Porsche 911 E

Although the original 2.0 engine had been replaced some time ago by a 2.4 litre unit, this was due a rebuild, so after a discussion with the current owner who wanted a reliable classic car to use for European road trips, a decision was made to replace this with an engine from a later 3.0SC running on PMOs and hooked up to a rebuilt Type 915 gearbox, with an LSD and strengthened internals. The recipe worked well, but whilst the SC engine was reliable, it was a little down on power, so a full rebuild took place in 2016 to bring it back to its former glory.

The suspension was also enhanced with front and rear Bilstein dampers, uprated torsion bars, roll bars, Turbo tie-rods and Turbo steering rack, plus Weltmeister tower strut brace. Bilstein dampers again feature at the rear, with later aluminium radius arms, with larger bearings, plus RS spec roll bar, uprated torsion bars and adjustable spring plates. Braking is via SC callipers front and rear, and braided hoses, and modified pedal box bushes.

The original 15 x 6-inch Fuchs remain at the front, while at the rear 7-inch Fuchs are nicely tucked into the narrow arches. All four are correctly factory anodised and detailed, and currently rolling on 15in Bridgestone Turenza rubber.

Interior wise it’s lightweight all the way, albeit still fully furnished and carpeted so as to be still civilised. Recent leather buckets, with hounds tooth inserts look smart and offer great support and comfort. A Momo Prototipo steering wheel, as ever, is a tactile delight.

While its US history is scant, UK history is abundant, with comprehensive work and invoices from Jaz, Transend and here at Paul Stephens. There is also some previous owner history claiming past track adventures and driver days shared with heroes such as Stirling Moss, Derek Bell, Dickie Attwood and Vic Elford, with autographs in the driving manual to prove it!

And talking of owner history, we couldn’t help but concur with the wishes of a previous custodian in the history file, which read thus: “It will be sold only to a committed Porsche 911 driver, with a garage concerned with the car’s dynamic abilities, not a museum.” Yep, what he said!

On the road
It was built to be driven hard, so drive it hard! It’s the full early 911 experience but tuned and turned up a few degrees, albeit not at the expense of usability, or on road compliance. Indeed its dimensions and suspension work perfectly on UK roads.

The 3.0 SC engine produces an abundance of torque and pulls hard as it snarls through the downdraught PMOs, while the 915 gearbox rewards with clean, methodical shifting. Braking is super strong.

We say
This is a 911 Hot Rod build, that you don’t need to be too precious about, and ready to be driven. It is the very ethos of the perfect companion for a track day, an early morning cars and coffee blast, or if you are a fantasist, to channel your inner Moss, Bell or Elford, because the history says they have driven this very car before you!