The Porsche 911 was developed in the early 1960s as a direct replacement to the popular Porsche 356, albeit a much larger, more powerful, and more luxurious direct replacement. Making its grand debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, the 911’s iconic shape, styling, and rear engine configuration took the world by storm, and still remains a household name, even outside the realm of us petrolheads. 

This particular 2.7 911s has come to us all the way from the lovely, salt-free roads of California. Daily driven in the US for the vast majority of its current 254,401 miles, it also received constant care and attention, with stacks and stacks of invoices and receipts to prove it. As it currently sits, it’s quite clear that the UK owners also shared the sentiment; as it’s currently in great mechanical shape and showing only mild patina.

This 911s comes complete with a substantial history file documenting work completed by the previous and current owners. The majority of the ownership took place in California, with a single owner using it as a daily driver for over 34 years up until 2004. Under their care, it was very highly maintained, with invoices to prove. With an impeccable service history and over $60,000 worth of invoices that come with the sale, it remains in excellent running condition as it currently sits. Receipts show the car has had 2 engine rebuilds within its lifetime, the last one completed at 247,717 miles in 2003 (totalling $3,205.54), a transmission rebuild at 250,673 miles in 2003 (totalling $1,777.94), and its last major service completed in 2021 by the current owner.

As the original colour was Copper Bronze Metallic from Porsche, it has been repainted in black in 2004. In addition to this change, the front seats have been updated from an earlier 911, and look extremely presentable and absolutely fit the part. Colour matching carpets were also been fitted by the current owner in 2014.

Porsche’s top offering at the time, the 911 was designed not only as a sportscar, but for luxury and comfort as well. This is very apparent when sat in this model, as the engineering presented in front of the driver is a work of mechanical art. The gauges are presented clearly, with big bold dials and ergonomic prowess reminiscent of a fighter plane. Still in exceptional condition, the dashboard and all of the knobs, buttons, and sliders feel like they’re easy to reach and in the exact right position, perfectly at command of the driver. 

The brown interior featured in this car has a certain elegance which perfectly suits the black exterior. The overall feel of the interior is heavy with period styling, but not overly gaudy or even remotely over-bearing as such. It’s an elegance that is not often reflected in more modern cars. 

The overall condition of the interior is excellent, with both the carpets as well as the seats having been replaced more recently. While there is very minor wear found on the driver’s seat if you look closely, this does not at all detract from the elegance of the vehicle. The interior trim is well composed, all present, and is in good condition. However, there is a bit of material on the headliner which needs some attention as it is removing itself a bit from the roof, see photos. The carpets show no holes or scuffs. There are some buttons/knobs which show some wear, but not beyond what we would consider normal for the age. 

The front boot is in overall excellent state, but could be cleaned and tidied under the carpets if desired. No signs of corrosion were present, and no leaks seen.

The exterior of this 911 is where it begins to show its age a little. The paint is relatively tidy apart from a few scuffs and chips, notably all around the vehicle, as pictured. The trim and rubbers are all intact and in good usable condition. There are a couple of normal road use imperfections concentrated in the front, and all around, but nothing at all out of the ordinary for an almost 20-year-old respray. The paintwork itself does show visible “spider webbing” when the sun hits it in specific ways, but from a distance it still shines with plenty of gloss. While the paint may not be perfect, the fitting of the panels and overall straightness of the body is indeed nearly perfect, especially considering the number of miles this has travelled. All of the badges, accents and details are in top condition. The glass itself is in usable condition with only minor road marks, and one rock impact chip which may need attention. The owner states it is well looked after and only comes out of the garage in dry conditions. It’s no concourse car, but it certainly relates a charming amount of character in its patina and overall visual condition.

The wiper trim, rubbers, grilles, and exterior plastics are all intact and in good to average condition for the age. The US-spec front and rear impact bumpers are fitted, as this is a California car after all. These were introduced in 1974 to conform with low-speed crash protection requirements, however these bumpers were so successfully integrated into the exterior design that they remained unchanged for the next 15 years. 

The original wheels are in usable state, but would benefit greatly from a refurbishment or simply a polish, but are all intact with no signs of actual damage, and all centre caps present.  

The underside is in a clean and cared for state, with only very little evidence of any surface corrosion at all, and no signs of set-in rust seen. There is some peeling paint on the anti-roll bars and some of the brackets, but none of this would concern us, as overall it is surprisingly clean for its age. 

This 911s is up to date on general maintenance and has had a recent overhaul of the transmission, as well as major engine servicing in the form of cam belt and water pump. The current owner states the steering, braking, and acceleration all perform as to be expected for a Porsche of this year. It’s fit to please and ready to take touring. 

Popping the rear bonnet open, the engine compartment is in good order for its age. The owner states there are no leaks, and no smoke or unusual noises to note. The transmission connects smoothly in all gears, and the engine pulls hard and sounds healthy. The owner also states the steering feels tight and responsive, just as it should! 

This is rare opportunity to own and drive a completely lovable and full-of-character 911s. This is one to drive and enjoy, but could just as easily provide a good opportunity for a mild restoration project with a bit of exterior TLC. It is a unique and endearing car that would fit right into any collector’s garage. As a true sports car, it is also an excellent buy for any enthusiast who wishes to hit the open road in a beautiful and well-running Porsche, which sets itself apart from the usual 911 crowd, and feels like it can actually be driven on a daily basis.

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.

UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.