I bought the 1974 base 911 in 1988 and put 50,000 miles on it over the next 15 years. The California version of these cars had emission controls which made them run very hot. The valve guides were weak and the chain tensioners flawed, as discussed here. I had a clutch cable snap but no other breakdowns. Oil changes, routine servicing and a new set of tires were all it ever needed. It showed tiny amounts of rust which I kept at bay. It suited my tastes perfectly, primarily because of the light weight, simplicity and very good power to weight ratio. I would seriously consider buying the same thing again today. Sadly, I doubt there are many well cared for examples still around today and with prices as good as they are it can be tempting for sellers to "misrepresent" a bit.
These days it’s becoming quite refreshing to see such original, unmolested classic 911s. As usual, brilliant video Iain, been subcribed since the beginning and have religiously watched every video since. Keep the good stuff coming, cheers from Italy 👍
I remember that 2.7 RS video well, not least because it was parked next to this very car. I didn't say so at the time (because the 2.7 RS) but I did see glimpses of it and thought "ooo, that's very nice, I'd like Iain to do a test drive". And you delivered. From Australia, many thanks Iain.
I own just the same Porsche 911 of the same year and it is incredibly smooth and rewarding classic car, I do several trips with it every year from Spain, Portugal, the Balkans to even in Marocco and it has never let me down. Thank you for this beautiful report!
I had one as my daily driver for ten years. Same colour, Fuchs wheels. There was no brake servo in the boot so I got my linhof camera tripod and lighting in it as I was a pro photographer. My very large dog travelled in the back. It was perfect. I spent months tracking down a 3.2 carrera but sold it the 2.7 was better. A few points, the switch gear made total sense when you owned the car a hundred times better than the dangerous distraction of touch screens. The sunroof was essential to demist the car in winter and enjoy in summer. It oversteered, the 3.2 understeered. The performance was far greater than 90% of the traffic of the day. Alas I needed a family car and couldn’t afford to keep too or it would still be here.
Wonderful. ~Post 1976 has always been regarded by me as a turning point for the 911. The impact bumper had come in a few years already but the overall looks of the 911 did remain true to its original concept. Both Fuchs and ATS Hackmesser wheels do look phenomenal on them but Porsche started with versions of big exaggerated wings/fenders. Up to ~1979 the slim/original versions could still be bought but from ~1980 onward the 911 had become wide body with inflated wings/fenders... This example of 1976 still has that original 911 purity 💓 Thank you so much for showing.
the "inflated wings" were a suspension-engineering / handling evolution to better resolve the rear-engine weight bias that induced oversteer. as displacement increased so did hp... thus wider wheels & tires... & wings.
@@craigyirush3492 Wider body started with the 1975 model year 911 Turbo (930) in Europe, or at least in Germany. Indeed not that much wider but clearly noticeable (the original 911 Turbo No. 1 (no wide body) was a one-off for Piëch's sister). For the 1976 model year, the Carrera 3.0 came with wide rear flares, and all versions with actual wider wings/fenders were only moderate extensions. Up to ~1979 the slim/original versions (no flares, no wider wings/fenders) could still be bought. From ~1980 onward the inflation went mental imho and the original width wasn't available new anymore. The growing width was not for housing improved handling only btw but also to compete with other supercars aesthetically growing wider as a visual mark to depict über masculinity and power. For me personally, I just prefer the pure original look without any widening of the wings/fenders. Personal taste of course.
Back in the '80s when I was a professional car photographer, I used to own a 1976 911 Carrera 3.0 in ice-metallic green and LOVED it . . . nearly as much as the 1978 911 SC Sport which I owned afterwards which, given unlimited funds, I'd have over anything else on the road. Sadly, my 911 days finished when the kids came along and, since they've flown the nest, I've not been able to afford another one. Incidentally, I gathered from the PCGB mags back then that the main problem from a failed timing chain tensioner was the chain jumping and catastrophically affecting the timing. When a tensioner failed on my Carrera 3.0, I kept the revs between 2 and 3,000 rpm as recommended by the PCGB magazine, got the car home safely and happily incurred no damage to the engine.
I know it’s probably harder and more expensive to get the outside/roadside shots of Iain driving, BUT those are great additions to the videos. It’s great to hear the engine and exhaust as Iain gives it the welly. And seeing the car in motion on the ride also adds to the enjoyment and experience.
@@iain_tyrrellthese videos get better and better: not just in content but quality of production too. It really has been a joy to have watched your channel develop over the years and to have learnt so much about so many different cars, and to have learnt also about the attention to detail of a top end restoration company.
Iain overplays the K-Jetronic's (or CIS if you're from overseas) virtues a bit. Yes it was extremely reliable *for*the*time*. It needs regular maintenance that modern EFi systems don't. Changing of the fuel filters is a must after 10 years. This system lives on pressure... you have 5 bar for injection and a separate, variable 0.5 to 3.7 bar for mixture control. This control pressure is absolutely critical for the correct functioning of the system - when cold it starts out low then it gradually raises to the upper limit - this is controlled by the engine warmup box (Warmlaufregler) that often goes bad, causing very hard cold starts. Thankfully this is a universal part that was built into _all_ K-Jetronics - smart Porsche owners go to a KJet specialist and tell them the broken box came off of a Volvo or Volkswagen and get a cheap remanufactured one. The best tool for diagnosing this analog system is a big-arse pressure gauge. The Bosch workshop I used to frequent had a large 8" one.
@tosca120ls, indeed a reliable system "for the time". Also important to mention that when the engine backfired into the airbox, the possibility existed of the box cracking at it's base near the holding screws.... with a solution provided by a rubber plug drilled and pressed in to act as a safety valve that would blow out before damage was caused....We did quite a few of those safety mods to save the airboxes which were expensive. Best regards
As a fifteen year old budding, classic car fan in 1976, this was my first exposure to the 911. And it is still my favorite (aside from the turbo upgrades that came later) That sound, the unconventional shape, the minimalist yet plush and comfy interior - it was like nothing else - and still is. I've seen a few of these driven by inexperienced and ballsy drivers do the rear end swap and go off of the road backwards - no one in their right mind (save a race car driver) would apply the throttle to power out of a curve instead of instinctively mashing the brakes. We Americans were used to rear driven, front engined behemoths so that was absurd. I used to bark at a couple of 911 owners from my then 1980 Triumph TR8 with various degrees of success - they would always ease up to the red light and check out my TR8 badging and usually nod when the light turned green. And then it was on. So much fun. This video is like all of your previous efforts - nostalgic, accurate, informative and fun. What's next?
When I worked at Hornby Hobbies I used to love the runs of 911 Turbos we did, especially the gold ones. I used to set up the printing machines and I'd purposely make a few with my own custom prints on them and I'd keep the bodies hidden away in a big box. I amassed a LOT of one-offs, but one day I went up to add to my stash and... it was gone. Somebody had been told to tidy up and they had tidied up my box of treasures. I was obviously heartbroken - they were the closest I've ever come to owning one of these beautiful 911's.
A relative, but sure no evolution of the beetle, for the original „63“ 901 they implemented a 190 lbs lead plate in the area of the front suspension to make the car road stable steering-wise. This was 2.0 liter 130 bhp, 2.7 liter basically the block from 911 RS with 175 bhp and less than 1100 kilo empty weight was quite fast in the model shown 7.5 seconds to 62 miles in. 1973 faster than much bigger cars. A 1975 C3 Corvette 327 with only 150 bhp left could not see him after 5 seconds. The Corvette at 75 kilometers and the Porsche already at 90 kilometers per hour..😂
Love the cookie cutter wheels. See them on quite a few Cal Look Vdubs. The gold paint and biscuit interior are so classy. Those narrow flat sided cars have awesome aerodynamics. Beautiful car.
I am 71 yo. I have owned a '66 912, a '68 912, a '84 Carrera Targa, a '85 Carrera Coupe, and a '90 Carrera 2. Thet were wonderful cars and my wife was so disappointed when we sold the Carrera 2. But I think my favorites were the two 912's. With the exception of the Turbo, none of these cars were fast. But like the 356, the 912 was a wonderful car to drive. Great ride and handling. I probably won't ever own another Porsche, but speaking from someone who has actually owned these cars, that's my experience.
Thank you, thank you Iain. Bought a 1977 (ruebenrot) colour one in 1987 - immaculate condition, full white leather, lambswool carpet, main dealer serviced, fully restored 1995-6. I loved that car - so underrated. Finally swapped in 2000 for something a little quicker - a new TVR Chimaera 450 - wow. Thanks again Iain for showing how nice these Porsches were
Love the simplicity of this car. Along with the first countach and pantera, the simple lines do it for me. I think those style wheels found their way onto the 944 if I’m not mistaken.
A rare color and beautiful too. Never thought I would say that about a gold car, but it really works here. Yeah, the basic 911s get ignored over their more powerful siblings, but sometimes keeping it simple is best. A true driver's car; no frills, fuss or screens, seems somehow more desirable than overly-teched-out modern cars today. Remember when cars just had to get you somewhere without entertaining you with swirling graphics and sound or pampering you with message seats and heated steering wheels? Also, you actually have to drive them with purpose and attention, interact with them like the machines that they are; gears, cables, clutches, all of it.
Great video. The 'plodding' 2.7 911's are certainly pleasant - the original 73-75 150 bhp one was a a bit lacking in sparkle but the 165 bhp Lux was brisk enough. 0-100 in under 20 seconds is alright! One thing: all 2.7 911's had a five speed H pattern gearbox. The four speed went out with the basic 2.2 or 2.4 T model although the 3.0 Turbo had a four speed box.
Thank you for another great video. Having just been to the Le Mans Classic where the car parks were knee deep in Porsches of all ages. I decided the older Porsches looked more appealing than the current generation so this video was very timely. Thank you!
I had a 76 911 Targa in Guards Red with Cookie Cutter wheels and a 2.7 w/ Bosh F.I. & black vinyl / red fabric interior. 1976 I believe was also the last year for the vent windows (wind wings) which were great for a car without air. Not that the AC worked very well to begin with if equipped. 😅 Fantastic road car and exhilarating to drive. I’d give anything to have another one that caliber.
Beautiful car, a ‘75 targa model used to overtake us ( my dad and I in his gold Ford Fiesta) every morning and it inspired me to become a life long Porsche owner. One thing I noted , it has a front air dam ( spoiler) . In theory that should NOT be fitted without the rear spoiler as at high speed you get an imbalance of front downforce causing the rear to go light. I doubt these older cars are driven into 3 figure speeds much these days. Ironically my ‘87 3.2 Cab had exactly that setup , fr but no rr spoiler !!
i have a 75 like this ,same engine it´s a pleasure to drive it, it was changed the back part ,it´s a mix of both models, the 74-76 but i have to say that this series is my favorite one ,i bought later a turbo ,and what a car it is, i had a 74 all original but sold it with the side mirrors similar to Jaguar ,after i bought it only with the 3.6 L engine
I can’t believe it’s three and a half years already! What a lovely unspoiled example of a 911, takes me back to being a young lad and seeing the odd one of these about the Moor Park & Northwood area. Iconic in every way and very high on my bucket list!
I always think that era of Porsche look 'Happy to be here' Beautiful car. I'd have to put the original steering wheel back on, if it was mine... not a problem I see myself having, though.
Those old air cooled Porsches (up until 964 and 993) were so small and raw, brutal cars. Sure they didn't have that much power by modern standards but they had such an analog, pure driving thrill which is completely missing from the modern cars unless you take them to a track. New Porsches become too good and too fast. And TOO BIG. Look at the new 992. It's absolutely GIGANTIC compared to these old classics. No wonder these good condition air cooled cars cost now more then new. They are such icons.
Is it possible (just from an engineering perspective) that Porsche could build a smaller (rear engine rear drive) 911 again? Or not possible due to current crash standards?
@@professorcalculus5315 Regardless of whether it's possible or not, Porsche isn't going to build another small 911. The average customer wants lots of space and lots of gadgets. The more the better. We driving enthusiasts represent a small part of the market. It's sad, but likely true, that modern Porsches are cross shopped more with the Tesla Plaid than with classic Porsches.
the watercololed engine was a controversial change ,some wanted the old system instead of the new ,but from memory i thought the watercooled only was released in the early 90´s also a hated body design when cars started all to have excessive round curves or shape, but when driving the carrera 4 i had to buy one , it´s red ,the only red car i own, this refering to sport cars , my two ferrari´s one is metalized grey the GTB vetroresina and a mondial in blue also metalized paint. The porshe is critisized by it´s back making it slide but those don´t know how to drive ,it´s almost a perfect car ,even with less power if one knows how to drive it it will win races with cars with doble the horse power
Your quite useless sermon has way too much of prejudices and stereotypes about modern Porsches. "New Porsches become too good and too fast..." ?? Oh my god! 😂😂 Sorry, but this doesn't make sense at all, dude! What do you expect from a "still" a sportscar maker, when the whole competiton of super sportscars is getting more and more mad, nowadays even with four-figure horsepower numbers?? A Porsche can't be "too fast"! A Porsche has to give the feeling, that the driver still wants more power, because Porsche are so good to drive. Porsche has the best horsepower vs. performance numbers in the business. Even with lower hp numbers, Porsches are faster and quicker than its competitors. But should Porsche deliberately making slower cars, just to satisfying annoying opinions, just like yours? Porsches certainly haven't been growing bigger as "modern people" have grown in the last five decades. This is just a fact! If you compare the seating positions/interior space/seating ergonomy of driver and co-driver of an aircooled G-Series 911 from 1973 to a modern Porsche 992 911 from 2023, the old 911 seems ridiculously small! You are getting constantly elbow contact between driver and co-driver in the old 911. This would be absolutely ridiculous in a new luxury sportscar in 2023. Therefore no modern daily driver sportscar from today would get acceptance from customers for offering only so little interior space! You are talking bullshit, dude! You just can't fit "modern fat people" in a 1973 Porsche 911 for longer distances. This video isn't a reference for this question... I also think, Porsche interior engineers know a bit more than you about which amount of interior space of a modern sports car is too much or less! The Porsche 911 generations 997/991/992 are absolutely perfect in size and ergonomy! There isn't a better daily driver sports car on the market in terms of usable interior space than the 992, period! Your criticism about "911 growth" is stupid and totally hysteric, dude! The Porsche 992 is exactly as big as it needs to fitting normally sized people in it. By the way: maybe if you are fat... why do you complain???
That’s a lovely clean example of its ilk. Those not-Fuchs alloys look great and I even like that metallic gold paint! Very much of its era. I really like it, even if it’s only about as fast as a 90s hot-hatch 😆
cracking little motor....i was born the year this car came out,i love 70s high end cars,really love that turquoise\blue rolls camargue in one of your previous videos from the same era.ive said it before, nothing prepares me for the doom and gloom of monday, better than sunday with ian tyrrells garage!
Thank you for another great video and for featuring this car, Jeremy Clarkson had a funny thing to say about the dash of a 911, it's like a designer at Porsche sneezed all the controls at the dash, and wherever they landed he said that'll do, in this country we can only go so fast unless you go to a track, so I think there's a sweet spot in performance, 165 bhp in 1.1 - 1.2 tonnes is plenty, it means you can rev the car listening to the engine that little longer and taking that little extra time to enjoy the car, I think that's a sweet spot in the classic 911 range, I noticed a couple of cars in the backround the Rolls, and the Jensen, the Jensen being in a lovely colour, hopefully we get chance to see these 2 cars featured, thanks Iain
Not in the cruddy cars that most people had: no aircon, woeful reliability, thigh-burning vinyl seats.....and there was still loads of congestion, and interminable traffic jams on the way to holiday hotspots. In fact, they were worse than they are now. Traffic management has actually improved enormously. Also, lorries, vans, and even tractors, are much faster than they used to be; the days of mile-long queues behind lone, unconcerned Embassy-puffing drivers of Bedfords, Commers and Fergusons are long gone.
The 1974 911 is beautiful. I wouldn’t pick that colour for anything else but in this setting, it’s wonderful. Gold metallic? Not an easy finish to execute perfectly. A complete time capsule, 49 years old. I own a Suzuki GT380B, a 1977 S reg, which I bought nearly new in 1978. Owner had traded it in for a Suzuki GS, according to the dealer. 46 years old. I remember the day I bought it. I picked it up after work and rode it home around 15 miles to Hayling Island. I felt like a king. I own nothing that’s anything like as old. There’s not a nut or washer that I haven’t held, during a full restoration. You either like old vehicles or you don’t. I like them better than modern vehicles. I don’t run to 911s, sadly.
Such a pure car, the 911 born in "63 same as me. I have never had the experience of looking down the road, along that fantastic bonnet, one day maybe. Thanks Ian. PS love the colour too.
Gorgeous, just gorgeous. You are so right Iain it is not just about speed, performance and cost. No wonder they increased the production. I also love the sound of the Porsche. Thanks Iain, lovely video as always. Cheers, Bob
Another great review from someone who knows about the mechanical aspect and the engineering side of these cars... Thanks again for your time in making these videos....
A lovely, simple car in a great colour combo, superb for high speed point to point without drama. I've driven a lot of 911's, one of my favourite being a non sport 84 3.2 Carrera in GP white with dark blue brocade interior, no bells, no whistles just a lovely pure machine.
Absolutely loved this video. I think less is more, is the mantra for all generations of the 911. Particularly, as I heard of this young mechanic. Returning a 911 Turbo to it’s owner, and there was a major moment on a sweeping motorway bend 😳
That’s a lovely 911 - I agree with Iain - personally I prefer the simpler, more basic 911s over the Turbos and Carreras - seem more in line with the original concept of the car. Love the gold paint!!
Great video Iain, i absolutely love my narrow body 76 S, plenty of power to weight and small and nimble enough to really enjoy our British roads. Drive them at nine tenths and they just get up on tiptoes and dance, wonderful.
Beautiful, truly classic and wonderfully understated…. fabulous sound, with no silly fat rear wheels. The only forgivable 911 exception was many years later with the 959 - another breathtaking machine for totally different reasons.
Another enjoyable episode Iain. I always look forward to your next episode and this one didn't disappoint. Whilst I'm not a fan of that colour, the car itself is very pleasing. Pure, lean and elegant. And although it has nowhere near the performance of its current day counterparts I bet it is possibly more fun to drive because you can wring its neck without going at insane speeds, along with the absence of all sorts of driver assistance programs. Oh, and a great soundtrack!
I've owned my '82 911 for 13 years now (bought it before they started to command silly money) and I havent gotten bored with it yet. Sometimes I'm toying with the idea of replacing it with something else, but I've yet to find a classic car that does everything so well!
I had a left-hand, USA version of this car (same year, same paint, interior, wheels) stolen from me in 1978 while stationed in Wiesbaden Germany. Very good car and memories. Thanks for posting.
Perfect! large Oil cooler, damper adj shocks, full stainless tubular headers, and a very nice stainless exhaust.... would easily put tons of summer road trip miles on it !
I agree, the base spec is just nice and very easy to live with i.e. Less is More! You can feel the quality from just looking at the video. Great video as ever.
I bought a 1977S model Targa back in the day after obtaining my engineering job after college. Drove the wheels of that thing. Kept her looking like a prom queen all the years I owned her though. I loved racing muscle cars then because that little 2.7 was quick! I loved showing muscle cars my tail lights (lol). All I would see in my rear view mirror was smoking tires, and a squirmy car out of control, as I passed the ton on my way... That 2.7 was and is, the one that got away, and the one I should have kept. I bought a 991 in 2018 and just could not connect with that car. I ended up selling it after a couple of years. Here in the US we called those wheels "cookie cutters" and most were taken off and given away!
My brother had one of these 1970s Lux 911s in the 80s, wonderful car. I enjoyed it very much - then he went down the slightly later Turbo models, endless issues through theft! Interesting comment you make later in your film about the oil smell in the cabin. There is a Yellow 911 Lux local to me and in traffic you get a strong whiff of oil from it.
I believe that the sunroof wind deflectors were a Golde mechanism. The BMW 02 series used the same units and they are direct-fit interchangeable between 911s and 02s.
Love the mid year 911s. They are as light as the 72-73 cars while the 911sc later was a good bit heavier as they started using thicker gauge steel and rust proofing. The Jetronic injection system was installed because it was cheap to produce!
Beautiful car. Like you say, it may be the 'cheap' version, but it is still a stunner, and has all the correct ingredients of a 911, including that beautiful flat 6 air-cooled bellow. Nothing else sounds like it. Great video.
Another BRILLIANT and informative video by Mr. Tyrrell ! I love these videos that Mr. Tyrrell compiles on Porsche 911's. Thank you Mr. Tyrrell.....thank you. gerhard a. hendricks, Eltham, Australia
Great video sir. Thank you. Wonderful storytelling. I loved the oil smeel of my 993....it was sold long ago....but at 15:25 he explained it to me for the first time decades later.....you know, that is one of those things not worth fixing......or at least not perfectly. That car made me think of the starting sequence of the movie Lemans with Mr. McQueen driving it.....the one in the movie was older for sure, but sort of put my mind there.
What?! Has it really been 3 and a half years already?! I love everything you do and I hope you will continue for many more years.
Steal Your Face
@@AmericasChoicewhat?
@@mattmorris2867 That lightening bolt across the red and blue is an emblem from the Grateful Dead's Steal your Face album
I bought the 1974 base 911 in 1988 and put 50,000 miles on it over the next 15 years. The California version of these cars had emission controls which made them run very hot. The valve guides were weak and the chain tensioners flawed, as discussed here. I had a clutch cable snap but no other breakdowns. Oil changes, routine servicing and a new set of tires were all it ever needed. It showed tiny amounts of rust which I kept at bay. It suited my tastes perfectly, primarily because of the light weight, simplicity and very good power to weight ratio. I would seriously consider buying the same thing again today. Sadly, I doubt there are many well cared for examples still around today and with prices as good as they are it can be tempting for sellers to "misrepresent" a bit.
These days it’s becoming quite refreshing to see such original, unmolested classic 911s. As usual, brilliant video Iain, been subcribed since the beginning and have religiously watched every video since. Keep the good stuff coming, cheers from Italy 👍
I remember that 2.7 RS video well, not least because it was parked next to this very car. I didn't say so at the time (because the 2.7 RS) but I did see glimpses of it and thought "ooo, that's very nice, I'd like Iain to do a test drive". And you delivered. From Australia, many thanks Iain.
I own just the same Porsche 911 of the same year and it is incredibly smooth and rewarding classic car, I do several trips with it every year from Spain, Portugal, the Balkans to even in Marocco and it has never let me down.
Thank you for this beautiful report!
I had one as my daily driver for ten years. Same colour, Fuchs wheels. There was no brake servo in the boot so I got my linhof camera tripod and lighting in it as I was a pro photographer. My very large dog travelled in the back. It was perfect. I spent months tracking down a 3.2 carrera but sold it the 2.7 was better. A few points, the switch gear made total sense when you owned the car a hundred times better than the dangerous distraction of touch screens. The sunroof was essential to demist the car in winter and enjoy in summer. It oversteered, the 3.2 understeered. The performance was far greater than 90% of the traffic of the day. Alas I needed a family car and couldn’t afford to keep too or it would still be here.
Wonderful. ~Post 1976 has always been regarded by me as a turning point for the 911. The impact bumper had come in a few years already but the overall looks of the 911 did remain true to its original concept. Both Fuchs and ATS Hackmesser wheels do look phenomenal on them but Porsche started with versions of big exaggerated wings/fenders. Up to ~1979 the slim/original versions could still be bought but from ~1980 onward the 911 had become wide body with inflated wings/fenders... This example of 1976 still has that original 911 purity 💓 Thank you so much for showing.
the "inflated wings" were a suspension-engineering / handling evolution to better resolve the rear-engine weight bias that induced oversteer. as displacement increased so did hp... thus wider wheels & tires... & wings.
@@mrsmith697 some say the look was destroyed when the 901 styling superseded the 356. I guess it's all a matter of taste.
Pretty sure the wider body came in with the SC in ‘78. And it’s really not that much wider.
@@grumpy9478 the 356 ,F40 killer and it had electric windows and car radio with cassete player ,well it had interior and was much faster
@@craigyirush3492 Wider body started with the 1975 model year 911 Turbo (930) in Europe, or at least in Germany. Indeed not that much wider but clearly noticeable (the original 911 Turbo No. 1 (no wide body) was a one-off for Piëch's sister).
For the 1976 model year, the Carrera 3.0 came with wide rear flares, and all versions with actual wider wings/fenders were only moderate extensions. Up to ~1979 the slim/original versions (no flares, no wider wings/fenders) could still be bought. From ~1980 onward the inflation went mental imho and the original width wasn't available new anymore.
The growing width was not for housing improved handling only btw but also to compete with other supercars aesthetically growing wider as a visual mark to depict über masculinity and power.
For me personally, I just prefer the pure original look without any widening of the wings/fenders. Personal taste of course.
Back in the '80s when I was a professional car photographer, I used to own a 1976 911 Carrera 3.0 in ice-metallic green and LOVED it . . . nearly as much as the 1978 911 SC Sport which I owned afterwards which, given unlimited funds, I'd have over anything else on the road. Sadly, my 911 days finished when the kids came along and, since they've flown the nest, I've not been able to afford another one. Incidentally, I gathered from the PCGB mags back then that the main problem from a failed timing chain tensioner was the chain jumping and catastrophically affecting the timing. When a tensioner failed on my Carrera 3.0, I kept the revs between 2 and 3,000 rpm as recommended by the PCGB magazine, got the car home safely and happily incurred no damage to the engine.
It’s 98% like my ‘83 SC too. Simple, reliable and gorgeous to look at, unlike most modern cars.
I know it’s probably harder and more expensive to get the outside/roadside shots of Iain driving, BUT those are great additions to the videos. It’s great to hear the engine and exhaust as Iain gives it the welly. And seeing the car in motion on the ride also adds to the enjoyment and experience.
Glad you liked them. I'll try to do more of these.
@@iain_tyrrellthese videos get better and better: not just in content but quality of production too. It really has been a joy to have watched your channel develop over the years and to have learnt so much about so many different cars, and to have learnt also about the attention to detail of a top end restoration company.
Iain overplays the K-Jetronic's (or CIS if you're from overseas) virtues a bit. Yes it was extremely reliable *for*the*time*. It needs regular maintenance that modern EFi systems don't. Changing of the fuel filters is a must after 10 years. This system lives on pressure... you have 5 bar for injection and a separate, variable 0.5 to 3.7 bar for mixture control. This control pressure is absolutely critical for the correct functioning of the system - when cold it starts out low then it gradually raises to the upper limit - this is controlled by the engine warmup box (Warmlaufregler) that often goes bad, causing very hard cold starts. Thankfully this is a universal part that was built into _all_ K-Jetronics - smart Porsche owners go to a KJet specialist and tell them the broken box came off of a Volvo or Volkswagen and get a cheap remanufactured one. The best tool for diagnosing this analog system is a big-arse pressure gauge. The Bosch workshop I used to frequent had a large 8" one.
@tosca120ls, indeed a reliable system "for the time". Also important to mention that when the engine backfired into the airbox, the possibility existed of the box cracking at it's base near the holding screws.... with a solution provided by a rubber plug drilled and pressed in to act as a safety valve that would blow out before damage was caused....We did quite a few of those safety mods to save the airboxes which were expensive. Best regards
I can't believe this channel only has 160k subscribers, it's brilliantly informative and Ian is a great presenter 😊👍
As a fifteen year old budding, classic car fan in 1976, this was my first exposure to the 911. And it is still my favorite (aside from the turbo upgrades that came later) That sound, the unconventional shape, the minimalist yet plush and comfy interior - it was like nothing else - and still is. I've seen a few of these driven by inexperienced and ballsy drivers do the rear end swap and go off of the road backwards - no one in their right mind (save a race car driver) would apply the throttle to power out of a curve instead of instinctively mashing the brakes. We Americans were used to rear driven, front engined behemoths so that was absurd. I used to bark at a couple of 911 owners from my then 1980 Triumph TR8 with various degrees of success - they would always ease up to the red light and check out my TR8 badging and usually nod when the light turned green. And then it was on. So much fun. This video is like all of your previous efforts - nostalgic, accurate, informative and fun. What's next?
When I worked at Hornby Hobbies I used to love the runs of 911 Turbos we did, especially the gold ones. I used to set up the printing machines and I'd purposely make a few with my own custom prints on them and I'd keep the bodies hidden away in a big box. I amassed a LOT of one-offs, but one day I went up to add to my stash and... it was gone. Somebody had been told to tidy up and they had tidied up my box of treasures. I was obviously heartbroken - they were the closest I've ever come to owning one of these beautiful 911's.
What a sweet old girl. Thanks for the nerdy bits about the chain tensioner, info like that is one of the reasons I love your channel.
I love this era of 911. So understated, still recognisably a relative of the Beetle., still aircooled.
they were both built by the same brand using the name of the owner, a evolution of the beetle
I think they really lost their way in the 00s. They are such heavy cars now
@@BlatentlyFakeName that is true
Yup, flattened Beetle essentially!
A relative, but sure no evolution of the beetle, for the original „63“ 901 they implemented a 190 lbs lead plate in the area of the front suspension to make the car road stable steering-wise.
This was 2.0 liter 130 bhp, 2.7 liter basically the block from 911 RS with 175 bhp and less than 1100 kilo empty weight was quite fast in the model shown 7.5 seconds to 62 miles in. 1973 faster than much bigger cars.
A 1975 C3 Corvette 327 with only 150 bhp left could not see him after 5 seconds. The Corvette at 75 kilometers and the Porsche already at 90 kilometers per hour..😂
Love that. All the 911 I’d ever want.
Love the cookie cutter wheels. See them on quite a few Cal Look Vdubs. The gold paint and biscuit interior are so classy. Those narrow flat sided cars have awesome aerodynamics.
Beautiful car.
the standard-body Carerra 3.2 ('84-89) achieved a higher top speed than the turbo-look (wider) bodies.
I am 71 yo. I have owned a '66 912, a '68 912, a '84 Carrera Targa, a '85 Carrera Coupe, and a '90 Carrera 2. Thet were wonderful cars and my wife was so disappointed when we sold the Carrera 2. But I think my favorites were the two 912's. With the exception of the Turbo, none of these cars were fast. But like the 356, the 912 was a wonderful car to drive. Great ride and handling. I probably won't ever own another Porsche, but speaking from someone who has actually owned these cars, that's my experience.
What a lovely little pure car, no power steering, light and agile and quick enough. A proper drivers car. Thank you Iain.
Appreciate more and more the simple & basic forms of classic rides. Thank you as usual!
Thank you, thank you Iain. Bought a 1977 (ruebenrot) colour one in 1987 - immaculate condition, full white leather, lambswool carpet, main dealer serviced, fully restored 1995-6. I loved that car - so underrated. Finally swapped in 2000 for something a little quicker - a new TVR Chimaera 450 - wow.
Thanks again Iain for showing how nice these Porsches were
The smile on your face as you went through the corners said it all! A really nice car.
Love the simplicity of this car. Along with the first countach and pantera, the simple lines do it for me. I think those style wheels found their way onto the 944 if I’m not mistaken.
A rare color and beautiful too. Never thought I would say that about a gold car, but it really works here. Yeah, the basic 911s get ignored over their more powerful siblings, but sometimes keeping it simple is best. A true driver's car; no frills, fuss or screens, seems somehow more desirable than overly-teched-out modern cars today. Remember when cars just had to get you somewhere without entertaining you with swirling graphics and sound or pampering you with message seats and heated steering wheels? Also, you actually have to drive them with purpose and attention, interact with them like the machines that they are; gears, cables, clutches, all of it.
Just perfect
Great video. The 'plodding' 2.7 911's are certainly pleasant - the original 73-75 150 bhp one was a a bit lacking in sparkle but the 165 bhp Lux was brisk enough. 0-100 in under 20 seconds is alright! One thing: all 2.7 911's had a five speed H pattern gearbox. The four speed went out with the basic 2.2 or 2.4 T model although the 3.0 Turbo had a four speed box.
gotta love a K-jet. Cheers for sharing your knowledge , enthusiasm. and the cars
Thank you for another great video. Having just been to the Le Mans Classic where the car parks were knee deep in Porsches of all ages. I decided the older Porsches looked more appealing than the current generation so
this video was very timely. Thank you!
That's the Porsche I want. Base. Poverty Spec. No frills. RAW.
17:34 The Auto generated subtitles describes the 911 engine sound as:
[Beautiful]
[Music]
[Applause]
Absolutely spot on! 🥰
I had a 76 911 Targa in Guards Red with Cookie Cutter wheels and a 2.7 w/ Bosh F.I. & black vinyl / red fabric interior.
1976 I believe was also the last year for the vent windows (wind wings) which were great for a car without air. Not that the AC worked very well to begin with if equipped. 😅
Fantastic road car and exhilarating to drive. I’d give anything to have another one that caliber.
It's great to see you getting such a blast from driving this beautiful car. Thanks for taking us along.
What an interesting fact about the timing chain tensioner oil feed adaptation. You’re not going to guess things like this. Priceless.
Danke sehr! Love the simplicity of the car.
And the colour, which adds some special touch...
Cheers, Bunti
She's a beauty... I remember being lucky enough to try an SC (I think) back in '89 - What a thrill for a younger me who had a '77 Renault 5 TL 1.0 LOL
I tell myself I shouldnt like that colour, but somehow it works....love that...unpretentious
Beautiful car, a ‘75 targa model used to overtake us ( my dad and I in his gold Ford Fiesta) every morning and it inspired me to become a life long Porsche owner.
One thing I noted , it has a front air dam ( spoiler) . In theory that should NOT be fitted without the rear spoiler as at high speed you get an imbalance of front downforce causing the rear to go light.
I doubt these older cars are driven into 3 figure speeds much these days.
Ironically my ‘87 3.2 Cab had exactly that setup , fr but no rr spoiler !!
i have a 75 like this ,same engine it´s a pleasure to drive it, it was changed the back part ,it´s a mix of both models, the 74-76 but i have to say that this series is my favorite one ,i bought later a turbo ,and what a car it is, i had a 74 all original but sold it with the side mirrors similar to Jaguar ,after i bought it only with the 3.6 L engine
Base spec classic Porsches are the best. It’s like a blank canvas for one’s own project.
I can’t believe it’s three and a half years already! What a lovely unspoiled example of a 911, takes me back to being a young lad and seeing the odd one of these about the Moor Park & Northwood area. Iconic in every way and very high on my bucket list!
I always think that era of Porsche look 'Happy to be here'
Beautiful car. I'd have to put the original steering wheel back on, if it was mine... not a problem I see myself having, though.
the smiling porpoise look... while porpoising.
I love this car, it looks absolutely amazing.
Divinos adorables unicos muy buen video gracias Sonia G Nielsen Argentina
Those old air cooled Porsches (up until 964 and 993) were so small and raw, brutal cars. Sure they didn't have that much power by modern standards but they had such an analog, pure driving thrill which is completely missing from the modern cars unless you take them to a track. New Porsches become too good and too fast. And TOO BIG. Look at the new 992. It's absolutely GIGANTIC compared to these old classics. No wonder these good condition air cooled cars cost now more then new. They are such icons.
I agree with you!!! That said you may enjoy my video of our carrera!!! 😊😊😊😊😊
Is it possible (just from an engineering perspective) that Porsche could build a smaller (rear engine rear drive) 911 again? Or not possible due to current crash standards?
@@professorcalculus5315 Regardless of whether it's possible or not, Porsche isn't going to build another small 911. The average customer wants lots of space and lots of gadgets. The more the better. We driving enthusiasts represent a small part of the market.
It's sad, but likely true, that modern Porsches are cross shopped more with the Tesla Plaid than with classic Porsches.
the watercololed engine was a controversial change ,some wanted the old system instead of the new ,but from memory i thought the watercooled only was released in the early 90´s also a hated body design when cars started all to have excessive round curves or shape, but when driving the carrera 4 i had to buy one , it´s red ,the only red car i own, this refering to sport cars , my two ferrari´s one is metalized grey the GTB vetroresina and a mondial in blue also metalized paint. The porshe is critisized by it´s back making it slide but those don´t know how to drive ,it´s almost a perfect car ,even with less power if one knows how to drive it it will win races with cars with doble the horse power
Your quite useless sermon has way too much of prejudices and stereotypes about modern Porsches.
"New Porsches become too good and too fast..." ?? Oh my god! 😂😂
Sorry, but this doesn't make sense at all, dude!
What do you expect from a "still" a sportscar maker, when the whole competiton of super sportscars is getting more and more mad, nowadays even with four-figure horsepower numbers??
A Porsche can't be "too fast"! A Porsche has to give the feeling, that the driver still wants more power, because Porsche are so good to drive.
Porsche has the best horsepower vs. performance numbers in the business. Even with lower hp numbers, Porsches are faster and quicker than its competitors.
But should Porsche deliberately making slower cars, just to satisfying annoying opinions, just like yours?
Porsches certainly haven't been growing bigger as "modern people" have grown in the last five decades. This is just a fact!
If you compare the seating positions/interior space/seating ergonomy of driver and co-driver of an aircooled G-Series 911 from 1973 to a modern Porsche 992 911 from 2023, the old 911 seems ridiculously small! You are getting constantly elbow contact between driver and co-driver in the old 911. This would be absolutely ridiculous in a new luxury sportscar in 2023.
Therefore no modern daily driver sportscar from today would get acceptance from customers for offering only so little interior space!
You are talking bullshit, dude!
You just can't fit "modern fat people" in a 1973 Porsche 911 for longer distances. This video isn't a reference for this question...
I also think, Porsche interior engineers know a bit more than you about which amount of interior space of a modern sports car is too much or less!
The Porsche 911 generations 997/991/992 are absolutely perfect in size and ergonomy!
There isn't a better daily driver sports car on the market in terms of usable interior space than the 992, period!
Your criticism about "911 growth" is stupid and totally hysteric, dude!
The Porsche 992 is exactly as big as it needs to fitting normally sized people in it.
By the way: maybe if you are fat... why do you complain???
That’s a lovely clean example of its ilk. Those not-Fuchs alloys look great and I even like that metallic gold paint! Very much of its era. I really like it, even if it’s only about as fast as a 90s hot-hatch 😆
Oh, that fantastic sound from that flat-6.
cracking little motor....i was born the year this car came out,i love 70s high end cars,really love that turquoise\blue rolls camargue in one of your previous videos from the same era.ive said it before, nothing prepares me for the doom and gloom of monday, better than sunday with ian tyrrells garage!
Thank you for another great video and for featuring this car, Jeremy Clarkson had a funny thing to say about the dash of a 911, it's like a designer at Porsche sneezed all the controls at the dash, and wherever they landed he said that'll do, in this country we can only go so fast unless you go to a track, so I think there's a sweet spot in performance, 165 bhp in 1.1 - 1.2 tonnes is plenty, it means you can rev the car listening to the engine that little longer and taking that little extra time to enjoy the car, I think that's a sweet spot in the classic 911 range, I noticed a couple of cars in the backround the Rolls, and the Jensen, the Jensen being in a lovely colour, hopefully we get chance to see these 2 cars featured, thanks Iain
Thanks. If you look through the back catalogue of videos, you’ll find one on the Jensen. Another vid coming up soon though!
Thank you again, Mr. Tyrrell!
Everything you explain is so understandable.Great vid Iain.
My era. Simpler. Smaller, less busy roads, and MUCH MORE MOTORING ENJOYMENT. 👍🏻🏴
Not in the cruddy cars that most people had: no aircon, woeful reliability, thigh-burning vinyl seats.....and there was still loads of congestion, and interminable traffic jams on the way to holiday hotspots. In fact, they were worse than they are now. Traffic management has actually improved enormously. Also, lorries, vans, and even tractors, are much faster than they used to be; the days of mile-long queues behind lone, unconcerned Embassy-puffing drivers of Bedfords, Commers and Fergusons are long gone.
@@robertcook2572Excuse me, how dare you come in here with facts, 'everything was better in the past innit'
The 1974 911 is beautiful. I wouldn’t pick that colour for anything else but in this setting, it’s wonderful. Gold metallic? Not an easy finish to execute perfectly. A complete time capsule, 49 years old.
I own a Suzuki GT380B, a 1977 S reg, which I bought nearly new in 1978. Owner had traded it in for a Suzuki GS, according to the dealer. 46 years old. I remember the day I bought it. I picked it up after work and rode it home around 15 miles to Hayling Island. I felt like a king. I own nothing that’s anything like as old. There’s not a nut or washer that I haven’t held, during a full restoration.
You either like old vehicles or you don’t. I like them better than modern vehicles. I don’t run to 911s, sadly.
One of my top 10 on You Tube.
Best content/show on TH-cam! Nothing else compares! Love this Gent. Thanks again for another brilliant episode. Cheers/B
a really really lovely overview of a beautiful 911, thank you so much
Such a pure car, the 911 born in "63 same as me. I have never had the experience of looking down the road, along that fantastic bonnet, one day maybe. Thanks Ian. PS love the colour too.
Everything you need and nothing that you don’t. Peak Porsche up to around 1988.
Greetings from Australia. Fantastic as always Iain. What a lovely automobile. Your attention to detail and knowledge is second to none.
We had one (red) in our family since 1984, really lovely car
aircooled 911: dry sump oil system. Not everybody knows this. Separate oil tank.
Sweet car.
"I‘m amazed it’s got a steering wheel as standard, judging by how they were at the time." 🤣🤣
Simply hilarious! ❤
Gorgeous, just gorgeous. You are so right Iain it is not just about speed, performance and cost. No wonder they increased the production. I also love the sound of the Porsche.
Thanks Iain, lovely video as always. Cheers, Bob
Another great review from someone who knows about the mechanical aspect and the engineering side of these cars... Thanks again for your time in making these videos....
A lovely, simple car in a great colour combo, superb for high speed point to point without drama.
I've driven a lot of 911's, one of my favourite being a non sport 84 3.2 Carrera in GP white with dark blue brocade interior, no bells, no whistles just a lovely pure machine.
Absolutely loved this video. I think less is more, is the mantra for all generations of the 911. Particularly, as I heard of this young mechanic. Returning a 911 Turbo to it’s owner, and there was a major moment on a sweeping motorway bend 😳
That's a Beautiful Example I love these mid 70's 911's just something so pure about them compared to the later examples.
That’s a lovely 911 - I agree with Iain - personally I prefer the simpler, more basic 911s over the Turbos and Carreras - seem more in line with the original concept of the car. Love the gold paint!!
K Jetronic works well when all components are working . The warm up regulator is very difficult to use after 45 plus years
Great video Iain, i absolutely love my narrow body 76 S, plenty of power to weight and small and nimble enough to really enjoy our British roads. Drive them at nine tenths and they just get up on tiptoes and dance, wonderful.
Beautiful, truly classic and wonderfully understated…. fabulous sound, with no silly fat rear wheels. The only forgivable 911 exception was many years later with the 959 - another breathtaking machine for totally different reasons.
Another enjoyable episode Iain. I always look forward to your next episode and this one didn't disappoint.
Whilst I'm not a fan of that colour, the car itself is very pleasing. Pure, lean and elegant. And although it has nowhere near the performance of its current day counterparts I bet it is possibly more fun to drive because you can wring its neck without going at insane speeds, along with the absence of all sorts of driver assistance programs. Oh, and a great soundtrack!
I've owned my '82 911 for 13 years now (bought it before they started to command silly money) and I havent gotten bored with it yet. Sometimes I'm toying with the idea of replacing it with something else, but I've yet to find a classic car that does everything so well!
I had a left-hand, USA version of this car (same year, same paint, interior, wheels) stolen from me in 1978 while stationed in Wiesbaden Germany. Very good car and memories. Thanks for posting.
911 more reasons to love Tyrell’s classic garage.!!!
Your watch is so in keeping with this superb car. I like both!! ❤❤Thanks for the video.
Beautiful car . . I would be more than happy with that on my drive.
Perfect! large Oil cooler, damper adj shocks, full stainless tubular headers, and a very nice stainless exhaust.... would easily put tons of summer road trip miles on it !
I agree, the base spec is just nice and very easy to live with i.e. Less is More! You can feel the quality from just looking at the video. Great video as ever.
Brings a smile to you Ian when warmed up and six taps opened up keep it up
A stunning example, Iain…the colour is amazing.
Fantastic, always admired the older 911's, that's a really lovely wee motor.
Delightful video. I love watching these. I always learn so much.
I bought a 1977S model Targa back in the day after obtaining my engineering job after college. Drove the wheels of that thing. Kept her looking like a prom queen all the years I owned her though. I loved racing muscle cars then because that little 2.7 was quick! I loved showing muscle cars my tail lights (lol). All I would see in my rear view mirror was smoking tires, and a squirmy car out of control, as I passed the ton on my way... That 2.7 was and is, the one that got away, and the one I should have kept. I bought a 991 in 2018 and just could not connect with that car. I ended up selling it after a couple of years. Here in the US we called those wheels "cookie cutters" and most were taken off and given away!
My brother had one of these 1970s Lux 911s in the 80s, wonderful car. I enjoyed it very much - then he went down the slightly later Turbo models, endless issues through theft! Interesting comment you make later in your film about the oil smell in the cabin. There is a Yellow 911 Lux local to me and in traffic you get a strong whiff of oil from it.
Super car, crying out for a Blaupunkt retro Bluetooth/DAB head unit
I believe that the sunroof wind deflectors were a Golde mechanism. The BMW 02 series used the same units and they are direct-fit interchangeable between 911s and 02s.
Thanks for the variety. Had a 1989 911 Carrera and your vid brought back some wonderful memories. Wish I still had it!
Looks like a connoisseur’s example to me - sweet car
80's wing mirrors though. That just shows how they were ahead of their game.
Those mirrors are not correct for a ‘75.
Love the mid year 911s. They are as light as the 72-73 cars while the 911sc later was a good bit heavier as they started using thicker gauge steel and rust proofing. The Jetronic injection system was installed because it was cheap to produce!
I love these. Missed out on buying one many years ago and regret it now as prices are way to much for my budget! Lovely example.
What a lovely little machine - still as desirable as the higher spec ones in my books and more of a daily - charming and cool colour too ….
Beautiful car. Like you say, it may be the 'cheap' version, but it is still a stunner, and has all the correct ingredients of a 911, including that beautiful flat 6 air-cooled bellow. Nothing else sounds like it. Great video.
I love these old air cooled Porsche models. They’re troublesome, parts are rare but for pure raw thrill a fantastic little car.
Another BRILLIANT and informative video by Mr. Tyrrell ! I love these videos that Mr. Tyrrell compiles on Porsche 911's. Thank you Mr. Tyrrell.....thank you. gerhard a. hendricks, Eltham, Australia
That must have been a beast in its day,And the same goes for your old Rolex sub,I love that watch.
The sound track of an air cooled 911... it was the course car at the 1976 Monaco Grand Prix, I was there aged 14.... need I say more?
That is the nicest Porsche, a lovely car, speaking as not a Porsche fan. The Jensen in the background is more my taste.
Great video sir. Thank you. Wonderful storytelling. I loved the oil smeel of my 993....it was sold long ago....but at 15:25 he explained it to me for the first time decades later.....you know, that is one of those things not worth fixing......or at least not perfectly. That car made me think of the starting sequence of the movie Lemans with Mr. McQueen driving it.....the one in the movie was older for sure, but sort of put my mind there.