This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, Supercar Fest Sale of Iconic and Classic Cars 2024 on Saturday the 18th of May, Sywell Aerodrome, Sywell, Northampton, NN6 0BN. In 1978, Porsche introduced their latest development of the 911, christened the '911 SC', with the SC standing for Super Carrera. Powered by a 3-litre, six-cylinder engine with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and a 5-speed, 915 transmission, power output initially was 180bhp, subsequently 188bhp and finally, in 1981, it was increased to a heady 204bhp. 1979 was the year that Porsche had envisioned that their new 928 would replace the 911 (we are still waiting for that to happen), however 911 sales remained so strong that Porsche revised its strategy and decided to inject new life into their core model.
This splendid example belongs to Wheeler Dealers’ charismatic host, Mike Brewer, and started life in the US as a standard, left-hand drive 911 SC. Around four years ago, Mike was spending increasing amounts of time in America, particularly California, and was fed up driving around in ‘rentals’ so decided one day that it would be more fun to find a suitable ‘classic’ locally. After a few weeks searching, he came across this 1982 SC and as an an existing Porsche owner and a bit of a ‘neunelfer’, it fitted the bill. It was finished in its original Guards Red and was basically standard apart from the 1973 RS-esque ‘Ducktail’ spoiler and a set of all-black, 'Group 4' wide-rimmed alloys. It turned out to be a great buy and is described by Mike in one of his videos as ‘almost perfect’ but inevitably its original 200bhp had over time reduced to, in reality, around 160-170, still decent 40 years ago but not very exciting in the 2020s.
A chance meeting at a car show with Andrew, who heads up Rasant Products of Long Beach (now based in Seattle) led to a conversation regarding how much more power it was possible to extract from the 3-litre flat-six without major surgery. Rasant specialise in a range of ‘bolt-on’ products that are designed and manufactured in-house for a variety of classic Porsches. The results are undoubtedly impressive without troubling the crank, pistons or combustion chambers.
Enthused by the conversation, Mike decided to hand over the car to Rasant and see what they could do. There is a series of three videos covering the whole process in detail (Mike Brewer X Rasant Products Project SC) but to summarise, the work included the fitting of a 964 plenum chamber, individual throttle bodies, MOTEC engine management, a custom engine harness and M & K mufflers. The subsequent output was measured at 200bhp at the rear wheels (so probably around 230 at the crank) which represents a 25% improvement since Mike took the car in. The third video in the series covers Mike collecting the car and driving it for the first time and his excitement and unbridled enthusiasm is infectious.
Since being imported to the UK we understand the car has been lowered and the front and rear bumpers have been reprofiled and blended in by classic Porsche specialists, EB Motorsport, resulting in a much more balanced look all round. Mike calls it his ‘Hot Rod’ which we feel is a little unfair and would rather see it as an intelligently developed, superbly presented example of a classic 911 with a bit of a nod to the past.
Mike had no intention of selling this car, or the 912 E and the Transit also in our sale, but a rather exciting (and probably expensive) project is on the horizon so a bit of space needs to be created. We invite and encourage your viewing of this fabulous 911 at our Sywell auction.
The Cherished Registration Number in our images, 700 BRU, does not form part of the sale.