1977 Porsche Carrera 3.0 Coupe

The Porsche 911 is one of the all time classic sports cars, combining brilliant handling, exceptional acceleration and strong performance from the air-cooled flat-six with robust mechanicals and typically Germanic build quality. Moreover, the positioning of the engine behind the rear wheels endowed the 911 with a practical cabin capable of seating four at a pinch while the driving position and ergonomics were light years ahead of the Italian exotics. The 911 underwent constant development over the years - the boxer motor grew from the original 2-litre capacity through 2.4 and 2.7 versions to a full 3-litres by 1975 while the wheelbase was increased 560mm in 1968 to improve weight distribution and handling. Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection was adopted from 1974, improving fuel consumption and smoother running. Built from August 1975 until July 1977 in small numbers (just 3,691 were made), the 3.0 Carrera benefited from better rust protection for the bodyshell (now fully galvanised) and improved ventilation. The 911 has long been considered one of the finest driver's cars ever made and values of early examples are now rapidly increasing. The 3.0 Carrera of the mid-1970s is certainly one of the more undervalued models in the 911 family yet offers more useable performance, practicality and reliability than earlier examples and now is definitely the smart time to buy one.