1969 Porsche 911T 2.0 'Sportomatic' Coupe (Project)

Description

Launched at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show, Porsche’s replacement for the 356 was initially badged the 901 (objections from Peugeot saw the car renamed the 911) and it went on to become one of the best-loved and most widely recognised sports cars of all time.  Powered by a rear-mounted air-cooled flat-six engine of two-litres capacity, 911s built in the Sixties were characterised by wonderfully communicative steering, sharp handling and willing performance, the relative lack of power more than compensated for by the lack of weight.  Porsche expanded the 911 range to three models in August 1967, with the 911T (a replacement for the slow-selling four-cylinder 912) joining the fuel-injected 911E and 911S.  Using the Type 901/03 derivative of the flat-six rated at 110 horsepower, the 911T was capable of over 200 km/h and came with the option of a new Sportomatic semi-automatic transmission, allowing for clutchless manual gearchanges.  Porsche’s development of the 911 range was unrelenting, the longer (2268mm) wheelbase introduced on the B-series in August 1968 resulting in more predictable handling.  In a 1969 four-way comparison test between the 912, 911T and injected 911E and 911S versions by racing driver for American magazine Car & Driver, racing driver Mark Donohue voted the ‘T’ his favourite, both on the track and for road use – the motor’s low down torque more than compensating for any loss of power.  Although a four-speed gearbox was standard, the 911T could be ordered with the optional five-speeder found in the 911E and 911S models.  Porsche’s targa body style continued to gain in popularity around this time, accounting for around a quarter of all 911 sales in this period.  Early 911s are now highly prized collectors’ pieces and chrome-bumper cars like the 1969 911T offered here are valued for their purity of style and increasing rarity.