I recently aquired this tangerine 1971 911T. Its first lady owner kept it 18 years and it was a competition prize in Classic & Sportscar magazine in 1988. It also featured in Classic cars magazine a couple of years ago so someone might recognise it.
I seem to have aquired a taste for smaller engined derivatives of classic cars.
My old Lamborghini Jalpa 3.5 had explosive performance yet I prefered the 1973 Lambo Urraco 2.5. The engine spun more freely, sounded like a F1 car and was the best handling classic I ever drove.
Same story with 2 Alfa Spiders. The 2 litre was substantially more powerful but the 90 BHP Junior Boat tail 1300 had a sweeter and more musical engine was lighter and more fun to drive.
I fancied an early 911 especially after this Aprils Classic & Sportscar
journalists voted it the top classic car under £ 25,000 way ahead of MGB and E type Jags.
This seemed a slightly pointless and subjective exercise to me but was none the less interesting.
I tested various 911's with bigger torqier engines but the Weber carbed 2.2 felt much more potent than its quoted 125BHP. Anyhow 0-60 in 8.1sec and 130MPH is on par with an Aston DB4 and is easily quick enough on a twisting country road. And how fast do you want to go in a 36 year old car with the engine behind the back axle !
I also quite like the dogleg 5 speed. Enjoyable on a classic but not so sure about every day driving.
The car has updated hydraulic tensioners, a quick rack steering box
380mm Carerra steering wheel and front spoiler. Apart from the CD player I reckon everything else is original,including the colour.
Early driving impressions are of a well balanced chassis with light responsive slightly go cart like unassisted steering which gives the car a nice chuckable feeling.The handling in the dry feels predictable but I've
yet to try it in the rain !
Took it out to Stockbridge today for a spot of lunch. Parked it in the High Street and nearly fainted . Within a hundred yards parked on the same side of the street was an ivory 1965 911 2L.
Blimey between us we had the most common wheels in Stockbridge !!
So far the forum has been a mine of practical information. Keep it up.
Richard
