The problems Porsche were experiencing during the early nineties have been well-documented, Germany's most famous high performance car manufacturer suffering with outdated models, alarmingly poor sales and an image tainted by eighties excess. The Boxster was a make or break car then, Porsche's first all-new model for 19 years. Thankfully it didn't disappoint and alongside the 993, the Boxster went about re-kindling Porsche's fortunes. Three basic variants were manufactured, the first cars going into production during late '96 for the 1997 model year.

Only available with a 2.5-litre 204bhp engine until 1999, the 2000 model year Boxster's featured larger 2.7-litre 220bhp motors. At the same time, a 3.2-litre S-version with 252bhp was launched, both this and the 2.7 remaining largely unchanged until the 2003 model year. At this point subtly re-worked versions with 228 and 260bhp were introduced to see the 986 through to the end of production in 2005. The Boxster ideaology went back to the early nineties when Porsche began developing a mid-engined two-seat roadster to replace the ageing and increasingly unpopular front-engined 2+2's. An engine-less prototype was first displayed at the Detroit Motor Show in 1993 and received a phenomenal response. Porsche immediately set about developing a toned down production version. They created a brand new fully galvanised steel chassis that used a mid-engined layout with rear wheel drive, independent MacPherson struts, coil sprung suspension and lightweight alloy lower control arms. Anti-roll bars were fitted all round along with ventilated disc brakes and ABS. Engine-wise, speculation abounded during the Boxster’s two-and-a-half year development about exactly what type of motor Porsche would use. They eventually settled for a horizontally opposed, all-alloy, water-cooled six of 2.5-litres.