Originals featured highly developed small capacity engines producing 230 -250BHP depending on capacity, impressive horsepower from 2.3 – 2.5 litres at the time; however, they were never intended to be a road car and would make an unpleasant and unhappy companion on our often, congested tarmac today.
This replica is based on a genuine LHD 1972 911 with a side `oil klapper` and is a car we first purchased from Switzerland back in 1999.
It was fitted with a tired but genuine 1974 Carrera MFI engine, full 3.0 RSR bodywork and was generally, a very sound, drivable unfinished project.
We originally sold the car to a local garage proprietor who fancied finishing the car himself, but ten years later, we ended up re acquiring the car, abelite now stripped and certainly requiring completion.
Another one of our customers heard that we had the car standing in the corner and persuaded us to sell it to him for his own personal project.
This time the car was stripped, rebuilt and turned into the car you see today.
Inspired by the Group 4 ST circuit racers, the solid bare shell was adorned with steel rear arches, composite ST front arches, bumpers, bonnet and engine cover before being painted in a period creamweiss. The interior was fitted with a half roll cage, lightweight door cards lightweight carpets, momo prototipo and period lightweight seats that offer superb driver comfort.
Whilst it was his dream to complete as much of the car as he could himself, working commitments eventually meant it was dropped to Francis Tuthill Porsche in Oxfordshire for completion.
The suspension and brakes were restored and fitted with turbo track rods and later anti roll bars before a full geometry set up was carried out.
The original magnesium gearbox and Carrera 2.7 MFI motor were also stripped and rebuilt, while the ZF LSD was inspected, cleaned and reassembled. The car was then fitted with genuine anodised 8”x15” front and Minilte 9” x15” rear wheels and a period 3 exit exhaust system to complete the look.
Although we have yet to weigh this car, its certainly lighter than an RS lightweight and is very likely to be close to 900kgs. Couple this with a rebuilt genuine Carrera 2.7 MFI engine, crisp shifting magnesium cased gearbox mated with a ZF limited slip differential and you have a road legal period 911, that will keep your eyes wide open on your favourite twisty road.
With genuine examples being so limited and out of reach for the enthusiast, this car stimulates all of the senses, with the look and drama of an original ST, but at a fraction of the outlay.
