The 997 He “Tried” to Sell

Apparently, the 997 is having a bit of a moment and for people like us, who would rather have a few interesting cars than one newer, sensible [reliable] one, they sit in a really nice place. Small enough to still feel like a proper 911, modern enough to use, and just a good thing to have in a mixed garage.

Ours is a 2006 manual 997.1 Carrera 2S in Atlas Grey, with the Bose upgrade which Karl bought three years ago from Simon at Cleddau Upholstery. It was a good, honest car - about what you’d expect for its age really.

The plan at the time was simple enough. Keep it for a bit, enjoy it, and then once the 996 was finished, move it on.

He did, at one point, try to sell it, although not very convincingly. He’s a bit of a hoarder when it comes to cars, and this felt very much like one of those token efforts that suggested he had no real intention of letting it go.

Man-logic incoming… 

Apparently, they aren’t just cars, "they’re investments my love” 🙄

Not long after that, the decision was made (quietly, and without much discussion) that it was staying. It went off to SMG Motorsport to have all the usual 997 bits sorted, coolant pipes, brake lines, suspension refresh and ended up on Öhlins coilovers.

That side of things is very much Karl’s department, but the result is a car that just feels right. It’s got one of the nicest gear changes of any 911 he’s driven, the engine feels spot on, and it’s just an easy car to get in and use without overthinking it.

We’ve used it properly as well. It went to Spa in 2024 where we put a Gulf-style livery on it for the trip, and it’s been out on a few drives since; the summer solstice run through Mid Wales in 2025 with the Spirit Motor Club and a New Year drive at the start of 2026.

Spa 2024, wearing Gulf colours for the trip.

After a few trips like that, and my birthday present at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone, I decided I was ready to go back to manual, and the Cayman went up for sale instead. I think that was probably the point where it quietly became my problem!

First proper outing after it all came back together.

I can’t really leave things alone when it comes to how they look, and being the "crayons" side of this operation, the Atlas Grey just wasn’t doing it for me, it suits the car, but I kept looking at it thinking it could look more modern. I really love the grey on the 992 Sport Classic and wanted to take some inspiration from that, so I chose the 3M High Gloss Nardo Grey wrap film.

The finish and reflection on the high gloss is insane!

From the start I knew I didn’t just want grey and black, it needed something else, so I suggested orange, which Karl was absolutely fine with… right up until I mentioned doing the calipers!

“Orange calipers are McLaren. You don’t get orange calipers on a Porsche.”

You do on mine!

Over New Year, we took it to my workshop and started pulling it apart ready for the cosmetic side of things. It sat up on axle stands for a couple of months with the wheels off, and if you caught it at the right angle it genuinely looked like it was hovering - giving me Back to the Future DeLorean vibes!

Karl found a set of 18-way sports seats, which are so comfy and took them to Simon to be retrimmed, this time in silver and black Papita using original Porsche fabric from Classic FX. That alone changed the whole feel of the interior.

The calipers went off to Brake Caliper Specialists to be refurbished and painted (orange, obviously). The seatbelts went to Stuart at Quick Fit Safety and came back in black with a subtle orange edge. The side repeaters were swapped out for orange, and the steering wheel went to Royal Steering Wheels to be retrimmed in black Alcantara with an orange accent.

The wheels; Carrera Sport alloys were refurbished by Gareth at Freemans in Milford Haven in a brushed alloy and satin black finish, which works nicely against the grey without being over the top.

The wrap itself took a couple of days, with some help from my mate Chris. We didn’t go into it aiming for a full, every-panel-off colour change, that was never the plan but we did go far enough into the shuts and under the bonnet that you’re not seeing Atlas Grey anywhere obvious. There are still bits I’ll probably redo at some point. The rear spoiler was a bit of a learning curve, but for a first go I was happy enough with it.

It was finished off with a proper Porsche bonnet badge, one of those small things that just makes a difference.

The genuine new badge finishes it off nicely

We got lucky with the weather when it came home, so I took it down to the foreshore for a few photos in front of the castle. First time really seeing it properly finished rather than half in bits under workshop lights.

First go at a spoiler - one I’ll probably revisit.

Plans for it now are pretty simple – use it. We’ve got Bicester Scramble coming up, Spa Classic at the end of May, and a few more trips lined up this year. It’s already proving to be one of those cars you just reach for without thinking too much about it.

Only things it really needs now is a stereo upgrade - the same CDs on repeat for a short commute don’t last long before you start looking at Apple CarPlay options and it needs a shark's fin on the side - matte black PPF I'm thinking.

Other than that, it’s just about getting out and using it.

Finished, and finally back on the road.