Highlights
- Highly presented ‘triple black’ cabriolet in wonderful condition
- Early ‘wide body’ Carrera with very rare factory hard top included
- Desirable later strong and all-aluminium 3litre engine with 5spd manual
- Spent its life in sunny California to 2023
- Single UK keeper since arriving in the UK
- Recent major service by a Porsche specialist
The Appeal
If your tastes don’t quite include the de rigeuer and so-80s Guards Red version, then you want arguably the coolest of the classic '80s 911s - a triple black cabrio. As this car proves, it’s a specification that firmly endures.
This 1983 car features the 3L all-aluminium engine derived from the 930 and noted for its durability. It is mated to a manual box. Beyond the specification, it is in really good condition, the black roof augmented by a very rare factory hard top to provide year-round motoring versatility.
The car spent its life in the sunny climes of California, USA before arriving in the UK in 2023 when the vendor bought it. He tells us that he has used it sparingly, which is confirmed by the MOT history. It comes to market with fresh service by a Porsche specialist.
Beautifully specified, including a set of smart black Fuchs, and in extremely good condition, this superb 911 has the specification, condition and provenance to appeal. It is perfect for a summer European road trip.
The vendor says:
“A wonderful car that was the fastest cabriolet road car of its time. Starts well and sounds fantastic. It is still fast and mechanically sounds and runs fantastic.”
History and Paperwork
- First registered in July 1983 according to DVLA records
- Spent its life in USA until 2023
- UK registered October 2023
- Single UK keeper since arrival
- Porsche certificate of authenticity included
- Factory handbooks, tools, jack and tonneau cover included
- VIN records confirm that this is a 1983 3litre 6cyl 911 US market cabriolet
- VIN records also show this is possibly the 534th of 4,214 built
- Interior refurbished to very closely match the factory specification
- MOT exempt by age
- Fitted with silver on black display plates
Service records dating back to the 1990s include:
- Evidence of regular servicing in 2016, 2017, 2021 and most recently June 2023
- Engine overhaul in March 2015 at a cost of $3,285
- Compression test in 2021 showed excellent and consistent compression across all cylinders
- Four wheel alignment in 2015 and CDI unit rebuilt in same year
- Oil cooler thermostat replaced as well as attention to other ancillaries in 2015
- New OEM fuel pump and fuel filter fitted in 2014 plus new rotor and distributor cap and service items
- Recent work for sale includes the following by Porsche specialist RGA:
- Full service and replace all four shock absorbers at a cost of £2,200
- Fit new electric window motor and replace plastic door sheeting and attend to brakes at cost of £624
- Recent major service by Porsche specialist
The Condition
- Very attractive and well preserved interior showing barely any signs of wear
- Quality Porsche fixtures and fittings likely contribute to the limited signs of use
- Retrimmed black leather seats carefully trimmed to very closely match the stitching and patterns of the original factory seats
- Two small rear seats that have either been retrimmed or are in excellent original condition
- Rear seatbelts also fitted
- Original Porsche factory knob
- Stylish VDO gauges arranged in classic 911 fashion in superb condition
- Fitted with a new Blaupunkt radio that matches the original radio but with fully integrated modern hands free telephone, digital radio, USB cable charging port but with a Porsche original 1983
- Nice nod to this car’s inter-continental history in the dashboard with a Laguna Seca raceway sticker
- Equipped with cruise control and air conditioning although we are told that the a/c has been disconnected
- Factory black paintwork that appears to be original and in excellent condition
- The SC got the wider, more purposeful Carrera body from 1978
- Full factory-built cabriolet with fabric roof in excellent condition with deep black colour
- Very rare factory hard top converts this stylish car into the classic coupe profile, complete with quarter lights
- Hard top headlining has recently been repaired
- Dry sunny California climate means that this car is very solid with no visible bodywork or structural deterioration
- Lovely factory-supplied Fuchs 5spoke painted alloys with polished rims in superb condition
- Dunlop tyres fitted all round
- One electric window motor recently replaced, including refitting factory-supplied plastic door sheet
The Porsche 911 interior has to be one of the most wonderful of any car. It manages to appear somehow undesigned and yet be so influential that it continues to inform the look of all Porsche interiors to this day.
This car was tastefully specified by its original in ‘triple black’ so has an all-black interior which only serves to highlight the efficiency and simplicity of the sweep of VDO dials. It is in very good condition, with barely any visible use for what is now a 40-year-old car.
The seats have been carefully retrimmed to exact or very close factory specification, something that many trimmers fail to achieve. The rear seats are in similar condition, either because they were retrimmed or because of lack of use. The door cards continue the impression of quality.
The car is equipped with cruise control and air conditionin,g but we understand that the a/c has been disconnected. The soft-top headlining was recently replaced and is in a similar condition to the rest of the interior.
The wider Carrera body style of the SC gives the delicate 911 shape more purpose, something that the black paintwork of this 1983 cabriolet certainly leans into. Sitting on body-colour Fuchs 5-spoke alloys with polished rims, it is an impressive-looking car that belies its 40 years.
The paintwork appears to be original and in very good condition, with no visible signs of deterioration. The vendor says the car would respond to a professional polish, but the photographs suggest this would merely improve the look rather than be essential.
The black fabric roof retains its deep lustr,e and there are no obvious signs of deterioration. A tonneau cover is also supplied with the car.
This car’s piece de resistance is, of course, that ultra rare hardtop. Rarely seen on a 911 cabriolet, it enables owners to revisit the coupe's silhouette and even features rear quarter lights. It is body colour with refreshed headlining and we understand that it is in very good condition.
The lovely Fuchs alloys are equipped with quality Dunlop tyres. Body colour with polished rims, they are largely unmarked.
One of the window mechanisms was recently replaced by RGA, a London Porsche specialist. It is an indication of the vendor’s attention to detail that a factory-supplied plastic sheet was sourced to refit into the door during reassembly.
The Mechanics
- 3litre flat six all-aluminium 180bhp engine which the rebuild was done at 160,000 miles - only 12,000 miles ago and turns incredibly
- 5spd manual gearbox
- Engine compression tested in 2021
- Compression test results in photographs, with even results across all cylinders
- Extensive service history dating back to the 1990s
- Recent £3,000 on brakes, servicing and shock absorbers by RGA, a London Porsche specialist
- New shock absorbers in June 2023
- Service work in June 2023 included oil, points, plugs and gearbox fluids
- Two seized callipers were recently replaced
- Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system
- Switching to all-aluminium construction for the SC improved the engine’s durability
- Engine overhauled in March 2015 at a cost of $3,285
- Retains its California smog certificate
- Californian emissions restrictors still fitted
- Recent major service by a Porsche specialist
The 1983 911 hits a particular sweet spot in the development of Porsche’s naturally aspirated engine. The switch to all-aluminium construction made the 3-litre flat six engine more durable, plus USA versions got a useful 180bhp.
This car has a vast leather-bound history file attesting to fastidious ownership. The records date back to the 1990s, but more recently have included an engine overhaul costing several thousand dollars in 2015, plus significant investment in successive years.
The vendor has recently spent over £2,800 on mechanical improvements, including a full service in June 2023 covering oil, points, plugs and gearbox fluids, as well as work to rectify seized callipers and fit four new shock absorbers.
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