Light Yellow Over Black, 5-Speed Manual With 911S “Appearance Group”, Front Fog Lights, Sport Seats, In Possession of Original Owner for Nearly 40 Years.
It makes sense why so many enthusiasts deem the Porsche 911 the ultimate classic car. Thanks to its unique and exciting driving dynamics, outstanding build quality, and legendary reliability, classic 911 ownership sidesteps many of the pitfalls usually associated with having an old car in your garage. With nearly 60 years of continuous production, selecting the proper classic 911 can be daunting- but without a doubt, one of the most sought-after generations is the long wheelbase, short bumper cars built between 1969 and 1973. Although the earlier short-wheelbase cars are known for their lively handling and revvy small displacement motors, the long-wheelbase cars are far more refined and much better all-around vehicles. In 1971, the 911 was offered in 3 trim lines, the carburated “T”, the fuel-injected “E”, and the highest-performing “S”- all of which were powered by a stout 2.2-liter air-cooled flat 6.
This Porsche 911T was produced in February 1971 and is finished in its original color of Light Yellow and presents in very solid driver condition. The car shows well thanks to a respray in the original color as well as a host of other reconditioning jobs but has never been completely restored. Sold new at Art Bunker Audi/Porsche in Overland Park, Kansas, the car remained under the care of the original owner until 2009. Thanks to this fastidious owner, the car still retains its original service booklet, delivery invoice, and a partially complete original tool roll. On the exterior, this car displays a few unique features that separate it from other 911Ts- the first of which are the factory optional dual fog lights in front. A pair of round lights affixed to the front grilles give an almost rally car look to this 911 and are a relatively uncommon option from the era. Additionally, a set of Mahle “Gas Burner” wheels were specified on this example as opposed to the Fuchs 5-spokes you typically see. The “Appearance Group” option upgrades the exterior with a number of upgrades that were otherwise reserved for the 911S- gold rear badging, extended rocker panels and elegantly integrated rubber moldings over the chrome bumpers, all help to tie the car together.
Like the exterior of the car, the interior is largely original- finished in black with a great set of black and yellow Coco Mats on the floor. The original “Comfort” style seats have been replaced by a beautiful set of the more heavily bolstered sport seats of the era which provide much better support in the twisties and just look great in the cabin. One feature that truly sets this car apart from almost any other 911 of the era is that not only does it have factory air conditioning, but it actually blows cold. Anybody who has driven a 911 of this era with factory A/C can tell you that even when in good order, calling the air coming out of the vents “cool” is an overstatement- but this car does truly deliver in the cold air department, making it a fantastic car for touring or road rallies.
The 2.2-liter flat-6 is the original unit for this car but has been treated to a number of upgrades over the years to both improve reliability and the driving experience. In the 1990s, the motor was treated to a full rebuild that benefited from the addition of later Carrera timing chain tensioners, as well as a set of higher compression 911S pistons. The Zenith 3-choke carburetors were replaced by a set of Webers and the always-important SSI heat exchangers were installed. In 1971, the standard gearbox on a US market 911T was a 4-speed but a 5-speed like that found in the 911E and 911S was an option. This example came from the factory with that desirable 5-speed which was also overhauled while the engine was out and still shifts smoothly today. The car runs and drives very nicely- the front end isn’t quite as tight as you would find on a fully set up car, but replacing some bushings would likely do the car many favors. Overall, this is a really wonderful 911 to drive that provides smooth power throughout the rev range.
This 911T can be summed up by simply saying it is a fantastic driver’s car and the perfect companion for road trips, rallies, or touring. With much of the major mechanical reconditioning already completed, this car is ready to get in and enjoy. When that is combined with such long-term single ownership and much of the original documentation, this 911T is a truly unique example.
