‘This is no car for a novice’, warns a period Porsche advert for the newly launched 911 S. Indeed, by the time that Porsche had revised its initial 911 design to begin production of the “S”—or “Super”—version in 1967, the sports car had established a hearty reputation. A likely contender for being driven on the track at the weekend and then to the office during the week, the updated car sought to eradicate some of the earlier 911’s known handling flaws while also taking the opportunity to extract more power from the flat-six engine.
Engineers in Zuffenhausen increased output to 160 horsepower—some 30 horsepower more than the air-cooled flat-six found in the earlier 911—while standard features included adjustable dampers, ventilated disc brakes, a stiffer front anti-roll bar, and an additional anti-roll bar at the rear. Five-spoke Fuchs alloy wheels were offered for the first time with the 911 S, commencing an iconic pairing. The recognisable rims are now first choice for many Porsche models of all eras.
The 911 S offered here was built in 1967 for the North American market. Leaving the factory in Golfblau over a leather beige interior, the Porsche was brought to the US by Porsche of America Corporation and was sold to its first owner in West Islip, New York. While records of the car’s earliest years are unclear, invoicing (available to view on file) from the early 1990s suggests the 911 S resided with a subsequent owner in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, around this time. The invoices—for interior trim, selected body panels, and servicing parts—would suggest this car may have been lightly recommissioned at that time. The car was acquired by The Carrera Collection in October 2013, and it has since been restored by a marque expert Porsche workshop in Italy.
Offered with a tool roll and jack, the car is accompanied by a copy of its factory Kardex sheet that verifies its matching-numbers chassis and engine. It also verifies that the shade of Golf Blue it currently wears is factory correct. A brilliant piece of Porsche history, the 911 S is a great option for fans of the early 911 who would appreciate the improved performance of the “Super” model.