1977 Porsche 911S Targa - Enthusiast Owned - Freshly Restored - Dozens of Photos
This beautiful 1977 Porsche 911S is part of a 60+ car private collection in Austin, Texas.
I acquired this 911 in 2014 from the original owner in Welcome, Minnesota. When I bought the car, it had been sitting and off the road for more than 25 years. The original owner, now 96 years old, had parked the car in a storage building in 1987 and hadn't touched it since. Quite frankly, the car was a bit of a mystery. The photos and description left much to be desired and I almost passed on the car. In the end, the price was right and I decided to roll the dice figuring, worst-case-scenario, the car could always be sold for parts.
When the car arrived at my facility, it wasn't much to look at. It started (barely) but smoked like crazy. The interior looked like stray dogs had been living in it, and the exterior looked even worse. Like so many cars from the 70's, the car had been painted (poorly) in some version of Guards Red. My guess is it gave Earl Scheib the opportunity to prove he really would paint any car for only $99.95. In short, the car needed everything.
I'll admit, I hesitated. But then a funny thing happened... the car convinced me that it deserved another chance. First of all, the car had somehow survived with absolutely no rust. God bless Porsche and their galvanized bodies because this car was solid. The color of the car was also helping it. Chocolate Brown is such a cool, 70's era color and I hated to see the car sitting there in its shoddy Guards Red paint job. I also knew that he car had been much loved at some point in its life. I mean, the original owner loved the car so much that she refused to sell it for more than 25 years even after she was too old to drive it any longer.
So I gave in. The car would be saved.
What follows is an in depth description of the work that went into bringing the car back to life. As you'll see, it was an extensive project. The car wasn't restored as a show car, nor was it restored as a planned flip for profit. Instead, the car was restored to be driven by me personally with an eye towards originality - and just a dash of personality - to make sure the car ended up being more than "just a brown mid-year Targa". This was a 2-year project with literally every part of the car being evaluated and anything needing attention being refinished or replaced.I would not hesitate to drive this car across the country tomorrow. Along the way, I'd make sure to stop by a few tracks just for fun and I'd do my best to find and enter a local car show (which I would win). The car is just that good.
Following is more detailed information.
Mechanicals:The car starts, stops and drives exactly as you would expect from a car of this quality. It pulls hard and revs smoothly.The clutch is strong, the car brakes easily and in a straight line, and it runs cool with excellent oil pressure even in the 100+ degree Texas summer heat.The car shows no signs of prior accident repair and is 100% rust free. The mileage of 104,785 is thought to be original but is undocumented and, quite frankly, irrelevant on a restoration this extensive.All of the cosmetic work, and much of the mechanical work, was completed at my private facility by my in-house technicians. Some of the specialty work was performed by Porsche professionals who I have worked with for many years.
Each mechanical system of the car was fully inspected and repairs were performed as necessary.
We began with the brake system by rebuilding the calipers and installing new rotors, pads and lines as necessary. We also addressed the steering and suspension with new wheel bearings and front strut inserts. The fuel tank was removed and cleaned. Each part of the electrical system was evaluated and multiple switches, relays and other parts were replaced. A new battery was installed. The car rides on brand newSumitomo HTR A/S P01 tires.
The engine, which started but ran poorly, was taken to Callas Rennsport in Sealy, Texas for a complete top-end rebuild. Michael Callas was considered one of the finest Porsche mechanics in the country prior to his sudden death last year and this was the last engine he personally built. It runs spectacularly. The car also received a brand new oem clutch at this time. There are less than 300 miles on the rebuilt engine.
The original exhaust system, including the troublesome thermal reactors, was removed. In trying to keep the car as original as possible, a factory European exhaust system of the same vintage was acquired at significant expense, refurbished and installed.
Just last week the car was taken to Eagle Racing in Dripping Springs, Texas for some final details prior to being offered for sale. While there the suspension and ride height was adjusted, it received a 4-wheel alignment, the shifter linkage was replaced and adjusted, the pedal cluster bushings were replaced, the starter was replaced, and the car received a final, pre-sale tune-up.
While my mechanical write-up is extensive, there are literally dozens of small details I've overlooked. They included hoses, clips, fasteners, nuts, bolts, gaskets, latches, lights, and so much more. Again, this car wasn't restored as a planned sale. It was restored as a personal car and meant to be driven.
Exterior:From every angle, the car presents beautifully in its original color of Chocolate Brown (paint code 408). The professional, glass-out respray is glossy and beautiful with no dents, scratches or door dings. If you've ever heard good cars described as "10-footers" and great cars described as "5-footers" then this car is a 1-footer. There are less than 100 miles on the fresh paint and it's absolutely beautiful.
Every seal and piece of rubber on the car is brand new and was replaced with genuine Porsche parts. The headlights, taillights, front turn signals, and parking light lenses have all been replaced. The Targa top was professionally restored and presents as new.
While I wanted to keep the car original, I also wanted to make it stand out. To that end, we decided against installing a standard decklid and instead kept the period-correct ducktail that came on the car when we received it. We also refinished the wheels in an RSR-style finish and added bright green Porsche side scripts (immediately earning the car the nickname "the caramel apple"). The result is a car that could easily be returned to factory original but which has just enough eye appeal to turn heads wherever it goes.
Interior:The interior of this 911 is absolutely beautiful.
Prior to paint, the interior was completely stripped right down to the metal floors. Every piece was evaluated and either refinished or replaced. A new carpet set was installed from AppBiz along with new Porsche script floor mats from Loyds. The front seats were reupholstered in correct tan vinyl with perforated inserts. Every interior panel was cleaned, refinished, or replaced. Dozens of trim items were replaced. A period-correct Blaupunkt CD player was installed in the dash with new front and rear speakers. New sunvisors were installed. And on and on and on...
I've taken the time to provide multiple, close-up photos of the interior from almost every angle. Please examine them closely and pay attention to the details. Yes, the big things like the seats, and door panels all look excellent. But look even more closely at the small things. The interior details of this car are among the best I've ever seen and will exceed your expectations.
I've included multiple high-resolution photos with this listing. For almost 100 more photos, please visit:
1977 Porsche 911S Online Photo Album
For me, finding the right home for this 911 is as important as getting the best price. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss this car in more detail, please feel free to contact me. In-person inspections and test-drives are welcomed and encouraged but please do so before clicking “Buy It Now” or committing to a purchase.
I have a clear and correct Texas title for this vehicle in my possession. Transportation and delivery of this vehicle is the responsibility of the purchaser. I'll happily assist in any way I can. I'll accept payment by wire transfer, cash or certified cashier’s check. A $500 non-refundable deposit is due upon agreeing to purchase with the balance due within 3 business days.