1969 Porsche 911S

Highlights

• Comprehensively rebuilt and recommissioned in 2020-2023
• Upgraded to 911S specification in period, further enhancements in recent years
• Rebuilt engine and gearbox (2023) with Quaife LSD
• Just two former owners
• Extensive history file, showcasing years of maintenance and improvement

Overview

What is the perfect recipe for a usable, exciting and dynamic classic sports car? Low kerbweight? Natural aspiration? Manual transmission? Rear wheel drive? Almost certainly, yes. But to be a true legend, an icon, requires more – a deep history of important models and variants, motorsport heritage, reliability and a reputation that makes the car deeply desirable and eminently collectible the world over.

Of course, when you put all of those things together, you always come to the same answer: the Porsche 911. Specifically, the first generation (known as the ‘F’ model), which was available from 1964 to 1973. Naturally, with the newest examples now more than 50 years old, finding one can be tricky. Finding one that’s in RHD, great condition, has been lovingly cared for, retains many original features and has been sympathetically enhanced is even trickier.

Thankfully, your fine friends here at PistonHeads HQ have taken all of the legwork out of this particular conundrum. If you want a gorgeous, well preserved, beautifully improved classic 911, then this is the car you want. We’re not even going to wait for the summation to say this – do not let this gem pass you by.

Originally sold as a 911T, it was reportedly converted to 911S specification by someone who owned an independent Porsche garage in the 70s, before being carefully and subtly improved over the years. In particular, the conversion included a move to an MFI (Mechanical Fuel Injection) system on the car which is what primarily sets apart the ‘S’ model from the carburettor-fed ‘T’.

The highly desirable MFI system is very expensive to obtain, rebuild and get running and has a significant performance over the much more common and numerous T/Carb models. It revs higher, too, adding 1,000rpm to the 6,200rpm rev limit on the T models. Granted, in the age of flat sixes engineered to rev to 10,000rpm+, 7,200rpm may sound more modest but it was fairly lofty for its day and is certainly enough to produce a gorgeous exhaust note today.

A comprehensive rebuild and recommissioning was undertaken by the current owner between 2020-2023, maintaining as much of the car’s original patination and character as possible, while augmenting the robustness, reliability, handling and performance to make it a true joy on modern roads. Naturally, the classic silhouette and styling remains unaltered, the upgrades predominantly being carried out ‘under the skin’.

Yes, you could buy a more modern 911. Yes it will be quicker and more comfortable. But that’s not the point, is it? The thrill of owning something with this much personality, history is incalculable. Combined with the sheer joy such a lovely motor delivers every time you turn the key, not to mention the appreciative nods and thumbs up from fellow enthusiasts, we think there’s simply no comparison.

Do you want lane-keeping assist and dual-zone climate control? Then this is probably not the car for you. Do you want an epically well restored classic that sounds magnificent, drives incredibly well and will draw more admiring glances and comments than any modern supercar you care to mention? You do? Well then, step right this way…

History and documentation

• First registered on 2 May 1969
• Initially sold from Isaac Agnew dealership in Belfast
• One former UK owner (1969 to 1975), one former owner in Eire (1975 to 2020)
• Current owner since 18 June 2020
• Comprehensive collection of invoices for maintenance and restoration, as well as some historic documents
• MOT and tax exempt (historic vehicle status)
• V5 present in owner’s name, original buff logbook also included
• HPI clear (checked October 2024)
• London ULEZ exempt (historic vehicle status)
• Left the factory as a 911T, converted to 911S specification by the previous owner, who ran an independent Porsche garage
• 1969 ‘SWB/LWB crossover’ model, with many one year only features, all of which have been retained
• 911S conversion to Mechanical Fuel Injection was carried out professionally, using the correct OEM one year only parts
• Matching numbers vehicle (engine, gearbox and body) with – factory kardex build sheet
• Stripped for restoration in the 1990s and repainted in Irish Green
• Restoration never completed as the owner passed away, so the car was put into storage in an unassembled state
• In 2020, the current owner purchased the car and set about having the vehicle reassembled, recommissioned and tastefully improved
• Numerous subtle performance and handling upgrades
• The car was originally registered as AOI 50 as can be seen in the original log book photos and the owner has been advised that it may possible to get this registration back on the car, which may be of interest to the next owner
• The owner is clear that this car has been built and maintained to be used, and is not designed to be a “trailer queen”

Interior

• Factory Recaro sports seats with tilt bases to the front, sculpted seats to the rear
• Smart black upholstery, with fabric centre panels to the seats, all of which appears to be in excellent condition, with some light evidence of use, but no damage or sagging apparent
• New black carpet has been fitted throughout the cabin, along with a handsome set of classic black and white Coco over-mats
• New headlining fitting
• The door cards are in excellent condition for their age
• The original RHD dashboard and upper pad is present and correct, showing a few cracks from age
• Gorgeous original crean-on-black instruments, in that classic 5-dial layout
• Genuine 38cm steering wheel, complete with original ‘hockey puck’ horn push (as seen on the 2.7RS)
• Hidden Bluetooth stereo system gives the driver access to a modern sound system without altering the classic dash
• Removable cup holders fitted to both front seat frames
• Overall the interior is in fine fettle, with a gentle, warm patina that is truly attractive and maintains the period nature of the vehicle
• High level rear brake light fitted
• New heater blower fitted in 2022
• The only known issue is that the rear demister does not function, otherwise the vendor tells us that everything in the cabin works just as it should
• Generous ‘frunk’ space, containing a full-size Fuchs spare wheel

Exterior

• Repainted in Irish Green in the 1990s
• The paintwork is very handsome and well kept, with a smattering of light wear as you’d expect from a 30+ year old finish
• There are a few blemishes, some light blistering and chips in a few places, but nothing that would cause us any concern, in fact the genuine nature of the paintwork just adds to the car’s charm as a regularly driven classic
• All of the bodywork looks to be straight and clean, with no misalignments or unusual panel gaps that we could discern
• The vendor tells us that, as far as they are aware, the car has never been in an accident
• Light kerbweight of about a tonne (measured at 990Kg by Porsche in period)
• Original brightwork is present and in very good order, with some light pitting and blemishes in places, as befits its age
• 911S specification sill and bumper trims, as well as correct gold-coloured rear badging and round door mirrors
• A new windscreen has been fitted and the rest of the glass looks to be in great condition, with no cracking or chipping we could identify
• Original H1 headlights and ‘raised letter’ lenses, with refinished reflectors
• Period metal ‘British Automobile Racing Club’ and ‘Ulster Automobile Club’ badges fitted at the rear
• External seals and rubbers have all been refreshed and renewed
• The car is wearing the correct 911S Fuchsfelgen period wheels (the 911S as the first Porsche to wear these), and they present in lovely condition, with no damage on show
• A matched set of Dunlop tyres, which are approximately 2 years old, is fitted
• Looking underneath, the floor pans and sills look very clean and undamaged, with intact, unbroken underseal and no obvious scrapes, dents or corrosion
• As far as we can see, all of the suspension components and underside mechanicals look to be in good order, with no notable corrosion or damage

Mechanical

• Naturally aspirated 2-litre flat-six, lightly stroked out to a 2.2-litre capacity
• Although not rolling roaded, the owner believes that the engine should be putting out in the region of 190-200bhp, based on its build spec, which makes for lively performance in a car that weighs less than a tonne
• Rear wheel drive
• Five-speed manual transmission
• Two new batteries
• Clean and tidy engine bay, with no evidence we could see of issues or leaks – even all of the correct stickers appear to be in place
• Engine rebuilt from professionally rebuilt and new components with some enhancements between 2021-2023
• Work included: mild stroke to 2.2-litres, higher compression, new piston rings, refurbished throttle bodies, carbs, heads stripped, decoked and skimmed, new valve seats, new stem seals, new exhaust valves, new inlet valves, new K-lines, conversion to twin spark (with two programmable CDI+ Ignition boxes), crankshaft balanced, 4-rib high output oil pump, oil bypass conversion
• The original 1969 911S air filter assembly is included too, should the new owner wish to return the engine to a more stock appearance
• S-Spec Oil Console and front wing oil cooler
• The vendor tells us that there is a minor oil leak to the off-side head, which they believe to be from the lower cam cover, but it is very minimal an has never caused them any issues
• New clutch and lightweight flywheel fitted
• 901/13 transmission fitted with Rennshift Gearshifter and Stomski linkage for a crisper feel and better reliability
• Gearbox fully rebuilt, with a new billet bearing plate and a new Quaife LSD
• New 21/26mm torsion bars
• Sway-Away adjustable spring plates
• S-specification front struts
• Elephant Racing Poly-Bronze bushings all round for tighter handling and a better ride
• Turbo track rod and bump steer upgrades
• S-spec rear anti-roll bar
• S-spec Koni adjustable shock absorbers all round
• Rebuilt S-spec brake calipers all round, with new flexi hoses
• High performance Carbone Lorraine RC5 brake pads all round

Summary

If, after having delved into the lovely collection of images above, and pored over the specification we’ve listed, you don’t want to put this car in your garage, then … well okay then. We’re not sure what you’re doing on this website, but okay.

For the remaining 99.9% of our readership, we’re sure you’d like to join us in standing to applaud the current owner for their sterling work in preserving and enhancing this delightful machine. The line between improving a classic and robbing it of its character is a fine one to tread, and we reckon they’ve done it perfectly.

Wearing just the right level of patina, bedecked with a raft of superb upgrades focussed on performance and longevity, and with a great story to back it all up, this cracking little sports car makes a compelling case for itself. And, unlike so many car purchases, a classic 911 is one you can make with your head as well as your heart, as they currently maintain their value (or increase in value) better than almost anything else on the market.

There’s not much more we can say about it really, as we’ve already been almost embarrassingly effusive. Quite simply, it’s gorgeous, probably one of the nicest examples you’ll see. So if you’re in the market for a classic 911, then you should probably buy it.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Ormskirk, Lancashire.