1997 Porsche 993 Carrera S Vesuvio Edition – One of 60 Japanese-Market Examples
About this vehicle
Produced in extraordinarily limited numbers exclusively for the Japanese market, the 993 Carrera S Vesuvio Edition stands apart from every other late-air-cooled 911 variant. Reported production: just 60 cars. Each one carried the Turbo's wide bodyshell, a split-grille rear decklid, and the exclusive Vesuvio Metallic color scheme — a combination Porsche didn't offer anywhere else. This example is one of them, finished in L40X Vesuvio Metallic with Steel Gray accents over a Cashmere Beige interior, factory-equipped with the Special Chassis Rigidly Tuned suspension, an Active Brake Differential, xenon headlights, and an electric sunroof. One owner cared for it in Japan before it came to Irvine, CA, where it shows approximately 240,000 kilometers (~149k miles) on the odometer along with detailed service records.
Vesuvio Metallic does something most colors don't — it shifts between purple and grey depending on angle and light. Steel Gray accents follow the mirrors, decklid, and 18" Technology lightweight hollow-spoke wheels, which wear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires dated 2024. Black brake calipers carry white Porsche lettering. Paint is reported as largely original, with fade at the center of the hood, rock chips and touch-ups on the front bumper, rough touch-ups on the driver's-side roof rain guard, and a handful of cosmetic resprays confirmed by paint-meter readings, none exceeding 10mm. A full gallery of detailed images is provided alongside a clean CARFAX report.
Inside, Cashmere Beige leather covers the seats and door panels, paired with power seats, automatic climate control, an on-board computer, and a green-tinted windscreen. The headliner was replaced by the selling dealer. Factory radio gave way to a Continental unit with Bluetooth. Both seats show wear consistent with age and use, while all powered functions remain fully operational.
Driving the rear wheels is the 3.6-liter Varioram flat-six, rated at 282 HP and 250 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 5-speed Tiptronic S automatic. Factory options include the Special Chassis Rigidly Tuned suspension and the Active Brake Differential. Before import, the car went through an extensive engine-out service — new left and right timing-chain covers and gaskets, a steering-rack repair with new inner seals, fresh front control-arm bushings, and a driver's door-stopper repair. An independent pre-purchase inspection found the engine in great condition; no leak-down test was deemed necessary. The original Tiptronic transmission shows slight seepage but holds good fluid, and it's slightly less responsive with some choppiness in second gear, though it shifts correctly through both the lever and the steering-wheel controls.
Sale includes a clean title, owner's manuals, a toolkit, a spare tire, and the extensive service history accumulated over the car's life.
