1976 Porsche 911

The first of many upgrades to the Porsche 911 came in 1966 with the introduction of the 911S. The 'S' featured a modified engine developing 160 horsepower and was externally distinguishable by its Fuchs five-spoke alloy wheels. In 1969 the wheelbase was lengthened resulting in improvements to its handling. In 1970 the air-cooled 'flat-six' underwent the first of many enlargements - to 2.2 liters. In 1974 all Porsche 911 variants were fitted with the 2.7-liter unit, hitherto reserved for the Carrera when the latter went to 3.0 liters. The non-Carrera tuned 2.7-liter unit offered 175 bhp which was slightly less power than the previous '2.4,' but developed significantly more torque over a much wider rev range which greatly improved acceleration. When fed with low-lead petrol, and having an increased tank capacity, the new 911 was superior to its predecessor in every way as a high performance, long-distance tourer.

The Coupe version was introduced in 1964 followed two years later by a convertible 911 known as the 'Targa,' named in recognition of Porsche's numerous victories in the Sicilian classic. In compliance with U.S. safety legislation, the soft-top 911 received a hefty roll-over bar to protect the occupants in the event of an inversion, together with removable roof and rear hood sections, which were stowed in the boot. A few years later, in 1969, a quieter and less leak-prone fixed rear window replaced the rear hood, and the Targa would continue in this guise well into the 1990s, receiving numerous mechanical and styling developments along the way.
1976 Porsche 911
The 1976 Porsche 911S was powered by a horizontally opposed, overhead-cam six-cylinder engine displacing 163.9 cubic-inches and offering nearly 160 horsepower. It came standard with a five-speed manual gearbox for US destined cars. The European models had a four-speed. It was available as a two-door coupe or as a Targa. Pricing began at $13,850. Few changes were given to the 1976 911S with the exception of additional standard equipment, including intermittent wipers and tinted glass.

Carrera
In 1973, Porsche revived the evocative 'Carrera' name for its top-of-the-line 911. Designated 'Carrera RS' (for RenSport), it was a limited edition product for Group 4 GT racing, a class that required a minimum of 500 examples built. Demand was so strong that the production run was later progressively extended, ending up at 1,590 units. Handling was improved by the revised suspension and wider wheels, while the 2.7-liter, Bosch mechanically fuel-injected, 210 horsepower engine provided a top speed of nearly 150 mph.

In the autumn of 1975, the next major development arrived - a 3.0-liter engine derived from the Type 930 Turbo. The 3.0-liter Carrera existence was brief, ending in 1978 when the 911 range was upgraded to 'SC' specification. This marked an important development in the production process of the 911, with the adoption of Thyssen anti-corrosion zinc coating for the steel body panels. The previous 11-blade cooling fan was replaced by a new five-blade unit which ran faster to improve alternator output. In total, Porsche produced 3,687 examples of the 3.0-liter Carreras.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2011