Highlights
- One owner since 2012
- Carefully maintained and sympathetically upgraded
- Superb interior
- Now eligible for historic vehicle status
The Appeal
First launched in 1964, Porsche’s 911 has been continually enhanced and upgraded over the years but the essential concept has remained the same: a two-door, 2+2, high-performance rear-engined sports car. The engines were air-cooled until the ‘996’ iteration of the car which arrived in 1998, and the air-cooled cars are still the Porsche purists’ choice.
The example was originally registered overseas, and has been in the long-term ownership of a genuine enthusiast, who has looked after it diligently for more than ten years.
The History and Paperwork
- UK V5C document
- Declared manufactured 1983
- First UK registered in 1990
- Original owner’s manual/service record
- MoT- and tax-exempt
- MOT in May 23 with no advisories
- MoT until May 2024
- Lots of past MoTs and invoices
- Key code card
- The vendor informs us that car has been garage kept in last ownership and only driven on dry days
The vendor purchased the car in 2012, from a previous long-term owner for whom the commitments of work and a young family precluded using the vehicle; he sold it to the vendor at a very good price, knowing him to be a genuine enthusiast who would cherish the car and use it as originally intended.
Under his tenure, the vendor has maintained the car scrupulously and at considerable expense while gradually adding a number of subtle upgrades, at the same time retaining its original appearance. Sadly, health issues mean that he is not able to continue driving it as he would wish and he has reluctantly decided to part with it.
The car comes with an impressive file of paperwork, including the original service record, a number of past MoTs and a thick pile of invoices documenting services and other work carried out. The V5 records that the KUR 424 Y registration number is non-transferable.
The Interior
- Leather sports seats, recently replaced
- ‘+2’ rear seats
- Electric windows
- Leather-trimmed steering wheel, recently re-stitched
- Carpets in excellent condition
- Leather-trimmed door cards
- Correct Blaupunkt Atlanta SQR 22 radio/cassette
- Power amplifier fitted beneath seat
- Upgraded door speakers
- iPhone charging lead connected in glove box
- Space-saver spare wheel
- Original toolkit
- Original jack
- Porsche-branded case for oil bottle
- Porsche-branded warning triangle warning triangle
- Porsche cleaning cloth
- Original bottles of polish and tar remover
As you’d expect of a car under the long-term ownership of an enthusiast, the interior here is in great condition and there’s nothing to give away its age. While not ‘concours’ standard, it’s all been looked after carefully and some of it has been replaced or refurbished. The front seats have been recently replaced, so are firm and supportive, while the rear ‘+2’ seats are unusual for a sports car in that they do actually offer the occupants some legroom. They look to have been very little used and have seatbelts fitted.
The vendor took some trouble to source the correct radio, a Blaupunkt Atlanta, which replaces a non-original one that was in the car when he bought it. There’s a power amplifier hidden under the seat, but the vendor reports that the radio is not currently working, he believes that this is a simple matter to rectify as it’s just one connection that has come adrift.
The black carpets are clean and have minimal visible wear, and the leather-trimmed door cards are in excellent condition. In the front luggage compartment, there’s a clean, undamaged liner beneath which is a space-saver spare wheel. Also present are the original jack and toolkit, Porsche warning triangle and case for oil bottle, and tins of original polish and tar-remover – plus an unused Porsche cloth!
The Exterior
- Classic 911 profile
- Rare ‘Scheifergrau 22D’ green-grey paintwork
- Fuchs alloy wheels
- Recent Michelin Pilot tyres, with Porsche homologation
- Recent new windscreen and seal
- Recent new hood
- Hood cover
- Door handles recently replaced
The 991 profile, largely unchanged throughout the model’s near fifty-year lifespan, is instantly recognisable and still turns heads. This example looks great in its (rare) green-grey paintwork, although there a few minor blemishes that a new owner might wish to address – a couple of cracks in the paint on the offside and a chunk of paint missing in the recess for the passenger door handle.
The lights, badges and door handles are all excellent, with the latter having been recently replaced.
All four Fuchs alloy wheels look great, with no kerb damage, and with their Porsche hub badges all in good order. The vendor has recently had the hood replaced – consequently this folds down readily and is fully weatherproof. There’s also a hood cover in similarly excellent condition.
The Mechanics
- 3.2-litre air-cooled engine
- Engine and gearbox rebuild in 2015
- 5-speed manual ‘915’ gearbox
- Webi short-shifter fitted, with new linkage bushes
- Stability upgrade kit fitted in 2015
- Stainless-steel exhaust and heat-exchangers
- Engine bay very clean and tidy, with genuine decals
- Starts and runs beautifully
Renowned for their simplicity and reliability, Porsche’s air-cooled engines were ever-present in the 911 from the model’s inception back in 1964 right through to the late 1990s. The vendor has this engine and gearbox rebuilt in 2015 – the relevant invoices are all in the folder of paperwork. The vendor has also had a Webi short-shifter fitted; a linkage mechanism on the gearbox which shortens the gear ‘throw’, the shift distance to cover when shifting from one gear to the next.
The car starts on first turn of the key and runs with that distinctive air-cooled note; the vendor has spent considerable sums of money during his ownership to keep the car well-maintained and reports that it drives and handles as it should. The engine bay reflects this careful ownership, it all looks clean and well-ordered and the vendor has even taken the trouble to source the correct original stickers.
Summary
Combining electric performance and sublime handling with reliability and practicality, there are countless reasons why the Porsche 911 is a true motoring icon and a sought-after classic. This one is probably as good an early-80s 911 cabriolet as you will find, in sound order both mechanically and cosmetically.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.
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