1966 Porsche 911 2.0-Litre SWB 'Sunroof' Coupé

Footnotes

'The 911 is a well-designed automobile, safe, fast, comfortable, with qualities capable of satisfying a wide clientele looking for a compact but luxurious two-plus-two that will give well above average performance.' – Bernard Cahier, Sports Car Graphic, January 1965.

Few sports cars have proved as versatile as Porsche's perennial 911, a model that, for the last 50-plus years, has proved equally capable as a Grand Tourer, circuit racer, or rally car. A 'modern classic' if ever there was one, the 911 first appeared at the 1963 Frankfurt Show as the '901', but shortly after production proper commenced in 1964 had become the '911' following Peugeot's complaints about the use of '0' model numbers. The preceding Type 356's rear-engined layout was retained but the 911 switched to unitary construction for the chassis/body and dropped the 356's VW-based suspension in favour of a more modern McPherson strut and trailing arm arrangement. In its first incarnation, Porsche's single-overhead-camshaft, air-cooled flat six engine displaced 1,991cc and produced 130bhp; progressively enlarged and developed, it would eventually grow to more than 3.0 litres and, in turbo-charged form, put out well over 300 horsepower.

Manufactured in March 1966, this 1st Series (pre-A Programme) Porsche 911 was delivered new via the Rossel dealership in Wiesbaden Germany, making it an ultra-rare European example, the bulk of production going to the USA. This particular 911 is also 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. Chassis number '303951' was ordered with the desirable Webasto sunroof as well as a Becker Monte Carlo radio with antenna and loudspeakers. It is believed that the car has remained in Germany ever since.
The current owner bought the Porsche in 2014, in need of restoration, and had it fully restored to the highest standards with no expense spared by marque specialists GT Classic Sportwagen in Essen, Germany. The owner also had some sonderwunsch (special request) options installed: full leather seats in black (instead of leatherette) costing €3,000; chrome wheels; GPS-tracker (for regularity rallies); competition safety belts, etc. When finished, this car was so beautiful that the vendor hardly dared to drive it!

Accompanying documentation includes a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity confirming its original specification and the aforementioned rare factory options; GT Classic's invoice and details of the complete restoration totalling over €100,000; a copy of the old German Fahrzeugbrief; TüV paperwork dated 2015; and a copy of the old Porsche Kardex recording the first services (rare).

This short-wheelbase Porsche 911 is the perfect car for historic rallies, being fast and competitive. Ready to take to any rally or concours event, it is 'on the button' and ready to go.