What makes a car more special than usual? Sometimes it’s rarity, sometimes it’s personal meaning, sometimes it’s pedigree. Sometimes what makes a car extra special is who’s selling it, and that’s certainly the case with this 2000 Porsche Boxster S. That’s because it’s being sold by the man who designed it, Grant Larson.
In late 1991, Porsche green-lit a mid-engined sports car, and design boss Harm Lagaiij tasked Larson with whipping up a concept car in time for the 1993 Detroit auto show. The timeline was tight, but with inspiration from the 550 Spyder and 718 race car that succeeded it, the star of the show was born.
The Boxster concept was instantly a hit, with Larson recalling, “Shortly after the presentation in Detroit, we were instructed to stop series design development for the Boxster immediately. The instruction instead was: ‘Please build the concept exactly like that’.” While final dimensions and details like the tail lights and side vents would change for production, the end result looks remarkably like Larson’s drafts.
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As for this particular Boxster, it’s covered a mere 43,000 kilometers since new, or less than 27,000 miles. Spec’d in silver with the 2000-model-year-only monochromatic steering wheel crest, it’s a subtle sort of treat. Better yet, it’s a Boxster S, so it gets a 3.2-liter flat-six with 250 horsepower, a six-speed manual gearbox, larger brakes, stiffer rear springs, beefed-up tie rods, revised front suspension geometry, larger wheel bearings, twin exhaust tips, and a third radiator in the center of the front fascia. It’s good enough for zero-to-60 mph in 5.2 seconds during Car And Driver testing, nearly a second quicker than the standard Boxster and still a quick pace today.
Of course, being a 2000 model year car, there’s the question of whether it’s actually 25 yet. You might have to wait a few months to bring it over from Europe, but at that point, it should be both U.S.-import legal and dodge auto tariffs. Better yet, why not spend some time with a sports car in Europe? Climb an Alp switchback after switchback, enjoy a stretch of derestricted autobahn at daybreak, have a Spa day involving Eau Rouge rather than eucalyptus oil.
Larson’s Instagram reel says the best way to get in touch about buying his Boxster is through private message, but I want y’all to play nice. If you’re extremely serious about buying one of the nicest Boxsters in existence with some legendary pedigree, reach out.
Top graphic images: Instagram/Grant Larson; Porsche; depositphotos.com
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Understatement of the day right here. If you want a car with a cool story, this is up there.
I cannot get excited about dealer-order/lease-special Silver and Black – regardless of it’s provenance.
Especially when there was that lovely bordeaux red interior which it was introduced with.
https://www.porsche.com/stories/design/it-started-with-a-sketch/
I agree with you about the black interior – yuck, ESPECIALLY in an open car (like sitting in a frying pan on a sunny day), but silver is fine – it was Germany’s racing color after all.
But I too would have gotten the red interior. Or navy blue, if that was offered on release. The Cayman I came *this close* to ordering new for my 50th birthday was to be silver on blue. My inner Yankee Cheapskate nixed it, and I bought a Fiata instead.