Porsche 911

FIN 3003XX

THE PORSCHE 911
Porsche’s perennial 911 first hit the streets in 1964 as the “type 901,” replacing the 356, which had already established the company as a benchmark sports car manufacturer. Aside from retaining the rear-engine layout of its predecessor, the 911 was otherwise an entirely new car. The body shell was now of unitary construction, and the 356's VW-based suspension was dropped in favor of a more modern McPherson strut and trailing arm arrangement. In its first incarnation, Porsche's single-overhead-camshaft, air-cooled flat six displaced 1,991cc and produced 130bhp. Prior to 1969, the 911 had a short wheelbase (later increased 57mm) which made for sharp handling, although high-speed maneuvers could bite inexperienced or clumsy drivers.

Type 901, as it was originally named before Peugeot’s protests, became so widely recognized it can be identified simply by its silhouette. This elegant form lives on in the profile of the newest Carrera coupes, and the passion of Porsche enthusiasts remains second to none.



THE CAR OFFERED
According to its accompanying Kardex, this handsome, very early 911, chassis 3003XX, was delivered on February 2, 1965, to H.G. Lindner of Goslar Germany, via a dealer in nearby Hannover. A very nicely equipped car from new, the car was built during 901 production in December of 1964 and left the Stuttgart works finished in 6405 Champagne Yellow over Black leather upholstery, with options including a rare Webasto Heater, Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio, twin speakers, and radio antenna. Mr. Lindner sold the car to Fritz-Franke Weltmann of Hannover in December of 1965. Early ownership and service history is tracked on the Kardex through 1967, and the car has remained in Europe until 1967 and then shipped to the Northwest United States to be used as a show car, considering the car had the rare Webasto heating option, perfect for the Pacific Northwest.
The car did tour Washington, Oregon as well as California before it was acquired by Cindy Bradley of Washington. Bradley kept the car until around 1978 when it changed hands and purchased by John Doherty, a judge based in Washington. In 1986, the car traded hands again to a judge colleague of Doherty’s, named Barney Flores of Pennsylvania. The car remained in Pennsylvania where it became a barn find until it was acquired by the current owner in 2014. The current owner commissioned a frame off restoration on the car in 2017-2018 and has been in his possession since.
As offered here, this Porsche has been finely restored in its original factory color scheme and is an outstanding example of a short wheelbase 911 for the discerning enthusiast. The body is finished to a high standard and appropriately detailed with delicate brightwork and chrome wheels that beautifully highlight the iconic shape. The interior has been fully restored to period standards with black leather and Pepita fabric seat inserts. The front trunk is lined with high-quality square weave carpets, while the cabin features correct-style Perlon felt. Touches unique to the early cars include wood dash fascia trim, the dished four-spoke steering wheel, and chrome instrument bezels. The 2-liter flat-six is exceptionally tidy and finely detailed as well, with yellow zinc-plated hardware and proper decals and labels in place. The engine serial number matches the Kardex, and a look at the odometer shows just 135 kilometers, which is the mileage covered since the restoration was completed.
Early 2-liter 911s are prized by enthusiasts for their deft handling and clean, unadorned form. With this example being so early in the 1964 production run, it is easy to spot many parts and details from the 901 utilized, only found in extremely early 911s when they were still building cars from the 901 parts bin. This gorgeous example ticks all the boxes for marque devotees and is ready to shine on rallies, tours, and concours events.
The car is currently on its way back to Europe from Pebble Beach and is ready for inspection by appointment in late February.