Bonhams The Zoute Sale, Place Albert de Knokke Le Zoute, Knokke-Heist, Belgium, October 10, 2021
1965 Porsche 2.0L 911 Coupe, Lot 56
VIN: 303232
Engine: 903335
Trans: -
Color: Polo Red/Brown Leatherette
Mileage: 01,211 km (indicated)
Auction Estimate: US$180,000 - 230,000/€160,000 - 200,000
Sold for: €178,250/US$206,217 (including premium)
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Auction Description:
This particular Porsche 911 is one of the early, short-wheelbase cars of the type much favoured by the historic rallying fraternity, a situation that has led to original examples such as this one becoming a great rarity. It belongs to the '0-Programme' series built from the start of production in August 1964 up to the introduction of the longer-wheelbase 'A-Programme' model in August 1967, and thus represents the Porsche 911 in its earliest and purest form.
According to the accompanying documentation issued by Porsche Italia, this car was built for the 1965 model year (1st August 1964 to 31st July 1965) with an invoice date of 16th December 1965. The specified colour scheme was Polo Red (colour code 6602) with a brown vinyl interior, while the only other factory option listed was Webasto heating. The country of first registration was Italy, in the province of Macerata in the Marche region, and the car has remained in Italy ever since. The Certification of Origin, again issued by Porsche Italia, confirms engine number '903335' was the original (it is still fitted to the car).
The current owner, an avid classic car enthusiast with a small stable of cars, purchased the Porsche in 2004, initially to race it, which he did. But then he decided that a 911 from 1965 was far too valuable to race and commissioned respected Porsche specialists Pentacar of Colico near Milan to carry out a no-expense-spared restoration, commencing in March 2017. The body was stripped back to bare metal, repaired where necessary and professionally repainted to a very high standard in the original colour of Polo Red. The interior was restored at the same time, as of course were the mechanicals and the original matching-numbers engine. The result is described as excellent in all respects, and since the restoration's completion in May 2020 the car has been driven only a little over 1,200 kilometres at the time of cataloguing. As icing on the cake, the owner purchased a new tool kit and jack from Porsche Classic to complete the picture. The car is offered with the Italian libretto and Certificato di Proprietą as well as ASI Targa Oro certification. An original, Italian-delivered Porsche 911 from 1965, with matching engine and colour, this is a car for the true Porsche connoisseur.