1969 Porsche 911 E

This splendid vehicle comes to us courtesy of a vendor for whom we have had the privilege of auctioning a number of cars. Like the others, this one has been properly restored by people who do this for a living and are extremely good at what they do.

The car was a runner when it arrived but, upon closer inspection, it became obvious that the bodywork needed some proper attention. So, the vendor (who has a precision engineering business) set about a ground-up bare-metal restoration.

His progress with this big project was slowed by work commitments and eventually he outsourced much of the work to experts such as NB Classics, Design 911 and other respected specialists.

Over the course of the bodywork restoration over 100 hours were spent on the welding and body panels. Many parts and panels were replaced, including inner and outer sills, door support frames, various floor panels and inner wings, and other structural components and replacement sections as and where necessary.

The car, which had originally been blue, then Bahama yellow, was painted in a correct period 911 colour, tangerine code 6809 (used from 1966 to 1969).

Nearly all the seals and chrome work were replaced or refurbished. The famously nightmarish task of re-fitting of the rear window on an early 911 was handed to the experts at Design 911, who also refitted the front windscreen.

The mechanical work first started at German Vehicle Specialists Ltd in Southend. Among the many replacement parts were a new petrol tank, fuel pipes and most of the brake system.

Apparently, the fuel pumps on these cars are harder to fathom than quantum mechanics, so the thing was sent away to some specialists for a full rebuild.

The car’s gearbox had been fully refurbished in the US before the car was shipped over.

The car needed further specialist work and was sent again to Design 911 who fitted new injectors and spark plugs and worked with specialists in the US to fine tune and refurbish the ignition system.

The Targa top was sent away for new headlining and vinyl exterior covering.

The carpets, including those in the bonnet storage area, are brand new. The leather and cloth seats were partially refurbished.

The trim is 90% finished on the car but some areas will still need looking at. The vendor tells us that most of the parts you’ll be needing come with the car.

The wheels were sent away for blasting and repainting, the centre hubs and caps were re-chromed, and new tyres were fitted.

Because the car has been pretty much idle for several years since its partial restoration, the vendor tells us that the engine (which, while not the original unit, is the original spec) will need looking at properly before it can be recommissioned.

That’s why the car is currently sitting atop a set of dollies and not out and about on Oxfordshire’s ‘B’ roads.

The vendor thinks that sorting out the engine might involve a ‘light’ rebuild. It may involve more, or less, than that. You’ll need to see for yourself.

Either way, we’re pretty sure it won’t be a massive job – the car was running and driveable when it last submitted itself for an MoT in July 2018 (it passed).

So, as you can see, most of the heavy work has been done, but there’s still work to do for someone who’d like to feel they’ve earned the right to take all the glory with the finished article.

It’s a fabulous opportunity to take a properly restored 911E on the final yards of a long journey towards being either a gloriously usable day-to-day sportscar or a near-concours condition showstopper.

You decide.

No, it’s not orange.

It’s tangerine.

And to us it looks shiny, delicious and citrus-fresh from any angle, in any light.

We think it’s a great colour, and the top-quality paint job shows it off to optimum effect.

The panels are straight and the shut lines are clean and even. There are no dinks, dents, scuffs, folds, nicks, ripples, warps or creases to speak off.

The chrome work is bright and shiny with just a few age-related whirls and surface scratches here and there.

The re-vinyled Targa roof looks great, as do the broadly unmarked wheels.

The badging and trim is mostly good, although the latter has a few cracks visible in places.

We have seen no rust anywhere, with the possible exception of a tiny bubble of something that may or may not be rust just below the rear window on the n/s.

The driver’s door is a little stiff to open and close.

We like the simple, uncluttered interior of this 911E.

It’s got everything you need and nothing you don’t.

This is a 911 so, it almost goes without saying, the cloth and leather seats are both comfortable and supportive.

The inside is much like the outside in the sense that it’s all solid and good to go but, if you so choose, you could set about taking it to the next level.

The seats are in reasonable nick, but there is some wear to the cloth and there are a few cracks and nicks to the leather sides and bolsters.

Leave them as they are or get them reupholstered?

Up to you.

The rear seats are in fine nick, as you’d expect of seats that are only really suitable for the very young, very small, very flexible or very masochistic and are therefore rarely used.

The door cards and storage pockets will need some attention as they’re a bit loose and lacking a screw or two.

The dashboard is in decent nick and has a pleasant and authentic patina to its surfaces and the various knobs, levers, dials, toggles and buttons with which it is adorned.

The original Becker ‘Europa’ radio is ready to tune back in to 1969 whenever you’re ready.

The roof lining is new and unmarked. The Targa roof itself is in need of a rubber seal at the rear in order to ensure a watertight closure.

Some of the rubber trim on the inside of the doors is cracked or parting company from the metal.

The undersides of the car are a testament to this car’s California origins and the fact that it’s been the subject of a very thorough bodywork and mechanicals restoration. The floors, trays and braking and suspension components are free of anything more than an entirely standard bloom of rust dust.

Everything appears to have a great deal of structural integrity.

As ever with a 911, a cursory glance inside the engine bay doesn’t tell you much. We can tell you that it’s clean and dry and that everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The car comes with a bundle of bills, invoices and receipts (both USA and UK). It also has a typed (by the vendor) description of work carried out, ‘before and after’ photographs of the restoration, an RAC vehicle history check and the original manual.

The Porsche doesn’t have a current MoT certificate.

This is a fabulous, largely restored, high-quality early 911 with all the hard yards done by other people.

It won’t win a Concours award at Pebble Beach, but it’s got all the integrity and quality to be taken up to nearer that level should you be so inclined.

Or it could receive a lighter touch – just enough to get it out on the road and bringing a broad grin to the face of its next lucky owner for many years to come.

We think this particular tangerine dream is the real deal: a great car and the perfect minor project for someone who prefers to sweat the detail rather than put on a welding mask.

We’re confident that this authentic 1969 911E deserves to fetch somewhere in the region of £45,000 to £65,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.