For Sale at Auction: 1965 Porsche 911 in Carmel, California

Chassis No. 300717
Engine No. 901417 (See Text)
Transmission No. 100790

Porsche unveiled the 901, famously later changed to "911" at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1963 with series production beginning just a year later. The car arrived as GT heir to the four-cylinder 356, in particular the sporting and powerful 4-cam models. It paired Ferdinand Porsche's clean, coupe silhouette and Erwin Komenda's body engineering with a new air-cooled, 2.0-liter Type 901/01 flat-six. A five-speed manual transmission sent power to the rear wheels. The result was a genuine evolutionary leap over the 356, a faster, roomier, and more sophisticated grand tourer and the model continues to define Porsche's identity six decades after its debut.

Cars built through the model's earliest era include chassis number 300717. Completed on 9 April 1965-along with its sister car chassis number 300718 offered as Lot 296-it sits within the first 1,000 911s built following the model's September 1964 debut. As early 1965 model year 911s, they stand among the most coveted of all 911s, prized as foundational examples of one of the finest sports cars ever created.

The first of this unique offering is chassis 300717, delivered new to Porsche Car Northwest of Beaverton, Oregon, finished in Signal Red over a Black upholstered interior and equipped with a Webasto gas heater and Dunlop tires. The coupe remained in storage from the early 1980s until 2017, when its current owner purchased it and began a restoration after relocating to Wisconsin. A replacement 2.0-liter Type 901/01 flat-six was sourced and rebuilt, along with its twin Solex 40 PI carburetors. Its original numbers-matching Type 901/0 transmission was overhauled as well. This was followed by a restoration to the unibody and a refinish to its originally specified shade of striking Signal Red. The cabin was reupholstered by Autos International of Escondido, California, with fresh Black leatherette on its six-pleat seats and new charcoal carpeting. A correct wood-rimmed steering wheel, brass ignition bezel and "button" dashboard housing green-letter VDO instrumentation complete the interior. Since the completion of its restoration in 2021, this 911 has only covered 454 miles and is furnished with a copy of its Kardex, Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, and very early Type 901 sales brochure and 900-series introductory press kit pieces.