1976 Porsche 911 3.0L Carrera

‘It’s had the same owner for 30 years,’ explains Ryan, the 911’s present custodian. ‘It’s a very genuine, unmolested car with a good patina. It was the previous owner’s pride and joy - there are some very big bills in the service history.’ (And there is a lot of service history).

He also emphasises just how rare a variant this is. Besides being one in three of the 3687 three-litre Carreras that wore the targa roof, it is one of only 58 ‘Sportomatic’ (semi-automatic gearbox) RHD examples made - for the worldwide market. (26 in built 1977 and 32 in ’78).

‘It drives well for a ’76 Porsche,’ he says, confirming that the car pulls well with plenty of power, and the that auto ’box changes quickly and smoothly. ‘It works a bit like a clutchless manual - sort of an early Tiptronic.’

Ryan notes that the car has had a change of colour somewhere in its past - from black to red - and that, more recently, it was also reupholstered.

The overall impression of the Carrera is of a good, straight car. Side on, the lines look crisp; no warped trim, and with doors that shut to give narrow and even shut lines all the way around. Panel gaps too are consistent - that famously large whale tail spoiler hasn’t pulled the engine cover out of place. (And the fin itself is in good shape).

The Porsche has its share of minor battle scars, but it wears them honourably without trying to hide them under dodgy make-overs.

The edge of the driver’s door edge is quite heavily scuffed (but no corrosion has taken hold) and there is slight damage to the top corner of the bonnet lid on the same side. There are some quite deep chips to the paint under the front bumper, but the rubber chin spoiler itself is in good shape.

Despite scuffs and scrapes, none of these areas have begun to rust, so maybe the car has been garaged and largely come out in fair weather.

There are a couple of very small rust spots; a small blister to the near-side front wing where joins with bumper mounting and another bubble on the same side under the join of the targa/roll-over bar. Also on the lip of the front wing (over bumper) as it curls around to nose.

Paint is largely good, with no fading to orange in any of the panels. Somewhere in its history, the Porsche has had a colour change from black to red. That was fine, but in some hidden places - door hinges and under the filler cap, there is a little bit of peeling.

There are scuffs through to the metal (again without corrosion) on black coating to window frames and the big targa roll-over bar, which has a blemish on the driver’s side.

The body looks very good. The metal in the door cavities looks good, as do, as far as one can see, the bases of the A and B pillars. Headlight surrounds (tricky places on a 911) and the metal below them looks sound.

For just over 30 years on the road and 100,000 miles driven, the interior looks pretty sharp. The high-backed sports seats retain their shapes and, happily, the bolster edges are not squashed. Those tartan seat are clean and straight, and the leather surrounding them - and outlining the cabin in general - is similarly of a good colour and without cracks. The history shows that the front seats both had replacement panels in 2017.

The carpets and mats are clean and retain a good pile, and the same goes for backs of the fold-down rear seats. Tellingly, the leather trim around these (and most of the mats) is also still very neat. There are a couple of holes and moulding imprints (from speakers?) in the rear parcel shelf.

The thin rubber door seals look good, but some of the canvas-like targa roof sealing looks a bit tired. But Ryan assures us that the roof panel is a snug fit and doesn’t rattle while on the move. So not urgent then.

Door furniture on 911s can warp and look a bit tired, but those on this example look particularly nice. The interior plastics in general are not warped and retain a good colour. The leather gear-change gaiter is in fine condition.

All in all, a very pleasant cockpit to be in - roof on or off.

That cramped little engine bay is hard to see around, but everything looks to be in very good shape. It is generally ‘workmanlike’ - maybe not concours, but not something any mechanic would shy away from. Hoses and ducting look very healthy (the latter can get very tired on 911s). HT leads look new and the wiring likewise good. Going under the engine, the manifolds look to be in fine condition. There are no signs of leaks (or corrosion), which, considering the amount of very vigilant gasket/seal renewal it has undergone, is no surprise - but very nice to see. A healthy-looking motor.

Going further under the car, there are no signs of corrosion and certainly no damage or wear beyond what you’d expect from the mileage. The fuel tank looks to be in good condition and the suspension parts very serviceable.

The black finish on Fuchs wheels is largely intact, though there are scuffs to a couple of the centres. Tyres still have a lot of life left in them. There is a space-saver spare under the bonnet. Both it and the battery looks fine. The luggage space above looks clean and tidy, with, understandably, a slight warp in the side panels.

The engine number 6669183 is matching to the current v5 (pictures in the gallery) 

Impressive. As Ryan said, this 911 was its previous owner’s pride and joy - for almost 30 years. During that time, he has amassed a sheaf of invoices that attest to both his vigilance in running it right and his willingness to pay whatever it cost. There are plenty of four-figure invoices in them from marque specialists such as Specialist Cars of Malton, and many stipulate ‘OEM’ or ‘genuine Porsche’ against the parts itemised. Amongst the higher-priced recent invoices, a bill for a new clutch in 2015 can be found, as well as inlet manifold gaskets and injector seals in 2016, and a brake overhaul in the same year. The Porsche also had a major service in May this year. What is particularly satisfying is the degree to which leads, seals and perishables are regularly replaced alongside the more obvious fluids and filters. It’s been done right and that should never be underestimated or undervalued when it’s happened over as long a period as it has here.

This is a slightly more complex case than many 911s, but our overwhelming response is; this is a good ’un. In some ways the Carrera is a bit of an old war horse, showing a few scuffs and scrapes - but it does just that; you feel that what you see is what you get. The car itself is very sound. Plus, that service record gives you great confidence in how it’s been run and how it will run.

Then of course it is that most charismatic thing; a 911 ‘Carrera’ - and a rare three-litre at that. A slightly puzzling question is how that sits with the Sportomatic option - we know how hard-charging some of the 911 boys can be.

The car carried a club valuation of around £65,000, though just now, 911 values are a little softer than at their peak. This car’s rarity and provenance make it not so easy to value, but we conservatively estimate it at £30 - 40,000, what do you think? However high you follow this Porsche, you know you will be bidding on a rare Stuttgart legend with plenty of character, performance and pedigree.

We have had another thought (purists look away now): initial - and limited - searching on Google suggests that swapping the gearbox to a period manual is not distressingly onerous. If your budget cannot stretch to a genuine manual 3.0 Carrera, this could be a pragmatic way into running a lovely car for a few years. Man maths? Brilliant, eh? (If you were to choose this, please do not junk the Sportomatic 'box, parts are rare, and it would be good to keep with the car for a future owner.)

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located in Poole, Dorset; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

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