Porsche 911 SC Coupe

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The mainstay of the Porsche range throughout the late Seventies, the 911 SC was unveiled at the Frankfurt Show in September 1977 and was available in either Coupe or Targa forms.

Essentially this new 911 was very similar to the previous Carrera 3.0 with the same basic specifications, styling, and features. Power was up slightly from the previous 2.7 model, and a flatter torque curve made the car much easier to drive. In 1979 the SC's engine received modifications increasing the power to 188bhp while improving fuel economy by 10 percent.

Driving through a 5-speed manual gearbox, the 1979 SC could sprint to 60 in just six seconds on its way to a top speed of 142mph with a fabulous mechanical wail from the flat-six engine. Simple, quick and bulletproof, the SC is widely regarded as perhaps the most user-friendly of all the 911 range and good ones are increasingly sought after.

This particular left-hand drive A-Series SC was first registered in Germany in mid-1980 and came to the UK in 1988. Looking most appealing in rare and original Oak Green Metallic with matching green leather sports seats, original green carpets and desirable Fuchs alloys, non-sunroof spec, it has been in the current ownership since 2004 with just five UK owners in all.

Although it has now covered some 230,400km (143,200 miles), there is an invoice from Northway Porsche showing a top end rebuild and replacement of head studs at circa 100,000 miles, this being a famously tough engine whose bottom end can shrug off star ship mileages without a murmur. The car has also had the chain tensioner upgrade kit fitted (an essential modification on pre-1984 models if engine longevity is to be ensured), along with stainless steel heat exchangers.

A file of bills shows careful maintenance since import in 1988 with invoices from recognised air-cooled 911 specialists such as AFN Chiswick, Porschembri, Charles Ivey, Chelsea Carrera, Northway Porsche etc. Before purchasing the car in 2004, the vendor first had it inspected by a Porsche Club GB Forum recommended inspector, with satisfactory results.

In April 2014 it had a major service and oil change at Malvern-based specialists Retro Marques and has been used only sparingly since. New brake discs, pads and hoses have also been fitted all round, along with new windscreen wipers.

A really well maintained and original ‘matching numbers’ machine with those classic air-cooled 911 looks, it could well prove a shrewd investment at the guide price suggested given the way values of this model have soared in recent times.