Porsche Parade National Champion 911 S 2.7 Liter Six 5 Speed Sunroof

Is there any sports car manufacturer that's remained truer to its heritage than Porsche? The folks in Stuttgart have single-handedly built an 86-year legacy out of performance-minded engineering, while designing some of the most endearing cars ever produced. And today, as one of the most well respected automakers on the planet, the brand enjoys a tremendous following that was forged through cars like this 1973 911S. Perhaps the best rendition of the original 911, this storied coupe is a fully documented Porsche Parade winner that, in its present condition, is the stuff of purists' dreams. And if you're a discerning enthusiast who's ready to experience the essence of the Porsche brand, it's an excellent candidate for your next classic!

HISTORY/CONDITION

As car enthusiasts, we all know that every serious sports car manufacturer sells various levels of capability. And, much like Ferrari's GTO or Corvette's Grand Sport, Porsche's S moniker essentially guarantees hardware that can handle intense track time. Like Detroit's greatest muscle cars, the late '60s 911 found itself in a pre-regulation sweet spot that set the stage for a series of models that are notably potent and incredibly desirable. The simplicity and purity of the original 911 design, introduced in 1964, was still very much intact. And when combined with a corporate culture that obsessed over weight reduction, it created one of the greatest analog drivers ever produced. In 1969, Porsche began stroking its powerplants to increased displacements. And by 1973, that innovation had created a car that enjoyed a fleet 12.7 pounds-per-horsepower weight ratio. That's when car enthusiasts Suzie Hunt and Scott Campbell decided to throw caution to the wind and seriously upgrade their mode of transportation. When the couple signed the paperwork for a $13K loan, the loan officer said that was the most expensive car the credit union had ever financed. The problem was, Porsche dealers were only allotted six 911S each and, since it was late in the model year, most cars were already spoken for. That is, unless you went to Vasek Polak, a personal friend of Dr. Ferry Porsche who, in 1959, had opened America's first exclusive Porsche dealership. Vasek had managed to talk the factory in to sending him twelve 911S, and one of them, this Porsche Silver Metallic beauty, found its first home with Suzie and Scott.

When the 911 arrived at Polak's, it was one of two cars, of its 6-unit S car lot, that had been optioned with a $447 sunroof. In fact, when that sunroof was combined with the coupe's other options -- fog lights, Recaro seats, an AM/FM cassette deck and a 5-speed manual transaxle, it was priced almost as much as a 2.7RS that Vasek was somehow peddling as a street legal beast. But, after a bit of consideration, the couple decided to stick with the S. Unfortunately, the car's paint was damaged during shipping. After a bit of hemming and hawing, Polak agreed to repainting its back-half, and that's when a set of buff RS fender flares were added. Scott and Suzie wasted no time stretching the 911's legs, making an all-out run from Reno to Salt Lake City long before events like the Silver State Classic Challenge were even considered. Their rules were simple: obey established speed limits, which, in 1973, amounted to just townships, and keep the car above 100 MPH. The result was an average speed of 95.8 MPH, with top speeds of 130 MPH for Suzie and 150 MPH for Scott, accomplished on a long, downhill charge. The next three years would see Scott and Suzie dominate Porsche Club of America autocross events across Nevada and Northern California. In 1977, Suzie won the Porsche Club of America Porsche Parade. And, circa 1999, Suzie would finally pass the car to its second owner.

Today, roughly 2 years out of a substantial freshening that included new paint and fresh window seals, this awesome sports car is one of the purest classics on the planet! At the front of its body, a stretched nose hangs requisite Stuttgart-inspired branding over a stylish, color-keyed bumper. At the sides of that nose, classic Porsche headlights and small driving lamps illuminate clear parking lights, correct horn grilles and a new-for-1973 chin spoiler. At the top of the car, like-new glass rides between spotless stainless trim, correct black wipers and a chrome driver's mirror. Beneath that glass, subtle rocker guards trace factory door handles and the aforementioned fender flares. At the back of the car, a correct black grille diffuses air above black “911S” lettering and a correct “PORSCHE” script. And below that grille, tri-color tail lamps illuminate a second, color-keyed bumper, which frames a Vasek Polak tag frame.

ENGINE

This 911's 2.4 liter flat 6-cylinder, professionally overbored to 2.7 liters, is notable for a variety of reasons. Naturally, weight reduction was a primary goal, and the car's plastic intake, a phenomenon largely equated with the 1990s, was a positive step in that direction. Additionally, that intake funneled air in a manner which built positive pressure at the engine's intake valves creating a sort of miniature supercharger effect. And that pressurized air worked well with fuel injection that maintained 350psi. Today, Porsche's 2.4 liter is widely regarded as one of Stuttgart's best powertrains, featuring a great combination of race-proven technology and road-ready smoothness. And, based on appearance, the silky engine has been meticulously maintained.