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S Without The S: 1969 Porsche 911 S

1969-Porsche-911S

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to drive a friend’s 911. Another friend took my Mustang and we blasted down the twistiest back roads we could find. After breaking a few laws and frightening our passengers half to death, we pulled over to compare notes. We concluded that they were completely different animals and that the Mustang definitely offered the most thrills per buck. At the time I was embarrassed to admit it, but it was obvious that the Porsche could outrun my much newer GT on any road with a curve. That fact got me longing for a 911 of my own. There are always quite a few on the market, but this one on eBay caught my eye.

1969-Porsche-911S-interior

Supposedly this 1969 Porsche 911 S was purchased new by an editor at Sport Illustrated for this wife. She couldn’t drive stick though, so it ended up back on the lot. The seller’s father-in-law then purchased it two days later and enjoyed it for many years. Problem was, he couldn’t figure out the fuel injection system, so he took that out and converted to carbs.

1969-Porsche-911S-engine

Ironically, it is that fuel injection system that made the 911s more powerful and in turn more sought after today. With mechanical FI in place, the 911s’ 2 liter flat-six was good for 190 horsepower, a whooping 65 over the carbureted T. We are not sure how much this one puts out, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it is closer to T levels. Without the parts to convert this one back and the fact that it hasn’t run in a few years, we can’t help but question the seller’s optimistic $35k starting bid.

1969-Porsche-911S-plate

The seller claims that the car has never been restored, but the bad tape job on this number plate points towards a respray. That may not qualify as a restoration, but it definitely discredits the preservation status of the car. Again, this doesn’t help the seller’s case.

1969-Porsche-911S-gauges

I want the ignition on the left and the tach in the middle. I want the rear-mounted flat-six and the Porsche pedigree. I still want an early 911 and this one would be on my list if the asking price was more realistic. The seller received the car for free when their father-in-law passed away, so perhaps they will reconsider that starting bid and reserve after a few failed attempts on eBay…

Comments

  1. Avatar David P. Turnbole

    35 grand will get you a decent used Porsche 911 of a far newer vintage needing far less restoration than this thing. Yeah it’s okay and glad they got if for free but trying to make a killing on it just shows the greed our society has embraced. Some sucker will probably pay that insane amount for a 10 grand car in great condition

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    • Avatar geomechs Member

      I agree with you, David. You’d think the guy was trying to sell a 930.

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Mark E

    I had a ’69 911S back in the late ’70s and from what I remember the horn grilles on the front were NOT painted. That paint job has been done a long time ago and/or was done very poorly. Either way, it needs new paint. And I wouldn’t touch this car without lots of pics underneath showing all the places a Porsche usually develops structural rust if driven regularly.

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  3. Avatar Jake

    Always loved these. I remember helping convert one of these to Weber carbs at a friends shop back in the mid 80’s, as no one could seem to get it running properly with the fuel injection. We had to make a a/c compressor bracket to mount the compressor back and it all looked and worked great. I believe my buddy that owned it kept the fuel injection set up to stay with the car if he ever sold it! Lost track of that car years ago. Of course then it was just a used Porsche!!!

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  4. Avatar GM Barnett

    Have owned 3 1969 911S (it was my first Porsche right out of College) and they were all fun and beautiful. Agree with Mark – too much painting on this one but that is perhaps finer points. This will be an expensive restoration and shouldn’t bring in near this asking price. And people if you are going to ask for top dollar, would you please wash your vehicle inside and out. You clearly are not passionate about this vehicle but you want us to pay 2x it value for us to get it off your muddy driveway. Ugh!

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  5. Avatar Dickie Firfirey

    Having purchased quite a few used vehicles during my 40 years of vehicle ownership, I soon added a new item on my “pre-purchase vehicle checklist”. Check the seller’s lawn up front. If he doesn’t look after his garden ……………

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Daniel

    Dickie, please don’t judge me by my lawn haha. I’m too busy making my cars shine to worry about the grass. It gets cut…edged if lucky.

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    • Avatar Horse Radish

      What lawn ?
      I’m in the desert and whatever I save on he water bill gets invested in my cars….

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  7. Avatar 6point3

    Back before the internet really spread out to every corner of the world, these seemed to become very rare.
    The prices have gone up even tough quite a few examples have / are resurfacing just as this one.
    The real money is, I suppose the 911S before this one (1967), but this one is fairly high up on the list.
    A couple of holes in the story, like Montana plates and sold in Wyoming.
    “Car is all original except for radio” and then he mentions the carbs replaced the F.I.
    Wouldn’t that be more important ??
    The motor hatch looks crooked, fit is not right/messed with.
    Definitely will not sell @ this price with these photos.
    AND only after a half day inspection on a hoist and with a screwdriver to poke around underneath for rust.
    It most likely has a fat layer of under-coating underneath which the rust just loves to flourish undisturbed !
    If it’s healthy and as described (with all the details) maybe.
    But to really find out one would have to do all the investigating, if the seller won’t show….

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Dolphin Member

    The seller is probably being honest, but there are some mistakes in the information given.

    The ’69 911S came with FI. Only the ’69 911T came with carbs, so no one needed to put FI on this 911S—it was already there. That raises an important question: Is this really an ‘S’, or is it a ‘T’ with ‘S’ logos, because as it sits it isn’t right. There’s a big difference in desirability and value between the ‘S’ and the ‘T’, so a serious buyer will want to know.

    As others have mentioned, the car has likely seen a repaint and needs one again. It also shows lots of wear….the steering wheel and other little signs. OTOH, it looks reasonably complete.

    It might sell at the $35K ask since the ’69 S model is a hot commodity now, and the early ‘S’ is much more sought after than a later 911 that costs less to buy. Depends on how much rust is present and whether and how well the engine and transaxle work. A serious buyer will want to know the answers to those questions because rust repair and engine rebuild costs can eat up 1 to 2 times more than the initial cost of the car.

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  9. Avatar paul

    I don’t know, a 911 is a 911 & they are the bench mark for sure , but for 35,000 I could buy 2 used Boxsters, say 1999’s & I’ll bet they are better in every respect then this tampered 911S, & you won’t have to worry about the rust that effected cars of that era, if it was 10,000 then it might be a consideration.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar jim

    there are also a lot of newer 911’s with buy it nows equal or less then this on ebay right now. so less your in love with an early 911 and like to work on them a lot?,

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Dolphin Member

    It’s true, as some have pointed out, that there are many younger 911s for sale for much less than the ask for this car. But someone who would consider buying an excellent early 911 for $50-100k (or more) wants an early example, not an ‘ordinary’ SC or Carrera for $20-30k. It’s the early cars, especially the early S models, that Porsche fanatics want. Some of these cars have sold recently for more than $100k.

    I understand wanting a desirable vintage sports car, but for me, spending good money for an early 911 makes no sense at all. These cars may make sense as an investment, since the values continue to rise, but as a sports car for frequent driving, for me these cars have many serious limitations, especially in terms of driving dynamics. But lots of people disagree with me, and if this car really is a 1969 911S in good condition, I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t sell.

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  12. Avatar Brent

    Judging from the body plate on the door jamb, this car’s a rust bucket.

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  13. Avatar rancho bella

    Show the tag int he trunk, if it has not been changed, the stampings on the tag tell the story.

    A true S brings mucho bucks. Drop the thing off in Fallbrook at the resto shop. Be prepared to be poor…………..

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    • Avatar rancho bella

      And for heavens sake get rid of the darn air conditioning system.

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      • Avatar paul

        & those nasty US spec headlights & the fat chrome bezels.

        Like 0
  14. Avatar Roy Smalley

    Now at $45. I could buy 2 later 911’s for that price and get half the car.

    Comparing early 911’s, particularly 911 S’s with later cars is like comparing a real Ferrari like a GTO with the a current Ferrari. Your butt knows the difference if you know how to drive.

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  15. Avatar A Brice

    Sold for $55k. Aside from the 67S, the 69S is the next most desirable early 911S. They are not making more. Those that wonder of they are worth it have never driven a truly sorted early 911. Feels and sounds like nothing else. These cars have been skyrocketing in value. I am not surprised at the sale $$.

    Like 0

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