1970 Porsche 911S

The 911S was introduced in 1966 and was the first of countless upgrades. They were distinguishable by the Fuchs's five-spoked alloy wheels and received the heavily revised engine delivering 160 horsepower, giving it a top speed of 135 mph (an increase of 10 mph). In 1969, the wheelbase was lengthened, and wider wheels with low profile tires were fitted, resulting in improvements to performance and handling. The lighting, trim, and ventilation were improved, stronger brakes and suspension, plus the introduction of the race-derived, CD ignition, and mechanical fuel injection.

The coupe was joined two years after its introduction by a convertible 911, named the Targa in honor of Porsche's many victories in the Sicilian classic. Arriving in 1966, it met U.S. safety legislation by using a hefty roll-over bar to protect the occupants in the event of an inversion. The removable roof and rear hood sections could be stowed in the boot while not in use. A quieter and less leak-prone fixed rear window replaced the less than perfect rear hood in 1969, and the Targa would continue in this guise well in the 1990s, receiving numerous mechanical and styling developments along the way.

The 1970 Porsche 'C' Series 911, introduced in September of 1969, received an enlarged version of the original 2-liter air-cooled flat-six engine, to 2,195cc, by increasing the cylinder bore to 84mm while retaining its 64mm stroke. Breathing was improved through more aggressive cam profiles and larger valves (46 mm intake, 40 mm exhaust). The top-of-the-line 911 Super delivered 180 horsepower and 147 foot-pounds of torque at 5,200 RPM. This allowed the 2,249-pound 'S' to go from zero-to-sixty mph in the 7-second range. The Type 911/02 engine had a 7300 RPM redline and a rev limited helped prevented exceeding those figures. Another new addition to the 'S' was a 225 mm clutch and ventilated disc brakes at all four corners. 1970 models also received full anti-corrosion undercoating and a new steering column lock.

The 1970 Porsche 911 was available as the 911T, 911E, and 911S in either the coupe or Targa body styles. The entry-level model was the 911T and came with a 125 horsepower version of the engine. The 911E was more luxuriously equipped both inside and out and was powered by a 155 hp engine. The 911S was considered the top-of-the-line 911 model for 1970.

The C- and D-Series (the D Series was produced from August 1970 until July 1971) 911S were given the same mechanical and trim improvements as the 911E. The S had conventional front suspension, with the hydro-pneumatic system being an option for those seeking extra comfort. The Sportomatic transmission was no longer optional, as Porsche felt that the Sport model should only have a five-speed manual gearbox.

The steel engine cover on the E and S trim levels were now formed from aluminum, helping to reduce weight further. The front-strut mounting points in the C-series models were repositioned slightly forward to lighten steering and enhance handling characteristics. The 911T used iron calipers while the E and S variants received lighter alloy calipers.

The 2.2S remained in production from 1969 through 1971.

The Porsche 911 S played a starring role in the 1971 film Le Mans. For the first three minutes and forty seconds, Steve McQueen and a Slate Gray 1970 Porsche 911 S traverse the French countryside, providing a glimpse into the speed, turns, and complex shifting that would follow in racing scenes throughout the movie.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2020