6 GT3 mark66 GT3996 · unofficial

Technical notes

996.1 vs 996.2, as published

The split is real: first series about 1999–2001, facelift about 2003–2005, U.S. cars 2004–2005 only.[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[4]Hagerty Media, Rob Sass Power is the place people flatten the story. Europe published 360 PS, then 381 PS. The United States published 380 SAE hp for the car it actually sold. Those are not the same column.[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[2]Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)

Matthew Herman’s silver 996.2 GT3 parked beside an open garage
His 996.2 GT3. No 996.1 photograph is on this site — the table below is text, not a fake first-series picture.
Rear three-quarter of Matthew Herman’s silver 996.2 GT3 at a parking-lot meet
Same 996.2 from the rear at a meet. White 997 and other cars in the lot are not his GT3. Plate blacked out.

Engine

Item996.1996.2
Layout3.6-liter naturally aspirated flat-six (Mezger), dry-sumpSame 3.6-liter Mezger architecture, revised internals and breathingPCNA describes the first GT3 engine as derived from the Le Mans–winning 911 GT1. It is not the M96 Carrera engine.[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[3] 9WERKS, Tim Pitt[6]Renn Driver
Displacement3,600 cm³3,600 cm³[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[3]9WERKS, Tim Pitt
Power (European / DIN-style listing)265 kW (360 PS)381 PS (280 kW in many European tables)PCNA’s 2019 retrospective lists 265 kW (360 PS) for the first car and “horsepower grew to 381” for the facelift. 9WERKS lists 360 hp / 381 hp on its European spec sheet.[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[3]9WERKS, Tim Pitt
Power (U.S. listing)Not sold new in North America380 SAE hp at 7,400 rpmHagerty notes the first 996 GT3 was denied to North American buyers; the U.S. car is the 2004–2005 996.2. Period PCNA copy lists 380 SAE hp, not 381 PS.[2] Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)[4]Hagerty Media, Rob Sass
Torque273 lb-ft (370 Nm @ 5,000 rpm in 9WERKS’ sheet)285 lb-ft (U.S. PCNA); 385 Nm @ 5,000 rpm (9WERKS)PCNA’s 2019 piece says torque rose from 273 to 285 lb-ft. The 2004 U.S. press kit lists 285 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm.[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[2] Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)[3]9WERKS, Tim Pitt
Redline7,800 rpm8,200 rpm (U.S.: limiter in 1st–4th)[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[2]Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)
Notable engine changesGT1-derived crankcase; forged internals; titanium connecting rods cited by 9WERKSVarioCam, E-gas / drive-by-wire, lighter pistons and valves; PCNA also cites longer titanium rods[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[2] Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)[3]9WERKS, Tim Pitt

Drivetrain

Item996.1996.2
Gearbox6-speed manual only (993 GT2–derived, per PCNA)6-speed manual only; revised 5th and 6th ratios[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[2]Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)
DriveRear-wheel drive, limited-slip differentialRear-wheel drive, limited-slip differential[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[2]Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)
SeatsTwo. Rear seats deleted.Two. Rear seats deleted.Period U.S. copy is explicit: no back seat.[2] Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)[3]9WERKS, Tim Pitt

Chassis, brakes, wheels

Item996.1996.2
Ride height vs Carrera30 mm lower (PCNA)9WERKS notes Porsche raised ground clearance slightly versus the first car[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[3]9WERKS, Tim Pitt
Front brakesLarger than contemporary Carrera; 9WERKS lists 350 mm discs350 mm front rotors (up from 330 mm) and six-piston calipers; ~40% more pad contact (PCNA)[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[3]9WERKS, Tim Pitt
PCCBNot offered on the first GT3Optional for the first time on a GT3 (from the 996 GT2)[1]Porsche Cars North America press database
Wheels / tires (9WERKS sheet)8×18 / 10×18; 225/40 R18 and 285/30 R188.5×18 / 11×18; 235/40 R18 and 295/30 R18[3]9WERKS, Tim Pitt

Mass and performance (published)

Item996.1996.2
Mass1,350 kg / 2,976 lb (PCNA, A/C and rear seats deleted)3,043 lb (U.S. 2004 press); 1,380 kg on 9WERKS’ European sheetThose two 996.2 figures are the same mass to rounding. They are different columns from different publications, not a conflict.[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[2] Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)[3]9WERKS, Tim Pitt
0–60 mph (U.S. listing)— (not a U.S. car)4.3 seconds[2]Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)
0–62 mph / 0–100 km/h (European sheet)4.8 seconds (9WERKS)4.5 seconds (9WERKS)[3]9WERKS, Tim Pitt
Top track speed187 mph (PCNA 2019)190 mph / 306 km/h (PCNA)[1] Porsche Cars North America press database[2]Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials)
Nürburgring Nordschleife7:56.33, Walter Röhrl — first production car under 8 minutes, per PCNANot given a separate official time in the 2019 retrospective[1]Porsche Cars North America press database

What this page will not do

It will not invent a single horsepower number that splits the difference between 380 and 381. U.S. rarity is headlined as 960 sales (864 / 96) from an enthusiast compilation of PCNA press releases; 959 is the nearby PCA monthly running total. North America–spec “slightly over 1,000” is a wider fleet line, not a Canada-only count.[9] Porsche Club of America Tech Q&A[12] 6SpeedOnline, Divexxtreme[13]Rennlist, 996 GT2/GT3 Forum If a figure is not in the source list, it is not treated as fact.

Sources

  1. [1] Porsche celebrates 20 years of the 911 GT3 — Porsche Cars North America press database, 7 August 2019.Official retrospective covering 996.1 and 996.2 outputs, Röhrl’s 7:56.33 Nordschleife lap, mass, and the first North American GT3.
  2. [2] 2004 Porsche 911 GT3: A Pure Sports Car for the Porsche Purist — Porsche Cars North America (period U.S. press materials), model year 2004.U.S. listing figures: 380 SAE hp, 285 lb-ft, 4.3 s to 60 mph, 190 mph, 3,043 lb. No rear seats.
  3. [3] Porsche 996.1 and 996.2 GT3 buyer’s guide — 9WERKS, Tim Pitt.European-facing spec sheet, Clubsport vs Comfort, Mezger vs M96 ownership notes, and the later market rebound.
  4. [4] Your Handy Porsche 996 Buyer’s Guide — Hagerty Media, Rob Sass, 25 June 2026.U.S. introduction of the GT3 as a 2004 model; Mezger vs M96; dated market comment that a good driver GT3 starts around $120,000.
  5. [5] Porsche 996 Buyers Guide: IMS & Bore Scoring — The Stable.M96 IMS and bore-scoring context; Mezger GT3 / Turbo / GT2 treated as a different engine family.
  6. [6] Porsche Mezger Engine / Porsche IMS Bearing Guide — Renn Driver.Gear-driven intermediate shaft and plain bearing on Mezger engines versus the M96 sealed ball-bearing IMS.
  7. [7] 911 GT3 (996) ~ 1999–2000 — PurelyPorsche.Period description of Clubsport versus the more passenger-friendly Comfort specification.
  8. [8] 15 Important Cars from the 2026 Gooding Christie's Pebble Beach Auction — Hagerty Media, August 2026.One exceptional 2004 GT3 sale, cited as a single auction result rather than a market average.
  9. [9] 996 GT3 production numbers — Porsche Club of America Tech Q&A, 29 September 2007.A member totaled PCNA’s monthly announcements; the running total reaches 959 through October 2005. PCA’s Joel Reiser acknowledged the post. This is a U.S. importer monthly tally, not a Porsche AG worldwide build certificate.
  10. [10] 2004 Porsche 996 GT3 (lot catalogs) — Gooding & Company / Gooding Christie’s, Scottsdale 2020; Amelia Island 2022.Repeated catalog line: “One of 1,018 Examples Built for North America.” Auction-house language, not a Porsche press release.
  11. [11] 2004 Porsche 911 GT3, Magnus Walker: The Outlaw Collection — RM Sotheby’s.States the 996.1 GT3 was not sold in the United States and that the 996.2 arrived for 2004.
  12. [12] Compiled US production numbers for 996TT, GT2 & GT3 — 6SpeedOnline, Divexxtreme, 6 January 2007.Enthusiast compilation the poster said came from PCNA press releases: 960 U.S. 996 GT3 sales (864 MY2004, 96 MY2005). Not a Porsche brochure.
  13. [13] Official U.S. production numbers for 996 GT2 and 996 GT3 — Rennlist, 996 GT2/GT3 Forum, 19 July 2015.Forum description of the 2004–2005 North America–spec fleet (USA, Canada, and sometimes Mexico/Brazil) as slightly over 1,000 units. Not a Canada-only count.
  14. [14] Exterior Color Data - 996 GT3 — Rennlist, 996 GT2/GT3 Forum, member “enthusiast”, 8 February 2007.VIN sample of North American 996.2 GT3s (2004–2005): 393 cars of the ~960 U.S. / ~1,000 NA-spec fleet. Porsche AG does not publish a color census. These are sample counts, not factory production totals.