• Incredibly rare and desirable early model

 • Original, unrestored condition 

 • Very low mileage 

The 911T (Touring) was introduced in 1967 as the new base model with a 2.0 litre, flat six boxer engine producing around 110bhp, effectively replacing the 912 in the model line-up. 

This car comes with the original ‘Sportomatic’ gearbox which is a very rare thing indeed. There is a branch of the Porsche Club GB devoted to these models.

The Sportomatic was a combination between full automatic and half manual, it had the gear-lever as you’d see in a manual but it only had two pedals. It employed a conventional torque converter coupled to a vacuum operated single disc dry clutch mated to a modified 911 four speed box. 

When the driver went to change gear with the gear lever, a switch would activate through a solenoid to activate the vacuum system. The single plate dry clutch would then interrupt the torque flow so that the gear could be selected and re-engaging with the engine once the gear-lever was released by the driver’s hand. Porsche had success with them in the 84-hour Marathon de la Route at the Nürburgring with a 911R winning the race. 

This particular 911T has been in a private collection since 1997 and has covered just 21256 miles from new as evidenced by a very full and extensive history file. The car was originally supplied in Bahama Yellow and we believe the car was professionally repainted in period to Polo Red and now represents, colour change excepted, an original unmolested, unrestored and good solid condition UK supplied right hand drive car. Just MoT’d it passed with flying colours and no advisories.

In the model year of this example, 1968 (August 1967 to July 1968), there was a total of a mere 44 Sportomatic 911s imported into the UK. There are just 10 currently on the Porsche Club GB Register including this car. As many were converted in period to manual transmission which at the time was a relatively inexpensive alteration, it is fair to say that this car isn’t just rare but exceptionally rare. Indeed Porsche was a small manufacturer in those days with a total of only 928 cars manufactured for worldwide distribution in 1968, plus 683 with Karmann bodies (all LHD) so it is not surprising given the now iconic nature of the 911 that early cars and particularly early UK right hand drive cars represent rarity and rarity represents investment potential. They don’t get any rarer than this!

Fast forward to 2022 and the 911 is a certified icon on the roads, seeing an early UK specification, right hand drive model for sale doesn’t happen every day and on top of how special this car is, it also represents a huge investment opportunity.

The car had 5 previous owners since 1968 and a very low mileage which is backed up by the extensive history file.

After spending 25 years in the previous owner’s care, the car is in remarkable, original condition with no corrosion to be seen.

It has been described by the seller as an original, unmolested, unrestored and good solid condition, UK supplied right hand drive car (colour change aside). 

The car has just passed its MOT too and so is legal to drive on the road, however the seller has made it very clear that the car should go to a Porsche specialist for a thorough check over before being used extensively. 

Additional information supplied by the seller:

• 1968 Model Year 911T coupe RHD Sportomatic

• Chassis number 11820584

• Key number: K313

• Original Colour: Bahama Yellow (one of 8 in that colour in that MY)

• Interior: Black

• Build date: 2nd January 1968

• Delivered to Isleworth [Porsche Cars]: January 1968

• Selling agent: Porsche Cars GB [Isleworth]

• First Customer: Bartlett

• Registered; 29th February 1968

• Delivered: 4th March 1968

The paperwork that comes with this car is beyond extensive, we rarely see a history file this large and all encompassing. There was simply too much to photograph each individual invoice as you can see from the gallery.

To summarise the history file then, there are hundreds of invoices for small replaceable items and some larger trim pieces for example. A large majority of these have been purchased from genuine Porsche parts suppliers and specialist garages.

The V5 is present and shows the last change of owner in November 1997. There are also hundreds of MOT and inspection receipts to show the car has been regularly maintained.

Also present in the history file are the cherished car underwriting agency valuation certificates as well as the cherished car insurance invoices which evidence the car being kept as an investment and prized piece in a collection.

The interior is in remarkable condition, there are no rips, tear, worn areas, stains or mismatching fabric anywhere, it is a real time capsule of a car with even the carpet retaining its original condition. 

The headlining is even in good condition with no rips, tears or sagging. The seats all round are in fantastic condition and the tilt mechanism is free and in good working order. 

The dash is in good condition too with no cracks or damage to the plastic and the under-dash trim is still taught and in one piece. The silver brushed aluminium insert for the dashboard is free from excessive scratching or damage and all the door furniture and switches and knobs are in great condition. 

The only thing we can see that telling of the car’s age is that one of the knobs for the wind down windows Is missing, luckily, parts are still readily available for these cars due to their enormous popularity. 

All dials work as they should, and the steering wheel and gear lever are in great condition with little wear showing even though they are the highest traffic items in the car.

The exterior of the car is a joy to behold, seeing an early model Porsche 911 in the metal is always a special thing seeing how far the brand has come to date. This one is just a little bit more special once you know the story behind it. 

A true survivor of time, the car is completely original and how it would have been back in the day (after its colour change). It really stands out from the crowd and is loved by passers-by of all ages, even on our photoshoot there were elderly gentlemen and young children loudly professing their approval. 

The photo gallery below really does show the car as it is in real life, the paint is deep and has a good shine to it, the chrome work is all in great condition and the wheels and tyres are again in fantastic, undamaged condition. 

The design was such a simple and effective one, so much so that Porsche have stuck with it all this time. The shut lines are tight and uniform, there is no corrosion to be seen (we tried to get all the little nooks and crannies in the photos to show you) and the body panels aren’t dented or damaged. There was even little evidence of stone chips or road rash. 

We tried very hard to find any fault on the exterior of this car and the only spot we could see that might need attention in the near future is a small section of bubbling to the rear of the driver’s door (photographed in the gallery below).

In summary then this is a remarkable survivor story car coming out into the world after 25 years in a collection in great condition.

The engine fired up reliably whilst we were with the car and there had been a thorough going over of the basic systems of the car to give it a minor recommission to get it driving again after being sat up for a while. 

For example, it had new fuel filters, usual maintenance sundries and other bits to get it moving. As stated previously though, the car could do with a more intensive and extensive going over.

Having been sat for so long and being in original condition, some of the key systems could do with a refresh. This isn’t to say they aren’t in good working condition however, as the car has passed its MOT. 

Being a 54-year-old car, it deserves some TLC before it embarks on a journey to put any significant miles under its wheels. That being said, it fired up, selected gears and drove to the photo location under its own power, it also started up again without issue to drive back all while behaving as expected. 

In addition to the drivetrain, the engine itself looks on the face of it to be in good condition, there were no oils leaks on the ground and no signs of fluid spillages or leakages inside the bay either.

Further to the engine, the underside of the body was also in just as good a condition as the topside with clear evidence of period corrosion prevention methods being employed with no visible corrosion to any of the panels or components under the vehicle.

A short wheelbase, early model, UK specification, original, Sportomatic gear boxed 911 T. Sounds like the answer to the question of what ‘money no object’ car would you have, well it’s incredibly rare that one of these comes up for sale, let alone an unrestored one with such low mileage that has sat pride of place in a private collection for the last 25 years. 

This is a bit of a ‘unicorn’ car and one that should only be afforded the best of lives to continue its incredible journey thus far. It represents the earliest and arguably the purest form of the 911, the one that most diehard enthusiasts covet. 

Whilst Porsche’s intention was to build the ultimate driver’s car, we cannot overlook the enormous potential for this car as a future investment, whilst you’re unlikely to be putting several thousands of miles on the car over the course of a year, it really deserves to be driven out on the road. 

We’ve no doubt this car will go to someone who will continue to care for it in the same way its owners to date have. 

One for the dream car collection surely.