CSF Blue Dream 996TT

What a year!! I’m talking about 2015, the one we just zoomed right through (literally). Last January I made a dream come true by purchasing my very own Porsche 996 Turbo. It’s been an eventful first year of ownership with the car. I drove it about 4,500 miles, and it became CSF’s demo vehicle showcasing our three-piece all-aluminum radiator cooling systems for the water-cooled Porsches. I took it to a lot of the local So-Cal meets and events, did a few photo-shoots with it, and enjoyed every minute of my time behind the wheel! This is the story of how it all came together + some pics and the specs of the car.

Back at the end of 2014, I was on the chase to buy my dream car, a Porsche. I didn’t know what model, year, engine, or color that I wanted, I just knew that I wanted to have a Porsche. Ever since my dad sold his mint 1981 Carrera SC the year I got my driver’s license, I knew that one day I wanted to have my own. In December 2014, I found a low mileage black on black 996TT that was local to me in Laguna Beach. I thought it was the one. I was ready to pull the trigger at the dealership, and a guy walked in right under me and scooped it up. I was like “WTF!! How could this be happening??”

It all worked out for the best because about 2 weeks later, I was cruising the forums on rennlist.com, and boom there it was, my dream car. A PTS (paint-to sample) one-off 996TT with an extensive list of tasteful mods to the engine performance, handling, interior, and exterior. There is a very small market for a modified vehicle, let alone a Porsche. However, I’m definitely one those people who fits in that minority, and doesn’t shy away from a car that has been modified and maintained well.

I made contact with the owner who was located in Chicago. Being that this was my first Porsche, there was no way I was going to buy the car without seeing it first. I so happen to be in Toronto at the time, and I would be headed back to So-Cal in a week from when I saw the ad. I put a deposit on the car, and booked my flight with the longest layover possible in Chicago. I had some friends from back in University who helped pick me up, take me to go see the car, seal the deal, and then drove me back to the airport on time so that I could make my flight back to LA. A week later, I wired the rest of the money, and the car was on a transporter on the way home to California!

History of the Car

The first owner bought the car with the paint-to-sample option. The color code is Minerva Blue Metallic, and I believe it’s the only 996TT in existence with this color. He went with every option, including the full wood grain interior package. I actually received the original window sticker when I purchased the car so I knew everything about it, and how much it all cost. First owner paid about $135,000 for the car back in ’02, took delivery in ’03, and sold it with less than 5000 miles on the ticker in ’06.

The second owner shipped the car to Maryland, and was a huge track junkie. He was responsible for all of the performance upgrades including the engine work, and the suspension. He used it as a dedicated track car, and would leave it with his mechanic after it’s track sessions. While he did drive it hard, it was maintained perfectly. In the service record history log that I received when I bought the car, there were parts and labor logs adding up to over $100,000. Talk about passion and doing it right!

The third owner bought the car in 2012, and shipped it up to Chicago. He was responsible for all of the exterior modifications and refreshing the interior. He had sourced all of the exterior parts to make it a true RUF 550 RTurbo conversion (body, wheels, mirrors). He also added a Techart rear wing to the back to give the 996TT a nice balance. Inside he had the seats reupholstered in new leather, and added a Porsche Motorsports steering wheel, which is actually one of my favorite mods on the car.

Since I bought the car in Jan, 2015 – I did a full nuts & bolts check when I got it, put in the CSF radiator package with proper GT2 ducting, tinted the windows, and put some nice Endless MX-72 break pads.

I think it’s an amazing story about how the car traveled across the country and ended up back in California a completely different vehicle than when it left. Also the generation shifts of the owners. The first owner was in his 50’s, the second owner was in his 40’s, the third owner was in his 30’s and now I’m the fourth owner in my late 20’s. As the car got older, the owners got younger. I got in contact with the third owner through the forums, and he and I have stayed in contact and are now friends. It’s kind of cool how close the Porsche community is.

Our media partners at Speedhunters were nice enough to feature the car back in September 2015. I was even lucky enough to have their best photographer, Larry Chen, handle the feature.

Also be on the lookout for a feature dropping in both Excellence Magazine, as well as 911Porsche World.

If you want to follow the build thread on the forums, Check it out here on rennlist.com!

Specifications

CSF Cooling’s Porsche 996TT (RUF 550 RTurbo Conversion)

Year: 2002
Make: Porsche
Model: 911 (996) Turbo (RUF 550 RTurbo Conversion)
Mileage: 37000
Color: Minerva Blue Metallic ( Factory “Paint to Sample” color 1/1 for 996TT)
Transmission Type: Manual – 6 speed AWD
Engine Type: Fuel Injection