1965 Porsche 911 SWB 2-0

This car is now offered at no reserve

• Ultra rare '300' chassis numbers were the first few 911s off the line in March 1965
• #300723 dates from mid-March 1965 and was built in left-hand drive destined for California
• According to its Porsche COA, it was finished in Signal Red (6407) with Black Leatherette and Peptia inlays, Webasto heater and Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio
• Imported by our vendor from the USA around 30 years ago and UK registered SPY 271C
• Used regularly up until three years ago when it was put into dry storage as part of our vendor's collection
• Although running well prior to retirement, should be considered a light restoration or recommissioning project
• Offered with No Reserve. An opportunity to own a very desirable, really early 911 in its purest form

We can glean from its Porsche COA that #300723 rolled off the line in mid-March 1965 resplendent in a coat of Signal Red (6407) with a smart interior in black leatherette with Peptia cloth inlays. It was fitted from new with a Webasto petrol heater (P1018) and a Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio before being despatched to California where its first owner would have parted with around $6,500. Until its arrival on these shores around 30 years ago little is known of this little Porsche's adventures in the US but certainly, since then, it has remained in the care of its current owner in North Yorkshire. For most of those years, it was his daily driver but for the last few it's been kept cosy in his heated garage amongst the rest of his collection.

Just prior to its retirement in mid-2017, the 911 was subject to a fair amount of work. From the relevant invoice, we can see that there was some corrosion on the right-hand side and the door pillar and sill were cut out and replaced. A new sill was fabricated, the floor pan repaired and the door apertures were then prepared and repainted. The invoice indicates some 66 hours labour on this job. At the same time, the car was serviced with fresh fluids, filters and gaskets, clearances checked, brakes adjusted and the driver's door window mechanism rebuilt and had some minor electrical work. The labour content was 16.5 hours and the combined bill was ú7,388. The indicated mileage at the time was 76,042 meaning that the Porsche has only covered 193 miles since the work was carried out (atoc).

Despite the above, we think the car needs to be considered as a recommissioning or possibly a restoration project. It sits well and generally looks quite smart although in need of some detailing. The car hadn't run for three years and there was evidence of a small oil leak when we collected it so the decision was taken not to start it and that aspect will need some consideration. In addition to all the regular owner's documentation, there is a copy of a magazine article featuring SPY 271C and indeed that attractive registration will remain with the car.

It is incredibly rare to find a first-year SWB 911 so unmolested and free of updates and modifications, making this example ideal to be gently returned to the purity of form that wowed the citizens of Stuggart as it rolled out of the factory in early 1965. Alternatively, if that's not on your agenda, there are a number of suitable (pre-1966) motor racing championships for which the car is eligible including events at Goodwood and Monaco and particularly the Peter Auto SWB 2.0-litre Cup for which SPY 271C would be perfect.