65 901- 911's purest expression, what did I miss?

[1st]

From another post, what did I miss......?

The '65 901 series cars are the purest expression of the 911 because of:

The first series of 911

SWB

356 type seats and interior detailing

Timber dash

Green instruments

Wood rimmed steering wheels

Duco colours- pure 50's/60's

Rarity

Purity of shape, detailing and build

Rock solid build quality.....many unrestored 901's still are on the button having never been restored

Lightweight

the reverse "911" script

Hella 128's

Brilliant to drive- anyone complaining about the SWB handling nuances doesn't know what they are talking about, has never driven one or just can't drive.

Good ones go almost as hard as a 356 Carrera

The slick dogleg 901 5 speed gear box- just ignore the "play" and happily shift away with your most potent gears, no 2 and no 3 on a straight shift plane for maximun swiftness

That screamer 2.0 motor with a 6900RPM redline (Achtung!)- idles like a VW Beetle, redlines like a LeMans racer

Webers instead of Solex's

The 911's "black" phase was some time off.....so the detailing is chrome, the interiors have colour (not just black and grey everything), the exterior brightwork is just that, bright


I've owned mine for 17 years and despite the occasional telephone-number like offer I ask myself the question....what could I replace it with.......?

With the 911's fiftieth anniversary coming, these early 901 series cars are only gonna become more and more desirable, and harder to obtain.

Cheers

SCK

[Schläfer]

I'd agree with all of the above, but would take my Solex's over Webers any day!

These cars have been the best kept secret around until recently. I've owned my car for about 5 years. Some people have told me that they couldn't have given really early cars away prior to 1999 or so. 901 Spec 911's have been well overdue a price correction in rarity alone. The current RHD count is at 5 cars in all of Britain, Australia and New Zealand. There were approx 100 73RS's sold in the UK, and they're considered super rare.

[gruen911]

Everything you described about the 65 can be said about the 67 model year as well, except of course with the improvement of Webbers (no flat spots), and brushed aluminum dash instead of Teak veneer trim on the 65/66 models. Of course, quite a few more 911's were made in in 66 and 67 than in 64/65, but the rarity of finding a good clean mostly original and rust free one has become very hard. Check out Ebay current and expired auctions to see how many good ones are for sale. Demand is high right now , and the supply is very limited. Even nice early SWB 912's are selling now in the high teens.

[t6dpilot]

A hearty +1 on 1st's post! I, for one, would LOVE to own one of those early early 911s. Anyone want to part with thiers for a reasonable number?

[ajwans]

Alex Webster has 3 of them on his website Porsche Classics two are LHD and the other was formerly LHD.

There's also an original RHD FS in Australia here

andy

[1st]

Hey there David

Why prefer Solex's over Weber's.......? Originality? Running benefits?

My car's first owner had a Hillclimb track on his estate (it's still in competitive use today) and SA119 was ordered and fitted, I understand, with Webers and a "modified silencer" early at delivery, along with suitable gearbox ratios ex-factory.

Were Webers a factory fitted option on '65 cars, or did they come later to fix the Solex "flat spot"?

Cheers

[kenikh]

As the owner of a car that orignally had solexes (but now has webers), I am curious to hear from someone still running solexes. To answer 1st's question, by car is a CY 65/MY66 car. Questions:

1. Are they easy to keep running?
2. The "flat spot" problem is apparently easy to fix. (emulsion tube change)
3. Do they really wear out as fast as you hear?
4. There is a guy in Europe that apparently does amazing Solex rebuilds for vintage racing; has anyone ever used him?

I am considering going back to Solexes, but everything is gone (mechanical fuel pump, carbs, everything). If I go through this exercise, will I be giving anything up over Webers?

[911quest]

I had one with solex's they were different but they just didn't seem to run the same. It could be the carbs or it could have been something else. The Solex were so worn out that you could hear the throttle shafts rattling in there bores. I guess it is like anything else the more time you spend with them the better you can make them run. The parts are just getting hard to find try to find a good tandem pump.....

[Schläfer]

I've spoken to loads of people about Solex carbs and most people who have given them some time and figured out their quirky operation have come to the same conclusion that they work very well. Unfortunately most people beleive the common bad press and take them off. Usually they are either worn or poorly rebuilt these days (they're 43 years old!) and I would only ever trust a set that I'd been through so I knew what was going on, if you don't you'll soon find that you can't tune out problems and wear. The complication for most people is the fact that you have to syncronise six cabs instead of two, but once everything does the same thing at the same time they're great. In fact a well respected early 911 specialist near to me has told me that in some cases cars they have returned to Solex (for FIA) have made more power. My own car made 132bhp on the rolling road with no flat spot whatsoever. I've never had a problem so haven't wanted to change them.

To answer Kenikh's questions:

1. Yes, once you've set it up they're great. They're more complicated than Webers, but you'll get a feel for them. They don't need constant attention, just a check over when you do your service.

2. The flat spot problem is due to the change over from enrichment to air speed fuelling. I have tuned it out of the bottom end and have clean power delivery.

3. I can't see how they could wear out any quicker than anything else except if people are scared to maintain them.

4. Duell Motorsport in Holland modify them as does Bobs Carb Service in Germany. Duell run two 65 911's both on Solex, both putting out 190bhp from 2 liters. Although they do modify them to 46mm throttle valves.

I've managed to buy two NOS Factory Sport kits which consist of bigger venturis, different jets, rain sheilds and spark plugs. I've just finished a killer set for my car, they're the best set I've ever built and can't wait to give them a try back on the rolling road

[John Straub]

I love the Solex carbs...got them working years ago and they still work great.

John