn White over Nephrite Green leather and Pepita cloth, was modified in 2020 and is presented as part of the Iconic Collection from Private Collection Motors.
Kaege Retro, founded by Roger Kaege in Stetten, Germany, produces customised coupés based on the 993 platform. This example carries RS-inspired carbon-fibre bodywork with flared fenders and quarter panels, early-style chrome rear bumperettes and H4-look LED headlights. Green bodyside stripes, chrome fuel and oil filler caps, bullet-style mirrors and a carbon-fibre front spoiler, rear valance and rocker panels complete the exterior, along with LED taillights, Kaege badging, 911R-style taillights and a sunroof.
The car rides on 18-inch three-piece Fuchs-style wheels with polished lips and black centres, fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres showing 2024 date codes. Suspension work includes KW sport components and a front strut tower brace, while braking is handled by 993 Turbo calipers and cross-drilled rotors.
Inside, Recaro Pole Position seats are trimmed in Nephrite Green leather with green, black and white Pepita cloth inserts and green microsuede backs. The matching upholstery extends to the door panels and pulls, and the backdated body-colour dashboard features green leather upper and lower pads, a Porsche Classic infotainment system and custom climate controls. A padded Heigo roll bar replaces the rear seats, and other amenities include power windows, dual airbags, a custom shifter with a green leather boot, German Maestro door speakers, USB and auxiliary inputs, and a Hanhart timer mounted on a chrome plaque below the dashboard.
The green leather-trimmed steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation including a Kaege-branded 7,600-rpm tachometer, a 300 km/h speedometer, a Zeit clock and combination gauges. The six-digit odometer shows 12,000 kilometres, roughly 7,000 miles, since the build was completed. Brushed aluminium sill plates identify the car as number 04 in the series.
Power comes from a twin-turbocharged and intercooled 3.6-litre flat-six that was reportedly optioned from the factory with the X50 Turbo Power Kit. Kaege Retro added an aftermarket ECU and a revised cooling system for an advertised output of 510 horsepower, sent to all four wheels through a six-speed manual transaxle and a limited-slip differential. A custom exhaust system and a carbon-fibre-trimmed intercooler have been installed, the spark plugs were replaced in July 2024, and carbon-fibre panels line the underside.
The car is offered with a build sheet, service records and a clean Carfax report showing no accidents or damage since its first entry in June 2024. It carries a Montana title. The passenger-side blower fan was replaced by Porsche of Downtown Los Angeles in September 2024.
Prospective buyers should note that the car does not have catalytic converters and cannot pass a California emissions test or CARB inspection in its current form. The same Kaege Retro-modified 993 Turbo was previously sold on Bring a Trailer in December 2024, making this its second public offering in less than a year.
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