Is it an automatic transmission or not? Well, it’s a sorta inbetweeney and according to the seller of this 1977 Porsche 911S, it’s one of only 58 assembled that year equipped with the Sportomatic transaxle. It’s a new one on me but a lot of the more obscure automobile stuff is a new one on me. Beyond that, this “whale tail” 911S, which hails from San Antonio, Texas, presents excellently. It’s a 79K mile example so let’s dig on and see what’s so special about this two-pedal Porsche.
The Sportomatic transaxle is a semi-automatic with four forward speeds that must be manually shifted. It has a clutch but no clutch pedal as well as a torque converter – an unusual arrangement to say the least. According to Total911.com, the clutching mechanism is invoked by an electronic micro switch in the shifter which operates when the shifter is depressed. The switch engages a pneumatic solenoid that actuates the clutch as the driver shifts through the gears. One note of warning is that the driver cannot continue to “hold” the shifter while driving or it will cause the clutch to engage/disengage. One commenter suggests that there were over 10K cars, including the 914+6, so equipped.
Powering this Porsche is an unphotographed (always a big faux pas!) 157 HP, 2.7-liter “flat-six” cylinder engine and the seller says that it “runs great“. One issue, however, is the Sportomatic gearbox. We’re told, “…having clutch issues. Can be driven when placed in reverse or 1st before starting. After that, it will shift in all gears just fine.” Hmmm.
The exterior finish, said to be original, along with the black rubber/plastic trim has held up amazingly well – sound storage has likely been the key. The rear bumper treatment with its docking buoys is unfortunate but it is a sign of the five MPH regulatory times. As referenced earlier, the rear spoiler is certainly not inconspicuous but it is a matter of preference. The listing finishes up with, “Includes 4 Fuchs wheels” but I don’t understand if he means the ones holding up the car (rather obvious) or there are four additional ones included in the sale.
Inside is a typical Porsche tan interior that looks like typical “Leatherette” upholstery. It’s in OK shape but both front seats have rips that have been patched with tan duct tape. This is an A/C equipped 911 but the seller notes, “Air conditioner works. It cools, but not cold as is common for these model-year 911s.”
There you have it, a rare model but is it good in a rare way or is this one just uncommon? Take a look at the listing and let me know what you think. It can be found here on eBay where it’s available for a no reserve bid of $31,000 with eleven bids tendered so far. My preference? I’d prefer a three-pedal model, how about you?
This equipment that dispenses with the third pedal does not suit a Porsche.
Small-displacement Honda motorcycles have used this system for a long time.
Mercedes A-Class also has this option.
For a Porsche, I prefer 3 pedals.
More closely related to VW’s AutoStick
That’s a what I thought too,Terrry. And great write up Scotty. My cousin had a 72 beetle with “automatic stick shift” Same type of shift lever clutch actuation but only 3 forward gears. Was a dog compared to 4spds because it felt like you were starting out in 2nd gear, but worked well enough.
Sorry, Jim!
My mum’s first car was a “normal” beetle, 4 speed manual with 3 pedals.
Somebody decided they liked it better than my mum.
The replacement was a beetle with a 4 speed manual, but only 2 pedals.
It was hilarious to watch her go for the non existent clutch pedal every time.
She never got use to it, but it was as funny as hell, lol.
That was the Auto Stick but it was only a 3-speed. I had a ’69. I liked the car, but low should have been a little lower because on take-off they were a little sluggish..
I’m certain my mum’s “auto stick” was a 4 speed, and she has confirmed it.
Maybe it’s an Aussie only thing?
AMC produced a three speed column shifted model with the automatic clutch in 1963. It was called the “E-Stick”, if I remember correctly. I worked at the AMC Jeep dealership in the summer of 1967 and encountered one. I had to deliver the car. It caught me off guard!
The Sportomatic was a manual transmission with an automatic clutch. BTW while earlier Sportos had four forward gears, this changed to just three forward gears in 1975. I drove a 1970 911E Sporto and it was surpringly fun(I too had looked down on it previously) and less of a chore in city traffic, though it takes an adjustment to learn not to rest your hand on the gearshift if, like me, that’s your habit.
The final iteration of the Toyota MR2 – the Spyder, had a Sequential Manual Transmission (SMT) option. There was no auto shift feature, so you had to shift using either the steering wheels paddles, or by bumping the shift lever.
Since a normal manual was also available, I’m not sure what the take rate was for this option.
Porsche battle tested the system in a 911R at the grueling 1967 84 hour Marathon de la Route, besting the field by 30 laps. The reason Peter Gregg and Jurgen Barth chose Sportomatics for their personal cars was because they force shifter discipline AND they enjoyed driving them. A properly set up Sporto is convenient and fun… we own five Porsches, 356S, 911T, L and S plus a 914/6; two are Sportomatics. The manly-men-must-push-a-clutch to shift is ridiculous. Does it apply to modern DSG/paddle shift cars too?
Every time one of these rare cars comes up, the commentary is the same.
https://barnfinds.com/numbers-matching-with-sportomatic-1968-porsche-911/
Thank you for the history on the Sportomatic. I have driven air-cooled VW cars with this option. The fluid coupling does rob power and fun but I can see where it has merit with some people. With the added complexity and maintenance with oil leaks and still having to replace a clutch disc personally I would rather have the 3rd pedal. Due to the rarity I would not manual swap but keep it original. Same goes for a classic muscle car like a Mopar B body with a slant or a Pontiac Firebird with the OHC engine. At least with the 911 you still have that wonderful engine sound.
My Dad had a 1976 Targa with the Sportamatic transmission, he had no problems with it, really enjoyed driving the car.
Agree with comments about transmission. These don’t work well in actual application. You touch the shifter, which disengages the clutch. The engine has a tendency to rev because there is no load. Then you drop into the next gear. Rev . . .revvvvvvvvvvvv . . . rev . . . revvvvvvvv …
Credit to Porsche for trying. But, anyone who’s driven a dual clutch PDK will think somethings wrong with the car.