Air-Cooled Porsche 911 for Sale

The short answer

An air-cooled Porsche 911 is any 911 built before the water-cooled 996 arrived for the 1999 model year. That covers four broad eras: the original long-hood cars of the 1960s and early 1970s, the G-Series impact-bumper cars, the 964 and the 993. Every air-cooled 911 uses a rear-mounted flat-six cooled by air and oil rather than by a radiator. Most were sold with a manual gearbox, and the 964 and 993 also offered a Tiptronic automatic on selected models. The air-cooled cars we have right now are listed above; this guide helps you choose one and check it properly.

Air-cooled 911 generations at a glance

Era	US model years	Manual gearbox	Automatic offered	Body styles
Original 911	1965–1973	4- or 5-speed	Sportomatic on some cars	Coupe, Targa
G-Series	1974–1989	4- or 5-speed	Sportomatic on some early cars	Coupe, Targa, Cabriolet, Speedster
964	1989–1994	5-speed	4-speed Tiptronic (Carrera 2)	Coupe, Targa, Cabriolet, Speedster
993	1995–1998	6-speed	4-speed Tiptronic (selected models)	Coupe, Targa, Cabriolet

The 993 was the last air-cooled 911. Its replacement, the 996, moved the 911 to water cooling.

Which air-cooled 911 should you buy?

Choose a G-Series car if you want the classic shape with the simplest mechanicals. The later Carrera 3.2 cars from the 1987 model year use the G50 gearbox, which many owners find easier to drive than the earlier 915 gearbox.

Choose a 964 if you want classic looks with more modern hardware. The 964 brought power steering, ABS and coil springs in place of torsion bars, and it was the first 911 offered with all-wheel drive, in the Carrera 4.

Choose a 993 if you want the most refined air-cooled 911. It has a six-speed manual, a multi-link rear suspension and smoother bodywork, and it was the first 911 Turbo with twin turbochargers and all-wheel drive.

Either way, condition and history matter more than the badge. A well-documented car with known ownership is a better buy than a lower-mileage car with gaps in its records.

For a deeper side-by-side, read our 964 vs 993 buyer's guide.

Manual or Tiptronic?

Most air-cooled 911s on the market have a manual gearbox, and that is what most buyers look for. The original and G-Series cars use four- or five-speed manuals, the 964 uses a five-speed and the 993 a six-speed. The Tiptronic automatic arrived with the 964 Carrera 2 and continued in the 993 on selected models. Every Turbo from these years is manual only. If a listing does not state the gearbox clearly, ask us to confirm it from the car's documents.

The air-cooled 911s in our inventory right now

As of November 2026 we have seven air-cooled 911s in stock: one G-Series car, two 964s and four 993s. Every one of them has a manual gearbox. The list changes as cars sell, so the grid above is always the current one, but today's mix covers most of the air-cooled story.

The G-Series car. A 1976 911 Carrera in White with a Red Tartan interior and a five-speed manual.

The 964s. A 1993 911 Speedster in Speed Yellow with a five-speed manual, and a 1994 911 Turbo in Midnight Blue Metallic with a five-speed manual. The 964 Turbo was only offered with a manual gearbox.

The 993s. A 1996 911 Carrera 4S in Midnight Blue Metallic with a Midnite Blue leather interior, a 1996 911 4S in Forest Green Metallic, a 1997 911 4S in Glacier White, and a 1996 911 Carrera RS. All four have the six-speed manual. Three of these 993s carry European-market VINs, which is something to discuss when you look at the paperwork.

The 993 Carrera RS shows why the spec sheet matters. The 993 Carrera RS was not sold new in the US, so every example here arrived as an import. It is a lighter, more focused version of the 993 coupe, and it was built with a manual gearbox. To see one in person or on video, start with our 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera RS in Speed Yellow with the six-speed manual.

The air-cooled range, model by model

911, 911 S, 911 T and 911 E (original cars). The first 911s. Simple, light and narrow-bodied, with short-wheelbase cars up to the 1968 model year and a longer wheelbase after that. The Targa, with its removable roof panel and roll bar, arrived for the 1967 model year.

911 SC and Carrera 3.2 (G-Series). The impact-bumper cars that carried the 911 through the late 1970s and 1980s. The Cabriolet joined the range during the SC years, and a Speedster was offered at the end of the G-Series.

930 Turbo (G-Series). The first 911 Turbo, with a single turbocharger, wide rear fenders and a large rear wing. Rear-wheel drive and manual gearbox.

Carrera 2 and Carrera 4 (964). The core of the 964 range. The Carrera 2 is rear-wheel drive and the Carrera 4 is all-wheel drive. Coupe, Targa and Cabriolet bodies.

964 Turbo and Speedster. The 964 Turbo uses a wide body and a manual gearbox. The Speedster has a low, raked windscreen and a manually operated top.

Carrera and Carrera 4 (993). Rear- or all-wheel drive, Coupe or Cabriolet. The 993 Targa replaced the removable panel with a large sliding glass roof.

Carrera 4S and Carrera S (993). These use the wider body shell of the 993 Turbo. The Carrera 4S is all-wheel drive and the Carrera S is rear-wheel drive. Both were sold with a six-speed manual.

993 Turbo. Twin turbochargers, all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual. The top of the air-cooled road-car range.

What to check before you buy an air-cooled 911

Service history and ownership. Ask for every record available: invoices, owner's manuals, the service book and any previous inspections. On a car this age, a long, documented history counts for more than low miles alone.

Oil leaks. Some seepage is common on air-cooled engines. A pre-purchase inspection can tell normal seepage from a leak that needs work.

Engine condition. Ask about any engine rebuild, with invoices. A leak-down and compression test during inspection gives you a baseline.

Rust and past repairs. Check the floor pans, the jack points, the front luggage area, the battery tray area and the bottoms of the doors. Ask for paint-meter readings and photos of the underside.

Originality. Ask whether the engine and gearbox are original to the car, and whether the color and interior match the original spec. A Certificate of Authenticity from Porsche can confirm the factory specification.

Gearbox and clutch. On G-Series cars, ask about the gearbox's condition and shift quality. On all cars, ask when the clutch was last replaced.

Import paperwork. A car built for another market, like the 993 Carrera RS, needs clean, documented import and title paperwork. Ask to see it before you commit.

Ask us for a full walkaround of the exact car — by FaceTime or in person.

Air-cooled 911 price — what drives value

What an air-cooled 911 is worth comes down to the individual car: era, model, gearbox, mileage, originality, color, documentation and condition. We do not publish general price guides here, because two cars with the same badge can be very different cars. Each car's current asking price is on its own listing.

Buying an air-cooled 911 from out of state

Most of our buyers live outside Oregon. Here's how it works:

1. Walkaround video and photos of the exact car, including a cold start and a drive, plus the records we have for it.
2. Live video call or in-person visit, whichever you prefer.
3. Paperwork and financing handled remotely.
4. Delivery to your door, anywhere in the US.

Nationwide delivery

Compare other 911 generations

• Porsche 996 for sale
• Porsche 997 for sale
• Porsche 991 for sale
• Manual 911s for sale

Thinking of selling or trading your air-cooled 911? Get an offer.

Why buy your air-cooled 911 from Grand Prix Motorcars

We are independent and Porsche-focused, and we hand-pick our 911s. Air-cooled cars are a regular part of what we choose, from G-Series Carreras to 964 and 993 models. We look for the right spec, honest descriptions and a documented history before we list a car. Call (971) 501-1602 or send us a message about any car above.