Type 7 | Silver Bullets

It’s a car that’s often been presented as the absolute peak of the 964 generation of Porsches, at least among the variants that weren’t Sonderwunsch specials. With just over 1400 built during the twilight years of 964 production, the 3.6 finally improved upon the famously laggy 3.3 that had been around since the late 70s. It was also the very last rear-wheel-drive 911 Turbo, providing a certain analogue rawness that was phased out of subsequent generations.

No prizes for guessing what first caught our attention about Montreal restauranteur Francis Rodrigue’s example. Francis has been sampling the broad Porsche spectrum since he first bought a 993 back in 1999, and it took him all that time to find a 3.6 that ticked all his boxes.

“It had to be the right one” he says. “The combination of PTS Metallic Silver with sports seats was perfect. Every time I get behind the wheel I’m reminded why this car was a dream come true. The mechanical feel, the character of the turbocharged engine and the direct connection between driver and machine. It’s a car that demands your attention and rewards you for it.

Sometimes you don’t need to overthink a decision. When you’re looking for something for that long and the right car comes along, you just know.”

These cars can be famously tricky for the uninitiated. Thankfully, Francis’ experience around these cars extends far beyond the casual collector.

“I started driving on track in 2005 and I became a National Instructor with PCA in 2011. Track driving became a huge part of my life. There’s something incredibly rewarding about helping someone understand their car and experience it in a different way, sharing the adrenaline of driving on a circuit and helping people discover their limits. Although I spend less time on track today, that experience remains an important part of my relationship with these cars.

“I think my fascination for silver Porsches goes back to the movie No Man’s Land with Charlie Sheen!” Says Francis. “There’s an iconic scene involving a silver 930 and a Camaro Z28 that completely captivated me. I remember putting a picture of a silver 930 on my bedroom wall and making a personal goal to own a 911 one day.

I didn’t grow up in a wealthy family, so it felt like a pretty big dream. As a teenager there was only one Porsche dealership in Montreal. I remember riding my bike there with my best friend just to look through the showroom windows at the cars inside. Looking back, those moments probably had more of an impact than I realised.

When I finally bought my first 911 in 1999, it was a very special moment. I was so determined that I bought one before I even had a TV or furniture in my home. Priorities I guess! Since then, silver has remained a constant theme, I’ve never really questioned it.

None of these three are daily drivers today, I choose what I’m driving depending on the mood. The 356 is my vacation car. I take it out on country roads when the sun is shining and there’s nowhere I need to be. Driving it makes me feel like I’m on holiday.

The Touring is my modern-day benchmark. I’ve owned every generation of the GT3 RS, so I’ve had the opportunity to experience how they’ve evolved over the years. It’s manual of course, and the driving experience is extraordinary.”