Background to the 911

The 1965 911 was a tiny machine packed with high-tech pieces. In an era where most sports cars offered a four-speed manual transmission as standard equipment, the 911 had five forward gears. Most ’65 cars used solid rear axles suspended on leaf springs. The 911 had a sophisticated semi trailing arm and torsion-bar-sprung independent rear suspension that was also a big step forward from the swingarms used on the 356. Up front, the 911 used MacPherson struts (at a time when practically no one knew what they were) and a precise ZF rack-and-pinion steering gear in an era when steering was typically by recirculating ball. The first 911 also carried four Dunlop disc brakes and rode on P165HR15 radial tyres.

The first 911 coupe (the only body style) was almost delicate-looking, with chrome accents around the windows and bumpers along with chrome steel wheels with flat hubcaps similar to the 356’s. The Porsche name was spelled out across the tail in block letters with 911 in script just above and to the right of the maker’s name, and below a large single air intake at the top of the lid. Breathing in through twin Solex carburettors, the original 2.0-liter 911 flat-six made an impressive SAE gross 130 horsepower, which was enough, claimed Road & Track, to push the 2,360-pound car to 60 mph in 9.0 seconds and to a top speed of 134 mph.

Chassis No: 301224

This beautiful car was completed on 12 May 1965 and painted Ivory White/6404 and fitted with Blank interior and specified delivery for the American market.  As such the early 911’s for the American market were supplied with a wooden steering wheel, chrome wheels, radio and cloth seat inserts as standard equipment.  Chassis 301224 was additional specified with a 969 Webasto heater and Dunlop tires.

The car was delivered to the famous “Competition Motors” in North Hollywood owned by the West Coast racer John von Neumann (who sold James dean his Speedster) later in 1965.

From the copy of the Kardex we can see the car Competition Motors delivered the car to its first owner, Clem Endrea of Midvale Ave, Los Angeles CA who owned the car through to 1969

OWNERSHIP HISTORY

The second owner was from southern California, an officer in the US Air Force and worked in the Californian desert at the George Air Force Base in Victorville. In the late 70s the car developed a problem, believed to be a fuel pump and the owner removed the engine and the transmission. The car them sat for a very long period before the engine was send to a shop in southern California (LA) to be recommissioned. The car was reassembled and sold to another local officer at George Air Force Base around 1979.

In the late-eighties the car developed a problem with the chain tensioners and was taken off the road and remained dry stored until 2010 – 2011.

In 2011 the car was discovered still in Victorville by Gary McKillip’s of McKillips’ Auto who is well known for trading in British classic cars (mostly Jaguars) and some European cars.  It was collected from the desert (photo attached) and was in remarkable condition and sold on to well know Porsche enthusiast and part-time Porsche racer George Valerio (trading as EuroSport) of 1825 Shamrock Lane, Lincoln, CA  95648.

It was George who gathered all of the early information on the car and was about to restore the 911 but decided he and needed space for another project. 

So in 2014 he sold the car to Vincent Vandenberghe of Vandenberghe Garage, Kortrijksesteenweg 168 9830, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium.

RESTORATION

While the car was for sale at Vandenberghe Garage it was inspected by Michael Roock of Roock Sportsystem, Leverkusen Germany and purchased on behalf of a UK client who sent the car straight to Roock for a nut and bolt restoration.

Prior to restoration the car was 100% complete and was in remarkable condition retaining all of its original components, the body shell required very little in the way of rot repairs and apart from new front wings the remainder of the body shell is original.

The car is fully matching numbers even retaining its original date stamped wheels.

This car represents a very rare opportunity to acquire a beautifully restored and very original, fully matching numbered 1965 Porsche 911 Coupe finished in its original colour scheme.

The car is UK registered and ready to be enjoyed.

We are able to assist with international shipping, transport and storage.

For more information about this Porsche Coupe for sale in our Cranfield facility or to arrange an appointment, please contact our sales team on 01908 921256 or 07956 349877.