When car nuts use the term "widow maker", it’s usually about a Porsche of some kind. Before the world became soft. Before the days of getting a ticket for crossing a road without the walk signal saying "go". Days before electric nannies alerted you if you moved out of your lane without using the turn signal or intrusive traction control separated gods from mere mortals, there was the widow maker, the 993 Porsche 911 GT2.
Although the original widow maker was the 930 Turbo from the 70s, I think the 993 GT2 deserves the label as well. Here’s why.
The 930 Turbo suffered from terrible turbo lag & then when boost came on; hold on to your butts. Add an archaic chassis, poor weight balance (the older 911s pretty much have the entire engine behind the rear wheels), and let’s add gasoline to the fire with all the power transferred exclusively to the rear wheels.
Remember, the 930 Turbo horsepower maxed out at only 282hp from the factory, which at the time, was a lot, especially considering the size of the 930. The 993 GT2 had 430 hp. Yes, the suspension geometry and weight balance was god awful on the 930, but the 993 had to more power AND less weight (the 930 weighed around 3040lbs & the 993 was around 2885).
The GT2 was built for homologation to race in the GT2 class. Porsche engineers took 993 shells off the line that had a sunroof and would cut the sunroof out and install a full roll cage in the car. They painstakingly lightened the car to the point of using bits of string as interior door handles. A modified 3.6L from the Turbo made this the fastest 911 ever at the time.
Only 57 GT2’s (13 were RHD) ever were produced for the street, none made it to the US, and every GT2 just looks so raw and special. The fenders were cut off and plastic fenders were riveted onto the body. The rear wing is impressive, with these huge ducts that feed right into the intercooler of the turbocharged motor. Porsche exclusively used Speedline wheels on the car. No detail was left unperfected. Everything had a purpose and everything is important.
In my opinion, the 993 GT2 is most special 911 ever made. Why? There is something so backyard mechanic about it. Something so outlaw. Something so raw about the car. It was a time before Porsche was what it is today. There was no social media. There was no widespread information of Porsche. Only Porsche purists knew about this car. Only real drivers could handle this car. There was no traction control. There were no electronic nannies. This car showed how savage, brutal, and perfect Porsche engineering could be.
The 993 GT2 is pure Porsche.