The Porsche 911 is perhaps the most significant dynasty in motoring history, the roots of the rear-engined and air-cooled formula stretching way back to Ferdinand Porsche’s endeavours with the original ‘people’s car’ back in the 1930s, and the legacy continuing into the showrooms today.
The combination of swooping curves, cartoon-eye headlights and, most significantly, an engine slung out behind the rear wheels has kept this iconic model at the top of dreamers’ wishlists for decades.
With the early models of the 1960s and ’70s, there was a fairly logical approach to badging and naming structure; unlike today when the halo model is labelled ‘Turbo’ despite all the other ones being turbocharged too, back in simpler times it was easier to decode: with the classic 911 T, the ‘T’ stood for ‘Touring’; the 911 L offered ‘Luxury’, the 911 S was ‘Super’, and the 911 E boasted ‘Einspritzung’ (meaning fuel injection).
Whichever option the buyer chose, they were guaranteed a fabulously balletic chassis, with a characterful bobbing nose and a feelsome steering wheel dancing in the hands and providing endless, gorgeous feedback. It really is one of the all-time greats, and the elegant 1970s models are in such demand today – it’s the classic sports car that wants to be your friend, and with those delightful curves, everybody else will want to as well.
You’ll note that the steering wheel is on the left in the beautifully presented example we have here, and the reason for that is that it previously resided in Italy. It was imported to the United Kingdom back in 2014, and has enjoyed leisurely and sporadic use; it’s worth noting that the car has been in storage for the last four years so will require very light recommissioning, but this should hopefully amount to little more than a service and a good run to blow the cobwebs away – this is a complete, running and driving example with a great spec and in lovely condition throughout.
The cabin of a 1970s 911 is a very pleasant place to be, with its slender pillars and airy glasshouse, and this example is particularly pleasing to find oneself in. The seats are beautifully trimmed and in lovely condition, with no noticeable marks, wear or overdue signs of age.
The thin-rimmed steering wheel is wonderfully tactile, and the dash is in good order throughout with all the gauges reportedly working correctly – aside from the speedometer, and we’re told a new speedo cable will be included.
The headlining is in good condition, as are the carpets, and it’s all in 1970s spec throughout. Inside the front boot it’s dry and tidy, with a matching Fuchs spare wheel along with a fully-stocked tool roll.
The 911’s deep blue paint suits the slender lines of the car so well, and it has a deep and impressive lustre to it. Every panel is straight and mounted with nice even gaps, with no evidence of dings, dents, scuffs, scrapes or surface corrosion. It’s a real head-turner, and bears close scrutiny when it comes to the details too.
Hard-core Porsche aficionados will note the extra 'fuel flap' behind the offside door jamb - this is infact the external 'side oil filler' that was only fitted to 1972 models. A rather unconventional piece of design that was said to of improved weight distribution, something that is hotly debated amongst enthusiasts but in this case, just adds to the rarity factor.
The light lenses and window glass are all in good order, and all of the correct trim and brightwork is in place and in great condition. The car wears a set of tasteful 15” Fuchs alloy wheels, shod with a matching set of quality Bridgestone tyres. The rear pop-out windows open and close correctly, and the stick-on front number plate is a neat touch. On the whole, a beautifully presented and thoroughly attractive 911.
The beating heart of this era of 911 is the playful and tractable 2.4 engine. Technically it’s actually a 2.3, the displacement being 2,341cc, but marketing came into play to differentiate it from the older 2.2 engine; all 911s in assorted spec levels got the ‘2.4’ in the 1972-73 model years, with states of tune and power levels differing by spec.
This 2.4 S enjoys the rambunctious 190bhp specification – markedly more powerful than the 165bhp 911 E (Einspritzung/injection) stablemate; the ‘S’ engine also uses mechanical fuel injection, but the improved tuning gives it a fresh new character. The Type 915 transmission is very well suited to it too, doing away with the doglegs of yore for a more conventional H-pattern.
It’s evident that this 911 has been cherished, as is clear from the condition throughout. The engine is happy to fire, and its slightly lumpy idle speaks of the need for a bit of a service and tune-up; it’s reportedly always been a delightful driver and, as it’s been largely static for the last four years, should simply need the gentle caress of a specialist’s touch to get it all singing again.
There’s no mystery to the appeal of a 1970s Porsche 911. That elegant and timeless profile, backed up by sublime handling and creamy-smooth flat-six, it’s simply an intoxicating formula. And this particular car represents a truly delectable set of boxes ticked: desirable ‘S’ model, sublime spec, Certificate of Authenticity… it’s a car that’s begging for an eager character to sit in the driving seat, with an eye on the horizon and a head full of dreams of adventure.
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