Member Spotlight: Behind the Wheel of Steve’s Porsche 718 Spyder

We spent the afternoon poking around a gorgeous Porsche 718 Spyder belonging to long-time club member Steve Clifton. Steve actually won a professional photoshoot for his pride and joy during a recent charity auction—generously donated by our very own ace lead photographer, Michael Guy. To mark the occasion, we handed the microphone over to club member and guest presenter Phil Seymour, who chatted with Steve to find out exactly what makes this drop-top weapon so special.

The Purest Definition of “Drop-Top Gorgeous”

To understand the 718 Spyder, you have to look past the standard Boxster hierarchy. Top Gear would tell you this isn’t just a sports car with the roof chopped off; it’s a bespoke, motorsport-derived speedster. Visually, it’s an absolute masterpiece. The defining feature is that unmistakable, muscular rear deck featuring twin streamliners that pay direct homage to the legendary 718 RSK Spyder from the 1950s. Up front, aggressive GT3-style air intakes and a aggressively pitched front splitter ensure the car doesn’t just cut through the air—it glues itself to the tarmac.

A Symphony of Naturally Aspirated Power

Under that beautifully sculpted rear bodywork sits the heart of the beast: a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine. In a world dominated by turbochargers and hybrid batteries, this motor is a glorious, rev-happy nod to old-school purity. It kicks out a fierce 414 bhp (420 PS) and 420 Nm of torque. Because there are no turbos to muffle the sound, the engine sings a mechanical symphony that screams all the way to a dizzying 8,000 rpm redline. It’s loud, it’s visceral, and it provides the kind of spine-tingling acoustic soundtrack that modern supercars can only dream of.

Three Pedals, Six Gears, Total Control

While Porsche’s lightning-fast PDK automatic transmission is technically quicker on paper, Steve opted for the purist’s choice: the six-speed manual gearbox. Featuring a short-throw shifter that snaps into place with rifle-bolt precision, this transmission puts the driver completely at the center of the experience. It features an automated, switchable auto-blip function that perfectly matches downshifts, making even the most casual drive feel like a hot lap at Silverstone. It turns every journey into a physical, rewarding conversation between man and machine.

Blistering Performance Data

When it comes to the hard numbers, the 718 Spyder doesn’t just talk the talk. Drop the clutch perfectly, and it will rocket from 0-62 mph in just 4.4 seconds, before charging onward to a staggering top speed of 187 mph. But a Spyder isn’t designed to just go fast in a straight line; it inherits its lightweight, track-tuned chassis directly from the Porsche GT division. Sitting 30mm lower than a standard Boxster and equipped with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), it attacks corners with physics-defying agility, proving that Steve has one of the most complete and thrilling driver’s cars on the planet.

Thanks to

A Massive Thank You

• Thank you so much to club member Steve Clifton for giving up his time to talk to us
• And to Phil Seymour who also gave up his time to put this video together
• And perhaps most of all, to Michael Guy for donating this photography session prize that Steve was able to bid on!

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Galleries

As always, thanks to the generosity of our talented photographers, we have another batch of galleries for you to enjoy.

Full paying members feel free to use any photos on this page on the strict understanding that you tag the photographer and tag our club @fmsupercarclub on any social channel.

Anyone else wishing to use these photos must get written permission from FMSC before hand.

Michael Guy Photography Gallery