Full of colour and full of life, this 51-year-old Porsche has benefited from an extensive restoration in recent years. And it’s covered just 1500 miles since then

PRICE £sold
YEAR 1970
ENGINE 2195cc/6-cyl/OHC/twin-Weber 40 IDT 3C carburettors
POWER 125bhp@5800rpm
TORQUE 130lb ft@4200rpm
MAXIMUM SPEED 127mph  
0-60MPH 9.9sec
GEARBOX RWD, five-speed manual
MILEAGE 16,653 miles
MOT New from sale
CHASSIS NUMBER 9111100713
COLOUR Signal Orange (Code 1414)
INTERIOR Black Leatherette
WIDTH 1610mm
LENGTH 4163mm 

BACKGROUND
Throughout its long (and continuing) production life, the 911 may have retained the same basic silhouette, but the details - outside, inside and underneath - have altered greatly since its 1964 birth. Everyone has their favourite generation of 911 - for some, it’s the very sleek 996, the first of the water-cooled cars with their distinctive ‘fried egg’ headlamps, while others prefer the dramatic 930s, with their flared arches, chunky bumpers, prominent whale-tail spoilers and turbocharged brilliance.

But there is something very special about the first incarnation of 911, as manufactured from 1964 to 1975. They are the purest and prettiest of the bunch, as conceived by Ferdinand ‘Butzi’ Porsche, the son of Ferry Porsche (father of the 356) and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche (who gave the world the Volkswagen Beetle). The simple yet effective, uncluttered lines and no-nonsense interiors endowed the original 911s with considerable elegance, while continuous mechanical development meant that there was rarely a year when performance, handling and equipment didn’t improve.

Originally known as the 901 - something which Peugeot objected to, since it felt it had the monopoly on model designations with a zero in the middle - the 911 was first revealed at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show. The first examples had 130bhp 1991cc six-cylinder engines but Porsche was keen to make sure that its 356 replacement didn’t stand still. The 911S of 1966 saw power go up to 160bhp, and that same year also saw one of the most iconic wheel designs ever, in the form of the Fuchs five-spoke alloy. Another legend followed in 1967, when part of the roof was cut off to create the semi-convertible Targa variant.

The 911T - as we have here - also saw the light of day in 1967, as a 1968 model year car. The ‘T’ stood for ‘Touring’, with the car being regarded as the entry level version of the breed, with a 110bhp engine and four-speed gearboxes. But, just as with other 911s, Porsche continued to tweak the T; by 1970, it had received a 2195cc engine developing 125bhp, with a 2341cc 130bhp unit following in 1972. Fuel injection and 140bhp became available for 1973 - but only for the USA. With the advent of the G-series 911s in 1974, the T went out of production, as Porsche moved into a new era.  

OUR CAR
It was on November 12, 1970 that this 911T emerged from Porsche’s Stuttgart factory. It was destined for the United States, where its new owner had specified it in very eye-catching Signal Orange with black leatherette interior and the options of Fuchs alloy wheels, front and rear anti-roll bars, Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio, Comfort Package and coloured windows - these details being affirmed to by the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity that is in the car’s history folder. A five-speed gearbox was also fitted; four-speeds were standard for at the time on the T. The car was one of 3154 911T Coupes completed during the 1970/71  model year, complemented by 1496 Targas.

The car found itself shipped across the Atlantic to Dallas, Texas, where it stayed until 2016. It then came back over the Atlantic, albeit to the UK rather than Germany. The bills and invoices in the history folder date back to the 1980s and its American life, but among the more recent ones, from after it came to Britain, is one for a complete repaint and bodywork rectification in May 2016, at a cost of £4975.50.

One recent upgrade to the car was the installation of a Porsche Classic radio/navigation system, replacing the original Blaupunkt. While it retains the look of a classic radio, it includes a sat-nav, digital tuner with USB and aux connections, as well as Bluetooth.

BODYWORK
Given that this 911 was repainted and had panel work only done in 2016, it remains in lovely condition. The paintwork is vibrant, with an even, unmarked finish throughout. Having been driven very few miles since the renovation - by our estimates, looking at the paperwork, it’s only done around 1500 miles in the five years since the job was carried out. Thus the body is practically unmarked; there’s no scuffing to the bumpers, panel gaps are tight and consistent, and even the fuel filler cap has its protective vinyl flaps still in place, to protect the wing from any fuel spillages.

There’s minimal brightwork on this car, with it being confined to the sill finishers, bumper overriders and the Fuchs alloys. It’s all in very good order, albeit with some superficial blemishes here and there on the rims. The rear engine lid badging is gold; silver was the standard shade on 911Ts, but gold could be specified as found on higher-spec models such as the S. Tyres are Goodyear 195/65 R15 91V items all around which, judging by their 2015 date stamp, were fitted around the same time as the renovation and thus have covered very few miles. There’s plenty of tread left, and no damage to the sidewalls.  

INTERIOR
The interior is well-preserved, and could well be the all original, as factory-fitted in 1970. If so, it has stood up well. The plastic-based leatherette is largely free from any real wear; in fact the most obvious sign of the passing over 50 years is that the driver’s seat material is a little baggy. The carpets are clean and tidy, with only a few marks here and there that should respond well to cleaning. All the gauges are working and return healthy readouts. The door cards are excellent, although the driver’s side armrest has a slight bulge on its top edge. It’s really only noticeable when you compare it to its counterpart on the other side.

The Porsche Classic radio/navigation system looks the part; thanks to its black finish, it completely matches what’s around it and doesn’t clash with its 1970 surroundings. Everything functions as it should, with the USB, iPod and aux inputs neatly installed inside a small case mounted in the glovebox.

The black headlining has no issues while, up front, the load area is carpeted in the same shade as in the cabin footwells.      

ENGINE AND RUNNING GEAR
While the engine bay isn’t quite as well-detailed as the rest of the car, it’s tidy enough and appears oil-tight; an important consideration as the oil plays a significant role in the engine cooling. The belts and wiring are all in good condition, with the warning stickers on the slam panel in place - something to please all enthusiasts who prize originality.

Turn the  key, and the 911T starts easily and soon settles into a deep rhythmic beat. The acceleration is smooth and progressive, the gear change slick and quick, and oil pressure when hot and cruising is at the level it should be. The handling is sharp and the brakes very effective. While, with 130bhp to play with, this isn’t the fastest 911 in the world, it does exhibit excellent road manners, and it makes the most of the power it has. It is a very exhilarating and engaging car to drive.

SUMMARY
This is a prime example of the Porsche 911 as originally conceived, before the days when the drive for excesses of power and machismo saw the model lose the purity of ‘Butzi’ Porsche’s initial conception. Having covered very few miles since its extensive - and expensive - work, it’s in excellent order. And that vivacious orange hue means that, even amid more powerful, prestigious Porsches, it will stand out from the crowd. This is one of those lovely early cars that reminds you that you don’t need flared arches, turbos and tea-tray spoilers to experience just how delightful and enjoyable 911s can be.

While Greenside Cars Ltd has tried to ensure information and assessments are accurate and complete, we are aware that some errors and omissions may occur from time to time. We are not able, therefore, to guarantee the accuracy of information and cannot accept liability for loss or damage arising from it. We highly recommend that you examine any vehicle to check the reliability of the information supplied. Please contact us for further details, images, or to arrange a viewing of this Porsche 911T.

PRICE

£

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YEAR

1970

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ENGINE

2195cc

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MILEAGE

16,653

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COLOUR

Signal Orange

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