F1 Icon Ayrton Senna Often Drove This Porsche 911, and Now You Can Too

While there are often numerous factors that contribute to an automobile’s collectability, certain notable cars owe their value primarily to one. Rarity based on numbers is a key element to consider, but provenance is what propels a price into overdrive. Case in point is the 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Cabriolet currently available through online-auction house SBX Cars.

The vehicle on offer is among the second generation of the benchmark 911 model, and is one of the 198,496 built of that G-series—including coupe, Targa, and cabriolet body styles—in a production run spanning the years 1973 through 1989. On that front, there’s nothing to move the auction needle particularly. What makes this example so special is that it was frequently driven by fabled Formula 1 racer Ayrton Senna.

“Owning this 911 isn’t just about having a classic Porsche, it’s about holding a tangible piece of Ayrton Senna’s legacy,” says Steve Gregg, managing director of SBX Cars. “Cars connected to Senna are exceptionally rare, and this one captures a unique moment in his life away from the track.”

Senna’s name has become synonymous with both the heights of success and sacrifice that have defined Formula 1, the world’s premiere motorsport series, in its 75-year history. The Brazilian driver, born in the city of São Paulo in 1960, was only four years old when he began racing go-karts. By 1984, he was in his first season of Formula 1, campaigning under the Toleman banner, and garnered his first win at the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix while competing for Lotus. It would be followed by 40 more victories on his road to winning three World Drivers’ Championships, taking the title in 1988, 1990, and 1991. Grievously, at the age of 34, he had his life cut short by a fatal crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Not only was Portugal the location of Senna’s initial Formula 1 triumph, it was also a refuge of sorts prior to his passing, and where he drove this Porsche 911 as his personal conveyance. According to SBX Cars and the vehicle’s extensive documentation, the 911 was registered to Senna’s close friend Antonio Carlos de Almeida Braga—known as “Braguinha”—since the racer’s foreign-national status precluded him from being the outright owner. In notes and references from the consignor provided by the auction house, it’s mentioned that “Senna spent part of his final years in Sintra [A town outside of Portugal’s capital of Lisbon], at Braguinha’s home, finding there a place of tranquility and rest between races.”

Part of Senna’s decompression time was likely spent behind the wheel of chassis No.  WP0ZZZ91ZJS150318. Its air-cooled and naturally aspirated 3.2-liter flat-six engine delivers 217 hp and 195 ft lbs of torque. Managing that output is a five-speed manual transaxle. Riding on 16-inch Fuchs alloy wheels—shod in Bridgestone Potenza S-02 tires—the car also benefits from four-wheel disc brakes. Most notable, though, is Senna’s signature on the driver’s seat, and the only 46,268 miles on the odometer. Interestingly, the Porsche has a cameo at the end of the 2010 documentary Senna.

The car eventually changed hands and appearance, as subsequent ownership was responsible for giving it a different rear-fender aesthetic, a spoiler, and a yellow exterior that replaced the Silver Metallic color scheme it left the factory with. In 2024, the vehicle was restored to its factory-authentic configuration—including paint and interior trim—by the Portugal-based specialists at Love My Car.

As for the market value of a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Cabriolet in general, an example with only 23,000 miles on it carried a high-end estimate of $75,000 through RM Sotheby’s in 2019, but failed to sell. And in 2023, another example—with under 70,500 miles—fetched $61,600 through Bonhams.

In that light, the power of provenance is on full display with this droptop tied to Senna. Currently on the SBX Cars online auction block, and with only three days left, it has bidding up to €620,000 (approximately $728,700). “For collectors, it’s more than a car,” says Gregg, “it’s blue-chip motorsport history you can drive.”

Click here for more photos of this Ex-Ayrton Senna 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Cabriolet.