1968 Porsche 911 'T' SWB

Porsche's long-running and much loved 911 sports car first appeared at the 1963 Frankfurt Show as the '901', but shortly after production proper commenced in 1964 had become the '911' following Peugeot's complaints about the use of '0' model numbers.

The preceding Type 356's rear-engined layout was retained but the 911 switched to unitary construction for the bodyshell and dropped the 356's VW-based suspension in favour of a more modern McPherson strut and trailing arm arrangement.

In its first incarnation, Porsche's single-overhead-camshaft, air-cooled flat six engine displaced 1,991cc. The first of countless upgrades to the perennial 911 came in 1966, two years after production had commenced, with the introduction of the 911S and in 1967 the 911T (Touring) was introduced as a new 2.0-litre model. Further revisions were made in 1969, when the 911's wheelbase had been extended by 57mm.

This very rare, early 911T SWB is a right-hand drive example first registered in the UK in early September 1968 with the original maintenance manual showing its pre-delivery inspection was on the 9th of September. Supplied through AFN Ltd, the first importer of 911s into the UK, the car was maintained by them until 1973 and period maintenance records reveal the car had two UK owners before it was exported to Guernsey in November 1973, with an odometer reading of 62,000 miles.

The first Guernsey owner was an enthusiast well known on the island as the proprietor of a small specialist garage. His is the last entry in the Maintenance Record book. In his ownership, he also changed the car from Beige to its current more attractive, period correct Porsche colour of Irish Green.

He sold the car in December 1986 to a school friend of the current owner. He took the car to a number of shows and even won a prize and the information sheet he put together when he showed the car, gave the mileage as 77k. He was to own the car for only two years before selling it to our vendor's Uncle in November 1988 who only wanted it for the Guernsey number plate that read 911 to put on his new 911 Turbo.

A year later, over dinner one evening, the vendor's uncle mentioned that he had an old Porsche 911 he didn't want and so the deal was done, then and there. The brakes had seized up but the engine ran fine. The car was taken to our vendor's house where it was put on blocks, and there it stayed for about another five years until eventually a local small garage was enlisted to help get the car on the road again. One of their invoices (dated July 1997) shows the mileage as just over 78K, which looking at the current mileage shows the car has been driven less than 4,000 miles in our vendor's possession over the past 27 years!

It wasn't until 2010 that our vendor could afford to have a proper restoration done to the car and Guernsey-based Classic and Porsche specialists, Harrison Automotive were entrusted with a full but sympathetic renovation to return the car to its former glory and they immediately set about the task.

The stripped down car revealed no prior damage and only fairly minimal corrosion for its age. The detailed photographic record of the work done provides any prospective buyer with everything he needs to know about its fundamental condition. For example, the floor pan did not need replacing, as the car had always been kept dry. No nut or bolt escaped their attention and the level of work undertaken on the car is truly first class as can be seen in the finished article. More recently the engine and engine bay have been subject to further detailed refurbishment to the same standard.

Along with the photographic record, invoices are present documenting the work undertaken showing that the total amount invoiced for the project was £37,609.29. Further to this, the car is presented with an excellent history file with its original maintenance record book along with invoices and paperwork documenting its life.

Currently, Guernsey Registered Should the car remain in the EU the car will be liable to 20% VAT on the purchase price and the purchaser will also be required to NOVA the car should it remain in the UK.

It is extremely rare to find an early 911 comparable to this car, in fact, we are not sure you can. Unaltered from new, original down to the radio, tool set and maintenance books, lovely history, a small number of owners and long term ownership. This really is a rare and special opportunity for someone to acquire a very fine example of an archetypal early 911.