Porsche 911 E

The vehicle in detail

It soon earned itself a reputation not only for its incredible performance from only 2 litres, but for also having fairly entertaining handling characteristics. With the engine hung so far behind the rear wheels, highly experienced drivers would revel in the delicate adjustability of the chassis at the limit, whilst lesser morsels could easily find themselves facing the way they had just come from.

Porsche responded for the 1969 model year by lengthening the wheelbase by 57mm (2.2 inches) and manufacturing the engine cases out of magnesium instead of aluminium saving another 10kgs of weight at the rear, whilst replacing one larger battery with two smaller batteries at the front to help weight distribution further. These modifications instantly improved the handling characteristics, making it much easier to drive, whilst a new Bosch mechanical fuel injection system was introduced on the E and S models, offering an increase in performance.

As well as being available with a manual gearbox, the new 69 model year 911 was also offered with the Type 905/13 Sportomatic transmission, which was effectively a clutch-less manual system that allowed the driver to change gear by simply pulling the gear lever through its standard H-pattern movement. Its durability and effectiveness were put to the test when it won the world’s longest endurance motor race – the Marathon de la Route 84 Hours at the Nurburgring.

Today, the Sportomatic is a shrewd option for those wishing to enjoy the virtues of classic 911 ownership in the city, with its clutchless gearchange making it far easier to drive than a conventional manual.