1978 Porsche 911SC

Given the perils and pitfalls that await the unwary buyer of a venerable imported 911, it might be best to tell you what this vehicle doesn’t have. It doesn’t have galloping rot. It doesn’t have mechanical horror stories lurking underneath. It isn’t some parts-bin Frankencar. It doesn’t show any signs of ever being unloved or denied the maintenance and care it deserved.

All of which is good news, we think, particularly when you consider that this pretty much unrestored original car first took to the road in 1978, when the Bee Gees had a No 1 with Stayin’ Alive, Grease was all the rage at the cinema and the world’s first ‘test tube baby’ was born.

The vendor is an enthusiast who knows his way around a 911. He has owned and driven quite a few of them and tells us that this is his favourite.

He says: “I have taken ‘Eric’ [there’s a clue in the registration] to Le Mans 24hrs twice and made several runs to the coast. Eric receives compliments wherever he goes, largely because he’s not been mucked about with too much and has only improved upon his original good looks. I’ve owned a 356C, 2 UK spec 911SCs, a Rally spec 912 and even a leery C2RS. This is by far the nicest Porsche I have lived with and Eric will be sadly missed. A move to France and the loss of storage facilities have prompted the sale.”

So, there you go.

This is a solid, largely original 911SC that has had the right amounts of cash spent on the right things. Having lived in rust-free California and been covered and garaged in the UK, it is a good example in fine overall condition. And we think the cream/chocolate colour combination makes it look good enough to eat.

Also, being true to the US spec for the first year of SC production, the car has the pure lines of the flush back, not the thumping great whaletail of later iterations.

It’s not perfect, but that is a reflection of, and a tribute to, its unrestored originality. And while there are plenty of small jobs to do for someone minded to elevate its status nearer to concours, we don’t think any of its minor faults would get in the way of enjoying this very classy car on a daily basis.

Aside from some recent professional respraying to the front and rear valances (the front valance is new), the vendor thinks the paintwork is probably original. The respraying to the rear valance was done in order to accommodate the fitting of a Euro-spec bumper, which we think most people would agree is a considerable improvement over the chunky US-spec original.

All the lights and lenses have been converted to RHD Euro-spec. The electric sunroof works perfectly and has just been serviced,

The chromework is in decent condition and the original Fuchs alloys are also in reasonable nick, save for one or two scratches and peels to the lacquer. The tyres have at least 4mm of tread remaining.

The panels are straight and the shut lines are clean and even, except for a slight lifting at the edges of the hood and a shallow crease near one of the rear sill jacking points. Most of the cream paintwork is in good condition but there are a few stone chips and one or two small areas of bubbling, most notably at the bottom of the n/s rear sill. There is a small mark by the front scuttle below the wipers.

We like the inside of this 911SC. It’s a lovely, dark, rich chocolate colour and is in good condition.

There are no cracks or fading to the dashboard, fascia or centre console and the carpets, mats and headlining would be in fine fettle for a car with half the years and miles under its belt. Underneath the mats and carpets, as you would expect of a West Coast US car, there is no visible rust.

A new "retro" in dash radio has been fitted which, despite looking like a period piece, is actually bristling with DAB and Bluetooth functionality. It is connected to the original factory spec aerial.

The front seats have been reupholstered by a master trimmer at a cost of £1,100. Original Porsche hides were used and the leather is perforated, as it should be, to help stop the occupants sliding about. They look, and feel, very fine indeed. The rest of the trim and upholstery has been thoroughly cleaned.

The vendor had the AC removed soon after buying the car. There are several good reasons for this. Firstly, Porsche US-spec AC of this vintage is famously useless. Secondly, it diminished performance. Thirdly, it increased fuel consumption.

So, it you get too hot, use the working electric windows to get some air in there (the motors and mechanisms have been serviced) and put your foot down.

Incidentally, and talking about putting your foot down, the vendor also had his Porsche specialist get rid of anything performance-limiting that was originally a consequence of California’s (then) draconian smog legislation.

The door cards themselves are good, but the door pockets are a little ragged at their tops where they’ve been used as door handles over the years (but not by the vendor, he is keen to point out).

The sun visors are still functional, but the foam insides have degraded. The speedometer and odometer are intermittent but the tachometer (the important one) works as it should.

The vendor reports that the heater controls could probably do with a service, and one of the electric windows can be a little sticky.

The undersides of the car are a testament to this car’s California origins and the fact that it’s been kept covered and garaged. The floors and trays are rust-free throughout.

The exhaust system appears to be in good condition, as do the shock absorbers and suspension. Even the heat exchangers are rust free and undamaged.

The engine has been regularly serviced and, although the mileage is high, this is a famously bulletproof powerplant when given the care and attention it merits. Besides, the vendor thinks the accompanying file notes may indicate that an engine rebuild was carried out in the US at some point. It may be possible to verify this with a little research.

A well-maintained, strong example – and we believe this is one – should have plenty of years in it yet. That said, it’s a 1978 car, so there are no guarantees. The vendor says that accessing 2nd gear from 3rd can sometimes be a little notchy but doesn’t feel that this is an indicator of a bigger issue. We have driven the car 10 miles or so and report back that it is very strong drive, there are no rattles and thumps and the car does genuinely feel very tight. The engine pulls very well without ‘fluffing’ and the gearbox feels fine to our experience. The impression of a genuine car, well looked after for most of its life, is hopefully reinforced.

This 911SC has a comprehensive, though incomplete, history. All the documentation we have is photographed and in the gallery.

The current vendor purchased the car in 2017 and immediately took the car to WrightTune of Wallingford, where the car was given an exhaustive inspection and major service. The oil lines were replaced, front to back, and a new battery and isolator switch was fitted to rectify a battery drainage problem.

The car was then last serviced last year some 2000 miles ago. Everything that needed replacing or inspecting has been dealt with in recent years. The car comes with a bundle of bills, invoices and old MOT certificates. It also has the original manual, hand book and service book.

The Porsche doesn’t have a current MOT certificate.

While it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

This is an authentic car. Why, it even has a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity to prove it.

It won’t win a Concours award at Pebble Beach, but it should win something just for being a good honest example of an unrestored, genuine car – warts and all – and a very handsome specimen.

The changes that have been made to it are, we think, changes for the better. Gone are any performance-diminishing Californian emissions bits pieces. Also missing are the unsightly US-spec bumpers. It looks and feels like a Euro-spec car and is all the better for it.

We’re confident that this authentic 1978 911SC deserves to fetch somewhere in the region of £30 to £35K.

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’.