Why the Porsche 911 Turbo S 964 is a Nearly Unbuyable Collector Car

Porsche’s 964 Turbo 3.6 is one of those cars that makes enthusiasts pause mid-conversation. Released in January 1993, it took the familiar 964 shape and added a serious punch: a K27 turbocharger feeding the 3.6 liter M64 engine for 355 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 384 pound feet of torque at 4,200 rpm. Built only for model years 1993 and 1994, with fewer than 1,500 examples in total, it instantly became the poster car for a generation—and a legend only grew when a black 1994 example starred in Bad Boys alongside Will Smith. The silhouette is classic, the boost arrives with urgency, and the driving experience feels alive even by modern standards.

As the 964 era closed in 1994, Porsche found roughly 90 Turbo chassis remaining. Rather than let them fade into the parts bin, the factory handed them to Porsche Exclusive to create something special: the Turbo 3.6 S. Buyers could choose the traditional wide-body look or the rare “flachbau” slant-nose inspired by Porsche’s racing and the 968 front end. In period, United States buyers could specify the X85 Turbo S Flachbau package as an eye-watering $60,179 option on the $99,000 Turbo 3.6. Similar versions existed for Japan (X83) and non-U.S. markets (X84), each tailored with regional details that collectors obsess over today.

Under the decklid, the Turbo S received the X88 “Turbo S” engine upgrade, while the bodywork gained the X92 Exclusive front spoiler, X93 Exclusive rear spoiler, and X99 959-style rear fender air intakes. The result is a car that looks like it is inhaling the road even at idle. Production numbers underline the rarity: 39 X85 Flachbau models for the U.S., 27 for international markets, and 10 for Japan—every one finished in Polar Silver. Porsche Exclusive also commissioned 17 additional X85 “Package cars” for the U.S. that kept the 964-style front end while retaining the rest of the Turbo S magic.

What makes these cars special is not only power or scarcity—it is the feeling. You sense the craftsmanship in the way the boost builds, the way the steering communicates, and the way the cabin surrounds you with purposeful simplicity. It is a car that rewards patience and precision, and it still stirs the soul the moment the turbo whistles.