• Extensive service history

• Recent gearbox rebuild

• In good, usable condition

Porsche’s evergreen rear-engined 911 is perhaps the world’s most iconic sportscar and no matter the generation it’s always been at the top of the class when it comes to desirability and road manners. The 911 SC we have here dates from 1979 and was a new model, the ‘Super Carrera’ having been introduced in 1978 complete with a Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injected 3.0-litre flat-six all aluminium engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Presented here in a wonderful period hue of gold this desirable Targa model represents the best of both worlds, offering both wind-in-the-hair thrills with the roof panel removed and a coupe-like driving experience with the roof fitted. 

First registered to its lucky owner in May 1979 this SC has certainly been used and loved by its owners and judging by the service history it has always been well looked after with significant sums of money being spent on its upkeep at reputable Porsche main agents and specialists. It covered half of its entire milage during its first 15 years and since then its annual mileage has dropped as it moved from an everyday machine to a cherished classic.

In total the Targa has had 16 owners, the last of which owned it for four and a half years before part exchanging it for another classic. It is now being offered by the classic specialist who took it in part exchange. 

 

The original guarantee and maintenance handbook accompanies the SC and details services from its running in check in June 1979 to 2008 with a total of 15 stamps. There are numerous servicing receipts contained within the history file along with invoices for items such as brake replacements and evidence of plenty preventative maintenance during its life.

There was an extensive engine rebuild carried out in 1994 at 88,000 miles at RSR motorsport with an invoice contained within the service history while more recently its most recent owner treated the 911 to a significant amount of work with invoices totalling over £10,000 from 2019 just over 2000 miles ago. 

The most significant expense was a thorough gearbox rebuild carried out by HP Porsche which included replacing synchro rings, dog gears, sliding sleeves and needle roller bearings along with a new clutch assembly. Further work at this time included refurbished alloy wheels, replacement heater cables and a new brake fuid reservoir and hoses. Additionally the SC was fitted with new stainless steel exhaust manifolds and a rear silencer along with new oil feed pipes.

There are 25 MoT certificates accompanying the SC with its last test having expired in 2020. Being an Historic Vehicle it no longer needs to have an annual MoT but it’s worth noting that its last four tests have all been passed with no advisories. There is a V5C in the last owner’s name.

Overall the interior of the Targa presents very well for a 42-year-old car that’s covered 167,000 miles. The seats are finished in black leather with gold centre panels and gold piping and are free from any major rips or tears with just a very minor amount of discolouration on the driver’s seat base. The seats fold as they should and are comfy to sit in.

The door trim panels are in good shape as is the dashboard and the black carpets although the trim at the base of the B pillars has seen better days and could do with being tidied up or refreshed. All the instruments and switchgear are present and correct and all appear to function as they should. The steering wheel is also in good order. A Blaupunkt Frankfurt AM/FM radio is fitted.

The front boot is in good order with clean carpeting and the spacesaver spare wheel is present and correct.

Externally the 911 SC looks resplendent in its gold paintwork really popping in the sun. Closer examination does reveal a few flaws with some crazing to the paint in evidence from what would look like an older respray. However, there are no obvious dents or significant scrapes to the Porsche’s exterior and from the admiring glances and comments we received while photographing the car it obviously still looks good. 

The exterior trim is in generally good order and the glass and lights present well. The Targa roof panel appears to fit well too. The SC’s wheels were refurbished in 2019 and are still in excellent order with the polished outers contrasting nicely with the painted centres. There’s no evidence of any kerbing and the wheels set the car off nicely. They are fitted with Continental ContiPremiumContact 2 tyres all round – the fronts dating from 2019, the rears from 2020 – and they all have excellent tread depth.

From what we could see of the underside of the SC it appears to be in good solid order which is backed up by its lack of advisories on its last four MoT tests.

Mechanically the 911 starts and idles sweetly, eliciting that delicious flat-six rasp so characteristic of air-cooled 911s. On the move there was some minor low-rev lethargy, but this may just be down to a lack of recent use. After its recent rebuild the gearbox would appear to operate smoothly with the clutch taking up drive sweetly.

With a significant amount of recent mechanical expenditure and plenty of evidence of preventative maintenance within the service history this 911 would appear to be ready for many more exhilarating miles. This is backed up by the view in the engine bay which appears to be clean and in good order.

The Porsche 911 is the world’s most enduring sportscar and machinery from this era are now proving to be increasingly popular as a brilliant analogue antidote more modern and complicated machinery. This SC has the iconic 911 shape and looks superb in its positively retro colour scheme.

It’s not a perfect low mileage machine and it does have a few flaws to its bodywork if you look closely, but it’s a very presentable example that could be used and enjoyed just as it is or could be restored to perfect condition some time down the line. As it stands it’s a very usable example that will provide plenty of enjoyment for its lucky next owner.