2004 Porsche Boxster S 50th Anniversary Edition 1 of 1953 Built

Highlights

• Launched to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original Porsche 550, the “50 years of the 550 Spyder” special edition was based on the Boxster S and came with numerous upgrades
• One of just 1953 produced and of around 200 in the UK
• Recent IMS bearing and clutch
• Extensive history
• Collector’s car that can also be enjoyed

Overview

When Porsche decided to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its legendarysports roadster, the 550 Spyder, it did so by launching a special edition of its successor-of-sorts, the mid-engined 986 Boxster. Limited to 1953 cars worldwide, a number chosen as it marked the year that the original 550 Spyder was launched, the UK allocation was around just 200, making this a very rare car. Based on the Boxster S, the changes were subtle, but enough to clearly differentiate the special edition, so much so that it’s been actively sought out by collectors for some years now. While the widespread availability of Boxsters has made some a comparative bargain, this is one version that looks to be steadily appreciating. So what do you get with your special edition spec? Well,it marked the first outing for two elements of the colour scheme: the first time that GT-silver was used apart from on the Carrera GT and the maiden outing of a Cocoa brown hood, a combination that we are very fond of. The brown also extended to the interior and there are also several other unique elements to the 550 Spyder celebration, including 18 inch wheels with Seal grey spokes, 5mm wheel spacers to give a more powerful stance and silver-painted grilles in the rear struts which were (arguably a little tenuously) described as recalling the closed rear view of the original 550. Of course, there’s always one concern when looking at Boxsters of this vintage: IMS bearings. These special editions were not immune but you’ll be pleased to hear that this example had the bearings replaced, along with the clutch, back in 2015. It’s covered little mileage since and comes with an extensive history. Its owner of almost 15 years describes his approach as trying to ‘over maintain’ the car and it’s also benefited from new front springs and shocks and lower control arms all round, amongst numerous other items. As a result it’s said to drive faultlessly which means that this is a collector car that you can continue to enjoy. And after all, where’s the fun in keeping your capable roadster locked up?

History and documentation

• Registered 14 Jun 2004
• In current ownership for almost 12 years
• Stamped service book with main dealer services as follows: Sep 2005 @ 8,419 miles, Sep 2006 @ 24,121 miles, May 2007 @ 38,117 miles, Oct 2007 @ 50,271 miles
• Further stamps from independent garages as follows: Jun 2008 @ 59,113 miles, Jun 2009 @69,407 miles, Mar 2010 @ 75,742 miles, Jun 2011 @ 78,065 miles, Mar 2012 @81,698 miles, Jun 2015 @92,881 miles
• IMS bearing and clutch replaced in 2015 at 92,881 miles
• Serviced as required by the owner thereafter due to lower mileage
• Invoices show further services at revolution Porsche specialist in Jun 2013 @ 90,800 miles, Nov 2019 (on which the garage appears to have neglected to update the mileage as it states the same as the 2015 invoice, even though the mileage at MOT has increased), Feb 2023 @ 97,363 miles
• 2021 saw the replacement of the front shocks with Bilstein items, together withnew springs, front and rear bottom control arms and front drop links
• Full document pack
• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates
• Two keys
• Current MOT expires 25 Mar 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear
• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• While some of the non-black or grey Porsche interiors can be a matter of taste, there’s surely no-one that can object to the fantastic cocoa brown interior; dark grey was apparently also an option but the chocolate leather was a popular choice and deservedly so in our opinion
• A plaque on the centre console marks this out as number 1820 of the limited production run of 1953
• Other details that come with this special edition include seat backs painted in the body colour of GT-silver and chrome-ringed, black-faced dials
• One of the advantages of the brown leather is the way it has patinated; while the seats do show signs of use, they have aged fabulously
• The matching brown carpets have also worn well, though there is some expected heel wear on the driver’s side
• The owner reports that one of there is one missing headrest wind deflector
• It’s a well equipped cabin for its day, with air con, sat nav and electric windows, although sadly the air con is not functioning at present which is thought to be due to a leaking pipe
• The 11 speaker Bose stereo also intermittently operates through 10 speakers as it’s thought that there is a loose connection to the passenger door speaker
• Everything else functions as it should but the owner notes that the indicator stalk can be a little ‘clicky’, though it still functions just fine
• The front boot contains the toolkit and a space saver spare wheel and the rear boot is neat and tidy
• Overall, then, there’s a couple of small things that a new owner may choose to deal with but the interior still looks very special

Exterior

• While the special edition has a number of small changes to the exterior of the standard Boxster S, they add up to one that is very distinctive in its appearance and, in our view, it looks great, hood up or down
• Overall the car presents very well though if you look closely there are a few paint imperfections which are highlighted in the photos
• In addition, there are some scratches from speed bumps to the underside of the front spoiler bumper which are not hugely noticeable but were next on the owner’s list of jobs to be done
• The distinctive cocoa coloured hood looks to have worn very well and, like the Boxster on which it is based, has a glass rear window, to the benefit of all-year-round use
• The wheels are in very good order and wear a matching set of Michelin Pilot Sport tyres which were fitted in 2018 and still have plenty of tread remaining
• Underneath appears notably clean and, although there are a few areas of minor surface corrosion, there doesn’t look to be anything to be concerned about, as reflected in the clean MOT
• In all, it’s a special looking thing which should stand out from the crowd, even if the crowd mostly consists of Boxsters

Mechanical

• 3,179cc flat six which was rated at a slightly higher output than the contemporary Boxster S at 262 hp and was good for a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds
• Six-speed manual gearbox with a 15% shorter throw than the S, for “greater driving pleasure” according to the Porsche press release
• Rear wheel drive
• The specially styled stainless steel tailpipe is said to deliver the typical Porsche sound and is responsible for the slight power uplift
• Suspension lowered by 10mm for this special edition and Porsche Stability Management (PSM) was fitted as standard
• Four-piston aluminium brake callipers with aluminium paint finish
• Reflecting the care and attention that has obviously gone into its mechanical maintenance, the owner reports that drives beautifully

Summary

While some elements of this special edition are a more convincing tribute to the original 550 than others, there’s little doubt that the sum of the changes amounts to a very special version of the Boxster S. Given its limited numbers and delightful appearance, it looks like one version of Porsche’s roadster that should continue to appreciate over time. This particular example has been obviously pampered over the years and although the stereo and air con may need a little attention, mechanically it appears to be exactly where it should be, so it’s a collector’s car that you would very much be able to enjoy driving as well. To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire.