Yes, it’s a mashup. Gas Monkey Garage built a Porsche, and it wound up being a combination of at least three different cars. This 2000 Porsche 996 Cabriolet now combines elements of the base car, the 997 and the Camaro SS. The project started with as a 996 with a blown engine, but soon progressed into LS3-powered madness with the help of Renegade Hybrids. The 996 project car also received help from more familiar faces in the Porsche world, including suspension by H&R and Elephant Racing.
Though a new Turbo S proved faster in a straight line than the 996-hybrid, the car’s performance is nothing less than impressive. The LS3 crate motor from Scoggin Dickey Chevrolet is said to produce 495 horsepower. Despite the larger cylinder count, it weighs in at about the same as the naturally aspirated 996 flat six. While this build is not for purists, it’s definitely an interesting option for a 996 which has suffered from IMS failure or other serious trauma.
The full build on this car is featured in Episode 11 off the current season of Fast n’ Loud, which is available on DiscoveryGo.
