1970 Porsche 911 S

Lot details
Registration No: ABW172H
Chassis No: 9110301272
Mot Expiry: None

The ex-Teddy Yip / Dr Henry Lee Macau GP ACP race winning car

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 which was overhung at the rear and allied to a five-speed manual transmission. Power output was restricted to 130bhp, though with an all-up weight of just 1,080kg this was sufficient to provide the new car with a top speed of over 130mph and a very respectable 0-60mph time of just 8.5 seconds.

In 1968, the 911's wheelbase was increased by 57mm, and the rear overhang reduced by the same amount. At the same time, some 22lb was saved from the (overhung) engine crankcase by switching its manufacture from aluminium to magnesium. These changes greatly improved the car's handling. In 1969 the engine capacity was increased to 2.2-litres. This was offered in three levels of tune, namely: T (125 bhp), E (155 bhp) and S (180 bhp).

This stunning 1970 911S has a fascinating history. In 1996 it was discovered apparently abandoned in Conduit Road, Hong Kong with flat tyres and mould-ridden interior. It transpired that it belonged to Doctor Henry Lee, a long time friend and racing partner of Teddy Yip - the owner of Theodore Racing and a name inextricably linked with the Macau Grand Prix. 'ABW 172H' was finally wrested from the good doctor in 1997 by Keith Hemshall in exchange for HK$50,000, and shipped to UK marque specialists Autofarm.

The Porsche's beginnings had been rather more auspicious however. It was ordered new by Teddy Yip via the Hong Kong Porsche agent Jebsen Motors, whose Herbert Adamczyk, together with girlfriend, collected it from the factory in 1970 and spent two months driving it to Hong Kong in order to run in the engine in time for the 1970 Macau Grand Prix meeting. Apparently the gear ratios had been matched to the circuit and, at some stage prior to the meeting, a long range 100 litre racing fuel tank was fitted. While, the rear wheel arches were subtly flared so as to accommodate wider rubber. The effort was vindicated when the Santiago-born Lee took the Tangerine-coloured 911 to a well judged victory in the Grand Prix meeting's 15-lap ACP race, setting a new lap record along the way. Little more is known of the car's Hong Kong history other than it was first registered for road use there in March 1972, resprayed Gold in circa 1974 and last road registered in 1993, after which it was rarely driven, if at all, before being 'discovered' in 1966.

According to the car's extensive history file, Autofarm must have retained the Porsche for at least eight months while it was thoroughly recommissioned. Three and half years later it was acquired by Aura-Soma Products of Telford. Over the course of the next seven and half years, the company invested over £100,000 with Gantspeed Engineering in order to bring 'ABW 172H' up to its current concours condition - the work included a further change of colour, this time to Silver. The Porsche was then briefly owned by John Ruston before entering the vendor's hands last year.

This beautifully presented and highly desirable period Porsche is now offered complete with imposing history file and FIA papers. A unique opportunity to purchase what is surely the best matching numbers right-hand drive 911 2.2S in the world today.

PLEASE NOTE: This vehicle does not have an MOT.