1968 Porsche 911 S

1968 Porsche 911S VIN 11800179 Engine No. - 4180013 Exterior Color Polo Red Interior Color Black Leatherette with Pepita Cloth Inserts Engine 2.0 Liter air-cooled flat 6 cylinder Transmission 5-speed manual (conversion from Sportomatic) Current Miles 50,233 miles (TMU) Highlights of This Car - Matching number factory 911S in desirable colors - $180k invested in documented restoration - Highly optioned from the factory - Outfitted with functional Air Conditioning General Overview Combining classic looks with superb road manners, the Porsche 911 has become one of the most celebrated sports cars in automotive history. The first 911 arrived in the US in 1965, offering agile performance at a modest price. Though already a remarkable offering for the times, Porsche developed ongoing enhancements and each year. In 1968 the wheelbase was increased 2.25 to improve handling, (cleverly relocating the independently sprung rear wheel mounts without changing costly body tooling), and delicately flaring the wheel arches to allow room for wider wheels and tires. One of the most notable 911 models was the performance packed 911S, which included titanium alloy connecting rods, a reprofiled camshaft, larger valves, better porting, higher compression and 40 IDS Weber carburetors. All this resulted in increased horsepower, but chassis developments were also enhanced. Improvements included a rear anti-roll bar, Koni shocks and ventilated disc brakes, which replaced the standard solid rotors. For the S model, special gear ratios were installed in the five-speed transmission including an overdrive in 5th gear. Certainly all 911 series cars were quite powerful and formidable on the road, but when first released, the 911S was the preferred choice of performance enthusiasts, a fact that continues today. History of This Car According to the Porsche CoA and a copy of the Kardex, both of which accompany this car, this numbers matching Porsche 911S was completed on August 28, 1967, and sold as a 1968 model car. The first owner took delivery in Germany. The CoA and Kardex confirm the engine number 4180013, which is stamped with single strike indication on the engine casting tower. The car was finished at the factory in Polo Red/6802 and trimmed with NOS Black Leatherette and Pepito Cloth insert interior, both of which were matched during the restoration. The following options are noted on both the CoA and Kardex: - Webasto Heater - Sportomatic Transmission (now converted to 5-speed) - Blaupunkt Radio Frankfurt Nr. 650104 - Loudspeaker - Antenna - Dunlop Tires (165/15) After spending early ownership years in Germany, the current owner believes the car was exported from Europe to California early in its life, where it remained in California for many years. Having been under prior long-term ownership, dating back to the early 1980s, the owner at that time gave the car to his son who stored it in his Southern California garage hoping to eventually restore it as a father and son project. The car subsequently came to the attention of Porsche experts at 911 Design, Montclair, CA in 2012, when the son showed the car to 911 Design, eventually electing to sell it to the shop. 911 Design intended to restore the car as a shop display piece highlighting their award-winning workmanship, beginning work on the car January 15, 2013, replacing carburetor gaskets, oil lines, and brake lines, hooking up the heater system, and replacing the clutch. The car started and ran well with further work scheduled to proceed when the current owner approached 911 Design with an interest in commissioning a full restoration for an early air-cooled car. An agreement was made for a comprehensive restoration of this car which has recently concluded to a very high standard as shown in this beautifully restored example. While under restoration at 911 Design, the car was carefully disassembled and stripped to bare metal and all systems tended to by specialists for drivetrain, suspension, brakes, interior, body and paint. The engine was rebuilt, itself a $21,000 expense, and a Porsche 5-speed transmission (numbered 7090125) was installed. Although the car had previously been fitted with air conditioning, during the restoration, a desirable Kuell/Griffiths Technical AC system was thoughtfully sourced and installed with attention to authentic presentation as part of the 911S engine and engine compartment restoration. All systems were carefully evaluated, all glass removed and new weatherstripping installed. All chrome was removed and re-plated, while the interior was beautifully reupholstered using NOS Leatherette and Pepito cloth inserts just as optioned from the factory. The finished car has been driven mostly test miles over the past few months since completion. Condition Overview Today showing 50,233 miles, the car presents beautifully, with excellent high gloss paint throughout the iconic 911 body. The door jambs and other inner body surfaces display excellent paint finish, and the rubber, weather stripping, and trim are all properly installed per factory standards. The hood and engine lid open and shut per factory standards, displaying consistent dimensions and fit. The doors open and shut with excellent fit, requiring a bit more closure strength to compress the fresh rubber door seals, the ease of which weve found tends to improve over time. There are no major flaws to detract significantly from the cars visual presentation. The rubber bumper trim, various plated parts, Sekurit side and rear branded glass, Sigla branded windshield, and unique features are all in excellent condition. The chrome is excellent throughout from the door handles and side glass trim to the taillight trim. The lighting, rear lenses, and side view mirror are also in excellent condition. The engine grille and 911S emblems are subtle but beautifully finished items. The correct and original Fuchs wheels are very nicely presented with proper finish, correct matching centers with embossed Porsche crest, and clean rim edges showing no significant marks or curb rash. A set of 2019 date coded Vredestein Sprint Classic tires are appropriately sized, showing excellent tread. The beautifully restored interior is extremely pleasing as it has been restored with the desirable and correct NOS Leatherette and Pepito Cloth option which matches the Porsche CoA. Door panels, dash, and rear seats are very nicely done. During the restoration, Dynamat insulation was installed under the new carpeting to reduce road noise. The instruments, dial faces, and needles are in excellent condition with bright color dial faces, correct needles, and numeric indication. The correct early series black rim steering wheel, AM/FM radio, finished knobs and switches handsomely complete the black interior. Nested below the dashboard, a series of air conditioning vents are gracefully molded into the bottom of the dashboard offering cool and refreshing air conditioning at the touch of a switch. The 5-speed floor shifter is finished with a correct black shifter knob. The engine compartment and front storage compartment are both reflective of careful and accurate restoration depicting the powerful 2.0 Liter 911S engine. The numbers matching engine has not only been mechanically restored, it has also been restored with correct finishes, correct air intake box, correct carburetors, appropriate fittings and hardware, and original style components creating a very cohesive overall presentation. The front storage compartment features a correct factory Fuchs spare wheel with matching Vredestein Sport Classic tires, proper finishes, a correct single strike VIN stamping on the spare tire tub deck, matching chassis number on the aluminum chassis tag, and the correct heater shroud for the optional Webasto heating unit. A new battery was installed in 2022. The undercarriage is clean and solid, displaying nicely finished ventilated disc brakes with correct gold tint calipers, correct exhaust and muffler, finished with what appears to be the original reconditioned heat exchangers. The undercarriage, engine and gearbox casings, lines, and suspension details have been restored to the same high standards as the rest of the car with no notable damage to the metal floor stampings, further supported by known California ownership history over the past 40 years. The car starts quickly, revs responsively, and runs smoothly at idle with a pleasing exhaust note when blipping the throttle. On the road, this 911S performs with ease and simplicity, making great power while delivering excellent handling and spirited acceleration. The car pulls cleanly through the rev range without hesitation or excessive vibration. The motor is crisp, offering excellent power due in part to the Weber carburetors offered with the S engine. The 5-speed transmission shifts smoothly warm or cold without bearing noise. The brakes pull down straight without rotor runout on a solid, high pedal with confident suspension and a cohesive feel to the restoration. Best of all, on warm summer days, the AC blows cold and does not significantly bog down the engine response when in use. Items Included with the Car This 911S is offered with the Porsche owners manual, Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, a copy of the Porsche Kardex, and a clean California title ready for ownership assignment.