So if you were going to buy an S......

[fishman7]

What year would you buy and why? Starting to think about making the big purchase!

[denson]

My personal opinion is that the 70-71 cars are the best. They are long wheelbase, have all the great sounds as the 2.0 S motor, but with more power and a better torque band. They still have the chrome trim around the light lenses and the horn grills are chrome. They also have the higher compression ratio as compared to the 72-73 cars.

Good luck. They are all great cars and this is just my personal opinion.

[jaudette3]

'67 or '72 Coupe

'67 Coupe
----------
o Short wheel base a blast to throw around
o Short wheel base looks great
o Strong aluminum 2.0 case can be built: 2.7, short-stroke, etc.
o Green gauges
o High quality parts, i.e. brass and chrome
o Primal
o Good resale

'72 Coupe
----------
o 2.4 is most refined of the longhoods
o Great performance
o Cool side oil tank
o No big black things on bumpers as with '73
o Good resale

The perfect garage would have one of each. Night and day difference.

Cheers,
JohnA

[Macroni]

67.... swb need I say more

[Milou]

I would get a Coupe but after that I would focus not on a particular model but rather on finding a car as original as possible:
Matching number, original color, all correct options, original panels and trim, correct fuchs, and complete interior details.

Usually, it means it will be well looked after, will drive the way it should, and you are likely to enjoy it for a very long time.

As most, if it needs to be one single year, I would probably go like Soterik and Macroni with "1967": the first, the purest, the green dials, SWB....

[Soterik]

I'm with Milou....

Though I'm primarily an 67S guy, I've had them across the board, and currently have a 72S as well. But, when I'm looking (and it appears that I always am), I never really look for any year in particular, just the best possible car that's available. I prefer as much originality as possible as well, as you can always do bolt on modifications to "make it your own", and switch back and forth as your desires change.

Talking to a few people recently I get the opinion that there's a few cars out there that could be had pretty reasonably, and there probably will be a few more available this spring as the economy continues to tank, or just continues to flatline (my opinion). I know of a very nice 73S that may be available soon, and a couple of friends have told me about potential cars coming on the market. I think the next 6 months will be a pretty good time to buy. I recently bought a 59A cab, and could have bought a mint 65SC sunroof from the same seller but ran out of play money (and it was a great buy in my opinion).

So... if you do want one, just starting digging deep on "all" of them, and then snap up the best one you find. You won't be dissapointed in my opinion.

cheers,
Eric

[LongRanger]

. . . has everything that makes the early 911 so good:

1) long wheel base
2) light weight
3) Magnesium engine and trans
4) oil-squirters for improved piston cooling
5) high compression
6) MFI
7) largest displacement with zero emissions
8) 901 transmission
9) alloy engine cover and valance
10) low production numbers and . . .
11) . . . low survival-rate, therefore . . .
12) . . . seldom seen or available

I call it the 911est 911.

Rick Kreiskott

[Alan.uk]

Hi Fishman,

I have had the privilege of having had one of each of the S production years from 67-73 and think they all are great cars. My fondest memories lie with the 2.2S from 1970 and 1971, but then the others are also fantastic cars.

Have you driven any yourself? It might be worth seeing if anyone is close by so you can at least try.

Thanks and good luck with your search

Alan

[fishman7]

Haven't driven one yet, but I have a good friend who is finishing up his 72S and he has promised me the thrill of driving it so I'm willing to bet there will be no turning back. I'm looking more towards 69-71 cars, a really nice driver no garage queens for me; I enjoy driving them too much! Keep all the responses coming!

[tfiv]

Just buy the nicest car of any year you can find. You can get a nice car dirty, you can chip it's nose, it can all be fixed (except original paint). My experience is that cars described as "drivers" are either unfinished, need a restoration, or both. In the end a bigger up front cost will be revealed as a savings.