1985 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Targa

Lot details
Registration No: B793TFK
Chassis No: WP0ZZZ912
Mot Expiry: Nov 2011

After a lengthy gestation period, the now ubiquitous Porsche 911 entered production in 1964 and, despite Porsche's own attempts to replace the model with the 928 in the 1970s, much evolved versions of it remain in production to this day, forty-seven years later. The design was the work of Dr Ferry Porsche's eldest son, Ferdinand `Butzi' Porsche and the company's joint founder and chief body engineer Erwin Komenda. The car featured rack and pinion steering and both torsion bar suspension and disc brakes all round. It was initially powered by a dry-sump, air-cooled, 2-litre, flat-six engine but, in common with all other aspects of the 911, the engines have undergone steady evolution ever since.

Developed under the watchful eye of Porsche Chief Executive Peter Schutz, the 1984 model year 911 Carrera 3.2 made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show of September 1983 - bringing the revered Carrera name back into use for the basic car rather than just the halo models. Visually indebted to the outgoing 911 SC, the newcomer was made available in Coupe, Targa and Cabriolet guises and wore a revised front valance complete with auxiliary driving lamps and a subtle 'Carrera' script on its engine lid. Estimated to be eighty percent new, the model's 3164cc (hence '3.2') flat-six engine was credited with developing some 231bhp and 209lbft of torque. Allied to five-speed manual transmission, it proved both rev-happy and flexible, making the 2+2 seater reputedly capable of 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds and a 153mph top speed.

In order to cope with the increased performance, the brakes were enlarged and the top two gear ratios slightly raised. Among other improvements were a redesigned timing chain tensioner - the Achilles' heel of the earlier engines. Early examples of the Carrera 3.2 employed the 915 type manual gearbox with reverse gear located beneath fifth, while 1987 to 1989 models had the stronger G50 unit in which reverse was located beside the fifth ratio. An optional `Sport' pack (later known as `Sport Equipment') became available during 1984. Aimed at those looking for that little bit extra in terms of poise and road presence it included a deeper front valance, `tea tray' rear spoiler, Bilstein shock absorbers and 16-inch Fuchs forged alloy wheels with black centres. By now, all 911s were built with galvanised bodies, so the rusting problems experienced on the early cars were largely a thing of the past. The Carrera 3.2 was progressively refined and updated over the course of its six-year production run

Finished in Metallic Silver / Light Green with Granite leather upholstery, this particular example was originally company registered but has been in the current (second) ownership for the vast majority of its life. Issued on June 9th 2011, an accompanying report from marque specialists Two Plus Two Ltd of Brierley Hill, West Midlands lists much of the car's service history and concludes as follows: "Recent invoices have been provided following a period of low usage, this vehicle is known to us from first registration by Swinford. The engine has always been serviced with fully synthetic oil and is in remarkable condition given age and mileage. Vehicle must be driven to appreciate its handling and mechanical integrity which feels like a new car". Equipped with the desirable `Sport' pack, `B793 TFK' has covered some 122,000 miles from new. Offering the added versatility of a Targa roof, it is considered by the vendor to possess "good" bodywork, paintwork and electrical equipment, while she rates the engine, five-speed manual gearbox and interior trim as "very good". A low owner car that appears to have been much loved and pampered, this appealing Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Targa Sport is taxed until the end of August and MOT'd into November.

The story of the 911 is like no other. Often referred to as a triumph of engineering over design, the model is now into its sixth decade of production, having even survived that attempt by its own manufacturer to kill it off back in the 1970s. It is impossible to be ambivalent about these cars, but there is a huge following for each generation of production - not least those from the 3.2-litre era, which embody all that was good about the air-cooled models at an eminently affordable price.