1966[sic]
Porsche 911S Coupe
2013 The Houston Classic Auction
ESTIMATE: $90,000 - $120,000
CHASSIS NO: 307637S
A Fully Race Prepared Early Production 911S, Sold with Both the Race Motor and the Original Block, Nicely Restored and Very Fast with Authentic Graphics
2.0 litre flat six engine, 158 HP, five-speed manual transmission, fully independent four-wheel suspension; wheelbase: 87”
When the 911 first appeared at the 1963 Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, also known as the Frankfurt Motor Show, many savvy sports car fans recognized Porsche's leap of faith as an instant classic. Tracing its roots directly back to sketches drawn by Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche himself, the 911 singlehandedly allowed Porsche to maintain and grow the foothold in the U.S. market established by the 356. The 911's 2-litre air-cooled rear-mounted flat six-cylinder engine (enlarged over the preceding 356 model's four-cylinder 1556 cc) now boasted an overhead camshaft valve system previously found only on Porsche race cars and produced 158 horsepower giving it a top speed of 130 MPH. And, now there were four seats albeit the rear pair of small proportions and thus referred to as a 2+2. Gone were the much beloved 365's torsion bar/trailing arm front suspension in favor of advanced lower A-arms and McPherson struts, and semi-trailing arms replaced the "old" swing arm suspension.
In its first production year of 1964, while some argued that it was "too heavy and luxurious," the press saw it for what it was, a revolutionary evolution of the breed. Car and Driver wrote: "...worth the price of all the old Porsches put together." It was indeed the shape of things to come, and it kept on coming both in showroom sales and on the racetrack. While 1966 U.S. car makers in Detroit offered 367 different "basic" models, in that same year Porsche brought out one "special" variant of the 911 Porsche and called it the S. Upgrades from the standard 911 included a boost of 30 horsepower, beefed up chassis and bigger brakes, while 20 pounds was shaved off by bolting on a set of Fuchs alloy wheels with their distinctive five-spoke "leaf" design. At the 24 Hours of LeMans, a 1966 911S won the 2-litre class and finished 14th overall. The die was cast for one of the industry's all-time success stories.
This car was treated to a bare-metal restoration after being purchased in 2002. It came out of Colorado, where the owner used it for vintage racing events in the early 2000s. Included in the restoration process was a complete and thorough mechanical rebuild of the car, with the goal of competing in the 2003 La Carrera Panamericana race. Once fully sorted, and equipped with racing seats and safety equipment, it was shipped to Mexico, where the owner piloted the car to a Class win and a strong ninth place overall finish. The engine in the car is a race spec engine that was built up specifically for the event by Eagle Racing in Texas. Also included in the purchase is the long block and most of the components from the engine that is original to the car. The car is titled as a 1967, however, the VIN sequence (307637S) indicates this car is actually a far more rare 1966 model, the first year of availability for the S model.
After their victorious campaign in Mexico, the car was successfully raced on the American vintage circuit for several years, until the failing health of the owner lead him to sell the car to the current owner. The car was properly stored, and required only a few adjustments and some fresh gasoline to fire right up. It remains very quick and could be easily prepped for further racing activities without major expense, yet is a fully road legal vehicle. With original body panels and all the correct tags and stampings present, the car is both a great driver and a fine investment.
With the prices of early 911s rising steadily, this first-year S-model represents a fine chance to own a fast race-prepped car that will also certainly appreciate in value nicely. Join the 911’s legions of fans, and experience the finely balanced handling and German precision for yourself.
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Originally Posted by davep
