1974 Porsche 911

California Coupe

6 - Cyl.

Manual

Gasoline

This fine Porsche is sold in a NO RESERVE format. The highest bidder will be the car's new owner at the end of this auction @ noon PST on April 1st, 2011. Please, read the Terms at the bottom of this listing, and bid accordingly. Very Collectible: 1974 Porsche 911 Coupe! Porsche's 911 needs no lengthy introduction: blessed with a timeless design, it's easily the most recognized sports car on the planet. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Any air-cooled 911 is a bona fide collectible today, with demand for finely preserved vintage examples far outpacing the limited supply. Nice first-generation cars are already beyond the financial reach of many folks who have to work for their money. Next in line for well-deserved appreciation are the 1974 models: 37 years old, smog exempt, yet without the ill-conceived thermal reactors or catalytic converters of the 1975-and-up models, they still provide the pure 911 experience all enthusiasts of the marque are lusting for. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Built before the men from Zuffenhausen discovered that automobile bodies could be coated with zinc to prevent rust, most of the mid-year 911s have long since ascended to the big boneyard in the sky. Naturally, we were very excited to find this rare surviving '74 Coupe in beautiful Pismo Beach, California. Click on any of the above images for a full-size view A very early car, manufactured in August of 1973 as the 248th 911 Coupe of 4,014 built during the model year, it had four responsible adult owners since it was sold new on 12/19/73 at the world-famous VASEK POLAK dealership in Hermosa Beach, Calif. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) To claim the car to be well-documented would be an understatement. Besides the original owner's manual, emissions control supplement, and radio brochure (still inside the factory-issued red vinyl pouch), a HAYNES repair manual and Bruce Anderson's Porsche 911 Performance Handbook, there are 58 receipts for maintenance and parts purchases, chronologically filed--with clear sheet protectors--in a big black binder. These service records total exactly $26,089.77. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Let's now inspect this magnificent Porsche in more detail, starting with the trunk. We're very pleased to find the original felt carpeting, a working trunk light, gas shocks that actually hold the hood up, and the factory tool kit. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Underneath, there's the date-coded spare and the tire jack. Note proper surface finishes throughout trunk compartment; they are all original, including the Indian Red paint. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Best of all, the vulnerable nose section, where accident damage and corrosion from battery acid often conspire to wreak havoc, looks clean, dry, and undamaged. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Attractive from every angle, this is the classic 911 look. This Porsche appears cosmetically in bone stock condition, apart from a slightly lowered stance and the adoption of the flush Carrera front valance. Coachwork is beautiful to behold; hoods and doors fit very well. Weatherstripping, glass (note rear quarter vent windows), and brightwork are in excellent condition throughout. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Indischrot finish--also called Guards Red, color code 027--looks very glamorous, indeed. Superbly glossy and smooth, there are two small bubbles on the left front fender; however, there are no dents, chips, or scratches to bemoan. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) A set of the optional, iconic 15-inch FUCHS alloy wheels--shod with excellent MICHELIN 195/65-15 tires--completes the classic 911 look. Notice the desirable, aluminum "S" brake calipers and the immaculately clean inner wheel wells. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Thankfully, the design of Porsche's classic 911 cockpit has not changed much over the years. You can't improve upon perfection! Dashboard doesn't show any hairline cracks, steering wheel is authentic 1974-vintage, even the shift knob is factory-installed. Stereo has recently been updated. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) The classic, large, white-on-black VDO gauges with their orange pointers look great, and--apart from the clock--they all work. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) 1974 was the first year for the much-improved seats with integral headrests. This car was delivered with a rare Navy Blue interior. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Occasional rear seats with lap belts, door and side panels, carpeting: everything looks amazingly clean and well-preserved, befitting a pampered 911. Headliner has a few small flaws, but they are not very noticeable. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Ready for a test drive? So are we, but before we leave, let's check out engine compartment and undercarriage. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Inside a toothbrush-clean engine bay resides the car's matching numbers power plant, engine # *6140245*, which, according to the documentation, has been opened three times for major refurbishments. About 21,000 miles ago, a top end job was performed. Other recent repairs include the fuel injection (pump and fuel distributor), sway bar bushings, cv boots, alternator, front and rear brake pads, and turn signal switch. Engine runs and sounds fantastic; there are no annoying leaks. Superior original floorpans have not suffered from corrosion. There's nothing to hide here, the undercarriage is as dry and clean as the remainder of the car. One cannot overstate the value of owning a California original: you simply won't have to deal with any of the tedious tasks required to revive a rusty East Coast (or European) specimen. Click on the image to the left for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) With rain in the forecast, we used Thursday, February 25, to road-test this Porsche and to snap some photos along the way. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Onehundred and fifty honest-to-goodness horses propel the featherweight, 37 year-old Porsche from zero to 100 mph in a flash. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) Without the dreaded thermal reactors and exhaust gas recirculation, introduced on the 1975 model to ill effect, this 2,300 lbs. road rocket is faster than a '73 two-point-four "T" while being fabulously docile, thanks to the superb BOSCH K-Jetronic. Spend some time behind the wheel of this 911 and you'll be giddy with excitement! Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) This Porsche never misses a beat. Time and again, it starts easily, idles smoothly, and sounds ferocious. Its Typ 915 five-speed manual transmission is a joy to shift, and the car accelerates effortlessly--and powerfully--through the gears. To quote Ferry Porsche: "Porsche 911 - Fahren in seiner schönsten Form!" ("Driving in its most beautiful form!"). Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) The value of a Porsche 911 is highly dependent on its condition and mileage. This particular 911 is not only a visual stunner, it can back up its breathtaking first impression by excellent service records and a documented ownership history from day one. It has been driven carefully, about 4,250 miles annually, on average, and has always been looked after by the best specialist shops, among them Vasek Polak, Autohaus Schneider, Lomita 911 Service, and German Auto. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) On our way home, we contemplate the virtues of this 39-year-old. With the demise of the air-cooled 911 series in 1998, a well-preserved survivor is guaranteed to appreciate in value in the years to come. If you ever dreamt of owning a classic Porsche 911, this particular vehicle is most certainly a worthy candidate for your consideration. Click on the above image for an XXL-sized view (a separate browser window will open) This early edition 2.7-liter Porsche 911, unencumbered by power-sapping emissions systems, featuring a rust free pan and a most striking color combination, must be one of the best values to be found in the vintage Porsche marketplace today. Don't let number 248 slip away. You might not find another one anytime soon! You are most welcome and encouraged to view this fine automobile in Ventura by appointment, or have someone inspect it for you during the auction. Please, direct all inquiries to bill@californiaclassix.com or call us at (805) 653-5551. TERMS OF THIS SALE By bidding in this auction, you declare that you have read and accept the Terms of this Sale as outlined below. If you have any questions, please ask them before you bid. After the auction has ended, the sale is final. Please, only bid on this car if you are serious about owning it and have the necessary funds readily available! We require a $500.00 deposit via paypal within 24 hours, and payment of the entire balance within 7 days of the end of the auction, unless other arrangements have been made. We will consider any serious offer for this Porsche and reserve the right to end the auction at any time. The car comes with a clear California Certificate of Title and is currently registered. This Porsche is smog exempt and sold "as is, where is" with no warranty stated or implied. Mileage stated above is the current odometer reading. License plates shown for photographic purposes only. You fully understand that you are not bidding on an "option to buy" this vehicle. You bid to own! There are no contingencies. We ship worldwide. For more information about Californiaclassix, please click on the link below: About Auction Presentation, Image Hosting, & Copyright © 1999-2011 by Californiaclassix.com™. All Rights Reserved. Californiaclassix.com™ is a Registered Trademark. In compliance with eBay's Rules and Regulations, no part of this presentation may be reproduced without written permission of the author. E-mail inquiries to the webmaster@californiaclassix.com.