• Built to a cost of €200,000
• One of four Betolaza specials made

• Full restoration

• 915 Race Gearbox with a bored out 3.5-litre engine
• Fully adjustable suspension

• 1600 km since rebuild

The original and unmistakable Porsche 911 has firmly rooted its place as an automotive icon. From its humble roots, the 911 has continued to grow in stature to become a hugely desirable and sought after icon with the first incarnation now appealing to the connoisseur’s end of the classic sports car market. 

The market for the 911 thanks to its durability, reliability and excellent parts availability has continued to blossom, allowing specialists to develop the concept further to enhance its natural ability with ever imaginative results.

As one of four cars created by a Spanish Porsche specialist, this unique take on the classic 911 E is very much a one-off and has been restored and finished to an exceptional standard. Boasting around 330bhp from its modified 3.5-litre engine, this Betolaza Porsche is a well-executed take on the highly desirable 2+2 Targa sports car.

Created in 2018 from a 1970 Porsche 911 E for someone in the film industry (need we say more), this car is the first of four uniquely prepared cars by ‘Betolaza Automoción’ in Granada, a respected Spanish Porsche specialist. 

This bespoke Betolaza Targa is believed to be their first car to be subject to a restoration and uprated conversion. It remained in Spain for several years, collecting not much more than 1600 km since its rebuild. It was purchased and imported into the UK earlier this year and is being sold by a well-established supercar and bespoke car specialist on the south coast.

The car comes with its V5 and is registered for use in the UK. 

The interior has been tastefully created to a high standard, with a full complement of leather seats with elegant brown and cream plaid pattern cloth inserts. They are in excellent condition with no signs of wear, with their stitching and piping intact. The front seats have 001 monograms to document the cars numbering sequence. 

The carpeting too has been finished to an exceptional standard, using a hard-wearing and durable weave. The door cards are themed with the seats and are also in excellent order, with leather pull handles and functioning electric window lifts. 

The dashboard has also been subjected to a complete overhaul, utilising the same plaid accenting detail to complement the leather padding. The facia has no cracks or significant marks. The car has also been treated to new switches and a Clarion Stereo/speakers combo, so everything is believed to be working and functional. 

The dials show minor signs of wear on the bezels and instrument glass, but the main items like the Wooden Nardi Steering wheel and gearstick are in excellent condition and complete an aesthetically pleasing interior. The car comes fitted with a plaque confirming the car authenticity. Like the cabin, the front luggage storage area has been finished to a high standard with leather padding.

The bespoke steel hand made wide-body has been subject to an extensive rebuild, so there is very little in terms of wear when it comes to the structure and condition of the car. 

The usual checkpoints on the 911, such as the front crossmember, boot floor, bulkhead, sills, jacking points and inner wings are free from any significant issues with no body blemishes to be seen, just the odd minor imperfection noted in the edge of the door and the bottom of the Aluminium wide-bodied rear arches. 

The RS-style lightweight door panels open and close with ease, with the nearside door perhaps needing a minor adjustment. The front luggage lid would benefit from a pair of new gas struts too. The cream body is in very good shape, with no issues noted with the finishing and coverage of the panel fit or paint. It has a decent lustre and even smooth flow. The body-coloured bumpers are free from any blemishes or scuffs. 

The glass is in good condition with no signs of cracks, lamination or chip damage. Both the front and rear screens are recent fittings and all of their respective rubbers are in excellent condition. The car does come with its Targa roof, which is currently being shipped from Spain to the UK. There are no problems with the condition of the car’s lights or lenses, with no reported issues with their functions. 

The chrome trim is in decent condition throughout, the B post Targa bar shows the slightest sign of age, with all of the other components such as the rear overriders, light trim, engine cover grill, front air vents and quarter lights all looking fresh. The bespoke door mirrors and door handles are all new. The car also sports a unique Betolaza emblem on the boot lid.

The unique specifications for the car, such as the wide-body and RS style doors are complemented by the centrally positioned Singer style fuel tank, along with the sensational original Braid deep dish split rims. They are all in excellent condition, shod with Firestone tyres on the front and Maxxis on the rears, all have a good level of tread. 

If it's not clear already, an absolute fortune has been spent on this car to create what we have here today, and this encompasses a lot of the mechanics. It was not just a case of buying new parts and throwing them on, no. This was a well-thought out and planned engineering project by marque specialists, even the engine, is the original block! 

The original 2.2-litre 911 E engine has been forged and bored out to a staggering 3.5-litre capacity and mated with a rebuilt oil-cooled 915 gearbox. With further developments to the valves and uprated injectors, the car has also seen significant changes to the running gear, with fully adjustable race suspension and uprated brakes and servo. 

The engine fires up instantly, with the 330bhp engine throbbing with absolute intent. There is no evidence of unwanted smoke from the custom-built stainless steel race exhaust, and the car idles well with no undulation or hesitancy. The clutch is rather fierce but the gears engage well. No squeals or binding were evident as the car brakes, with the ride said to be firm but well up to the task of dealing with the power. 

The air-cooled Porsche 911 reputation for durability and usability has meant that many have survived. Both talented on the road and he track, one of the many factors that has helped to elevate the car as a desirable and agile drivers car is its versatile engine. 

With tasteful bespoke, one-offs and personalised cars providing the market with unique takes on the icon, this Betolaza conversion is a truly individual piece of engineering. 

In addition to the high-grade restoration, the end result reveals an exquisite finish that complements rather than distracts you from the original concept.