1983 Porsche 911 SC Targa - 8,653 Miles From New

In 1978, Porsche introduced their latest development of the 911, christened the 911 SC, with the 'SC' standing for Super Carrera. Powered by a 3-litre, six-cylinder engine with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel-injection and a 5-speed 915 transmission, power output initially was 180bhp, subsequently 188bhp and finally, in 1981, it was increased to a heady 204bhp. The SC Targa was also launched in the same year, and by the end of production in 1983, some 15,682 Targas had been delivered worldwide. It is generally accepted that the UK-market made up about 10% of Porsche sales during this time, and subsequently those high-mileage cars that did survive the salted roads of winter commuting are incredibly scarce and are no strangers to a welding rod or a paint gun.

Whilst rarely found, very low-mileage UK-supplied Porsches of this period often show signs of rectification works to remedy long-term storage under damp blankets in drafty garages. The ‘Holy Grail’, therefore, for any British Porsche enthusiast, is a sub-10,000 mile low-production C16 car stored in a temperate climate and exercised under sunshine. The Channel Islands are therefore the perfect, but very scarce, source for UK-supplied low-mileage Porsches with their limited road networks and the warm weather that enabled Jersey to retain its title as the sunniest place in the British Isles.

This leads us nicely to this fabulous Porsche that was amongst the first to be built in the final months of production for the SC Targa in 1983. The accompanying Porsche Certificate of Authenticity confirms that the car was supplied under option Code C16 in Guards Red with recoil bumpers, forged alloy wheels, rear wiper, electric aerial, three speakers, black rubber sports shock absorbers and stabilisers to the front and rear. Interestingly, whilst earlier SCs sold in the UK could be specified with the Sport Group Package (UK) which added stiffer suspension, the rear spoiler, front rubber lip and black Fuchs wheels, this car appears to have many options as standard, perhaps as an aid to boost sales ahead of the launch of the 3.2 Carrera a year later. The brown leatherette interior is complemented by the seat inlays of brown checked velour, commonly referred to as Pasha.

The car was supplied by Jersey’s Porsche dealer, Jones’ Garage, to a Mr Bisson on 12th July 1983 and registered as J11875. The accompanying Jersey Registration Book confirms the re-registration of the Porsche by Mr Bisson on 15th September 1989 as J32911 and the car was last taxed in 1992. The booklet also bears a DVLA stamp dated 30th October 2015 just prior to the issue of the V5C bearing HBA 949Y to Hexagon Modern Classics of London on 1st November 2015. Hexagon, having been an official dealer in 1970s, are respected for the quality of the classic Porsches they sell and are noted in particular for low-mileage examples. Following recommissioning works, the car went on display on their stand at the 2015 Classic & Sports Car London Show, the odometer reading was confirmed as being 8,100 miles at the time.

On 26th August 2016, the car received an advisory-free MOT and the mileage stated at the time was 8,635 miles. The car was subsequently sold to a Mr Dickie on 20th October 2016 who remains the car’s second UK-mainland keeper. With Mr Bisson listed as the car’s owner in the 1989 issued Jersey Registration Book, which was used to confirm the car’s history by the DVLA, the evidence supports Mr Dickie’s status as the car’s second private owner from new. Having been correctly stored but not driven since, the car’s second MOT since 2016 was issued on 15th May 2023 with an odometer reading of 8,647 miles and later trailered to and from Porsche Centre Cardiff for a service that cost £1,869. It's offered to auction with the aforementioned Jersey registration, service book and current V5C.

Fully matching numbers, the car presents beautifully today. The painted underseal inside the wheel arches appears to be factory original, as evidenced by exploratory tests, both option code stickers are present, as are the two locking keys for the roof, which has had its perished inner foam lining re-trimmed.

A superb example of the very desirable 911SC Targa.