Most people buying nearly seven-figure cars expect them to, you know, actually be complete. But this 1997 Porsche 911 GT2 R heading to RM Sotheby’s Milan auction is different. It’s one of only 10 GT2 Rs built in ’97, has an incredible racing pedigree, and comes with an eye-watering $550,000-$800,000 estimate. The catch? It’s basically an expensive jigsaw puzzle that’s been crashed, rebuilt twice, and is currently sitting as an unfinished project with an engine of “unknown origin.” Still interested? You might be exactly the kind of masochist this car is looking for.
A Racing Legacy Written in Dents and Rebuilds
This GT2 R started life in Glacier White, delivered to Dutch racer René Snel who campaigned it until that fateful day in August 1999 when physics won at Assen. The car was totaled, but in true racing fashion, the chassis number was simply transferred to a new shell. Because when you’re dealing with cars this rare, you don’t just give up and go home.
The rebuilt car found its way to Klaus Abbelen, Euro GT Series champion and the man who founded Frikadelli Racing with his late wife Sabine Schmitz (the legendary Queen of the Nürburgring). Abbelen ran the car in club events across iconic European circuits from 2001 to 2005, adding layers to its already rich competition history at Monza, Hockenheim, and the ‘Ring.
The Project That Never Ends
By 2014, the car had landed with The Stuttgart Legends Collection via Freisinger Motorsport. They started what would be yet another rebuild in 2017, involving a replacement chassis structure welded in from the front bulkhead forward. But here’s where things get interesting — they spent €20,885 (about $23,000) on the project and then… stopped. Whether they ran out of money, motivation, or both is unclear, but the GT2 R has been sitting in this unfinished state ever since.
What You’re Actually Buying
RM Sotheby’s is refreshingly honest about what they’re selling: a car being offered “on its production number and without a chassis number, with no claims to its previous identity.” The engine? Unknown type and origin. The interior? Stripped bare with exposed wiring everywhere. Basically, you’re buying a very expensive shell with some really great paperwork (including a period Wagenpass and inspection report by Porsche expert Andy Prill).
The sale does include BBS center-lock wheels, various body panels, and “myriad mechanical components,” but if you want to know exactly what it’ll take to get this thing running again, you’ll need to have a chat with an RM Sotheby’s specialist.
The Million-Dollar Question
Here’s the wild part: a properly restored 1996 GT2 R sold for $665,000 at Pebble Beach in 2022, and this unfinished project could potentially bring even more. That says everything about how rare and desirable these 993-generation GT2 Rs have become. With only 10 built in 1997, this isn’t just a car — it’s a piece of motorsport history that happens to need some assembly.
Modern Racing Eligibility
Once completed to period specification, this GT2 R would be eligible for prestigious historic racing series like Masters Endurance Legends and Peter Auto’s Endurance Racing Legends. For the right buyer, this isn’t just a restoration project — it’s a ticket into some of the world’s best vintage racing paddocks.
Not for the Faint of Heart
This is absolutely not a project for weekend warriors or shade-tree mechanics. You’ll need serious expertise, deep pockets, and probably a very understanding partner who won’t ask too many questions about the bills. But for someone with the resources and passion to see it through, this could be the ultimate automotive project – a chance to resurrect one of Porsche’s most visceral GT cars and continue its racing story.
Spec Sheet
Model: 1997 Porsche 911 GT2 R
Production: 1 of 10 built in 1997
Original Color: Glacier White
Current Condition: Unfinished restoration project
Chassis Status: Replacement chassis welded from front bulkhead forward
Engine: Unknown type and origin
Documentation: Period Wagenpass, Andy Prill inspection report
Racing History: Raced by René Snel (1997-1999), Klaus Abbelen (2001-2005)
Restoration Spent: €20,885 ($23K) in 2017 partial rebuild
Included: BBS center-lock wheels, body panels, mechanical components
Race Eligibility: Masters Endurance Legends, Peter Auto Endurance Racing Legends
Auction Date: May 22, 2025
Pricing & Availability
The car will be offered without reserve at RM Sotheby’s Milan auction on May 22, 2025, with an estimate of €500,000-€700,000 ($550,000-$800,000).
Recap
1997 Porsche 911 GT2 R
One of just 10 built in 1997, this unfinished GT2 R restoration project comes with incredible racing pedigree, an unknown engine, no chassis number, and an estimate that could reach $800,000 for the privilege of completing someone else’s abandoned project.
