1966 Porsche 911 2.0-Litre SWB 'Sunroof' Coupé

• Delivered new in Germany
• Matching chassis and engine numbers
• Known single family ownership history
• Restored by Porsche in 1998 (invoice available)
• Original colour scheme

Few sports cars have proved as versatile as Porsche's perennial 911, a model that, for the last 60-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.

This Porsche 911 offered here, chassis number '304 449', 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 and consequently much in demand. It is a 1966 model year car, and belongs to the '0-Programme' series built from the start of production in August 1964 up to the introduction of the 'A-Programme' model in August 1967, and thus represents the Porsche 911 in its earliest and purest form.

This car was delivered new on 13th May 1966 to company owner Fritz Fuss through the Max Moritz Porsche dealership in Reutlingen, Germany. In 1998, following restoration at Porsche costing over 50,000 DM (invoice on file), its registration status was changed from commercial to private use. At the end of 2004 the 911's ownership was transferred to the owner's son-in-law. It currently has a German registration.

The car comes with its original folder containing all documents (owner's manual, service books, sunroof manual, etc); a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity; and its first, second and third German titles, which had to be updated over the decades due to new regulations imposed by the German government. Indeed, this is a good documented early 911, that is a rare 'full-matching-numbers' example with a 87,990 kilometres recorded. Understood to have never been raced or rallied, it appears to be in very good condition throughout, retaining its original interior and fitted with a radio in the glove compartment (easily removed).

This exceptional short-wheelbase Porsche 911 is the perfect car for historic rallies, being both fast and competitive.