1969 Porsche 911S Coupe

Production of the Porsche 911 began in 1964 and a year later, in 1965, its sporting credentials were confirmed when Peter Falk and Herbert Linge co-drove a 911 to a fifth-place finish at the Monte Carlo Rally. Later, British racing driver, Vic Elford, convinced Porsche's competition manager Baron Huschke von Hanstein to begin a limited racing programme for the new 911. Elford went on to score third at the 1966 Tour de Corse and winning the UK's first-ever Rallycross event. In 1968, Elford won the Monte Carlo rally.

The lessons learned from racing were directly applied by Porsche's engineers to the road-going cars. In 1967, Porsche introduced the higher-performance 'S' or 'Super' version. The main 'S' upgrades included comprehensive engine enhancements for greater high-rpm power and durability plus ventilated disc brakes, chassis tuning, and the addition of Fuchs five-spoke alloy wheels.

Tough new exhaust emission regulations prompted Porsche to withdraw it from the United States for 1968. For 1969, the 911 received its first major change with a slight wheelbase extension along with many other detail refinements. The car's basic dimensions, however, would remain unchanged through 1973. The 'S' returned to America with the use of Bosch mechanical fuel injection.

For 1969, Porsche built just 2,106 examples of the top-of-the-line 911 S, including 1,492 coupes.

This particular example was factory-finished in Stuttgart with Light Ivory paint over black leatherette upholstery and optional equipment including a Blaupunkt New York radio, complete with antenna and loudspeaker. It retains its numbers matching engine and gearbox, and the body panels are also believed original to the car. It has restored instruments and upgraded black leather upholstery.

Since at least 1980, this car has been based in the Pacific Northwest.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2017