1968 Porsche 911 Sport Purpose Coupe 2.5L Aluminum High Compression Twin Plug 1,900 lbs – 250 hp

1968 was the final model year of the short wheelbase (SWB) 911 cars from Porsche.  This was also the first year of U.S. emission laws, which kept the S model from our shores.  1,215 base 911 coupes came to America that year.  In 1968, Porsche created fewer than a couple of dozen special lightweight competition models called the 911R.  Very few ended up in regular customer hands.  Their mythical status has inspired tribute builds to capture the essence of low weight with high horsepower.

This 1968 911 coupe was built on June 4th, 1968, and the body was produced by Karmann.  It was a U.S.-specified order that was originally Burgundy Red and equipped with the following:

• Ventilated Chrome Wheels
• Bumper Horns for Front and Rear
• Koni Shock Absorbers
• Loudspeaker
• Pirelli Tires

Although we do not know the specific early details of this 911, we understand that it did spend much of its life in the Pacific Northwest.  In 2018, this 911 was found in an actual barn outside of Seattle.  It had been sitting there for at least a couple of decades after the previous owner had parked it due to brake failure.  

Simultaneously, the current owner was looking for a SWB (short wheelbase) 911 to build into a lightweight “R-inspired” backroad warrior.  He also owns a ’67 911S that he enjoys driving, but felt guilty about modifying it.  This ’68 911 barn-find coupe was a dry, straight, numbers-matching, and complete 911.  It was the perfect blank canvas to build what he wanted.  The build was coordinated, managed, and assembled by Sports Purpose Garage in the Northern California area.  Highlights of the build include:

Body/Chassis by DG Vintage Coachworks in Seattle, Washington

• Completely disassemble the vehicle
• Strip body to bare metal
• Verify chassis was straight on a Celette bench
• Rotisserie blasted and sealed
• Minor metal work needed
• Prime and prep body for paint
• Steel Body Panels (exempt bumpers and deck lid – fiberglass)
• Molded/Frenched 911R style front and rear corner lights into body
• Matched Glasurit Terracotta (5409)
• PPF (Paint Protection Film) applied to hood, front fenders, and front bumper

Engine by Holleran’s Performance in Auburn, California

• 2.5L short stroke 66mm x 90mm 10.5:1 compression twin-plug EFI build
• Completely disassemble drivetrain
• L&N Engineering 90mm Piston and cylinder set with Carrillo Pistons
• Replace rocker arms and shafts
• Restore 2.7L heads for 2.5L build
• Clean carbon, media blast, fully weld, and reestablish new head thread holes
• Hone new valve guides to size
• Stainless exhaust valves
• Port to 34.5mm
• Port match for 45mm ITB intake manifolds
• EFI (electronic fuel injection) by ECUMaster EMU Black
• Machine 3 angle valve job / machine heads
• Aasco valve spring set with titanium valve spring retainers
• 9mm valve guides
• Custom camshaft set
• Machine main webs to accommodate piston squirters
• Machine heads for twin plug setup
• Piston set thermal & skirt friction coated
• Oil pressure bypass modification/update
• 3.2L Carrera engine oil pump
• 930 Turbo timing chain tensioner upgrade
• Preform cylinder head stud insert holes
• Surface cylinder bores and machine bore to accept 90mm cylinders
• Magnaflux and knife edge crankshaft
• Nitrite, and balance entire rotating assembly
• Turn rod journals 2”
• New main bearing and bearing set
• Steel early type cylinder head studs
• Custom connecting rod set
• 2” Clevite custom friction coated rod bearing set
• Solid oil return tubes
• Non pressure fed cam oil lines
• OE early type engine oil cooler
• Dual front fender (L & R) oil coolers with electric fans
• Elephant finned oil cooler line to front 
• Sheridan 911R fan shroud and tin set complete
• Cerakoted engine tins
• Hide vacuum lines and wiring
• Timing chain idler supports (later style) and timing cover
• Dyno tuned and tested.

Transmission by Holleran’s Performance in Auburn, California

• Complete disassembly and inspection
• Main shaft and pinion shaft bearings
• All new synchro rings and dog gears
• Guard limited slip differential
• CMS billet side cover and clutch cable guide
• CMS steel upgraded early 901 intermediate bearing retainer
• Early 901 complete gasket set
• New 2.0L flywheel and 901 clutch 
• Kennedy stage 2 clutch pressure plate 

Suspension, Wheels, Brakes, Assembly, and Finish Work by Sport Purpose Garage

• 21mm/25mm Sanders torsion bars
• Elephant Racing polybronze bushings
• Adjustable monoball rear spring plates
• Tarrett camber plates and sway bar drop links
• Bilstein sport shocks
• RSR adjustable sway bars
• Powdercoat all suspension components
• Turbo tie rods
• 23mm master brake cylinder
• Front aluminum Brembo brake calipers and rear 911SC brake calipers
• PMB Performance vented brake rotors
• Steel braided brake lines
• Cerakote all trim in tungsten color
• Custom 15” Aluminum Group 4 Torque Thrust style wheels
• Cerakote Tungsten finish
• Avon CR6-ZZ tires (185/70-15)
• New wheel bearings
• Custom engine grill from Spades Customs in Germany
• Cerakote custom side mirror by Achtung Kraft
• Smuggler box mounted Odyssey AGM lightweight battery
• New fuel tank
• All new seals
• Plexiglas R-style rear quarter windows, roll-up windows, and rear window
• Plexiglas front quarter windows with airplane-style vents
• New windshield
• Refurbished pedal assembly
• RSR 917 pedal
• European headlamp assemblies
• Rennline blower motor cover and smuggler box lid
• Clean, lubricate, inspect, and install stock steering rack
• New fuel pump
• Rebuild rear axles
• New alternator and High Torque mini starter
• Stainless steel heat exchangers with new heater ducts and hoses
• R-style muffler
• Rebuilt door latches
• All new wiring throughout vehicle
• Hella horns
• RSR deck lid hold downs
• Rennline decklid struts (356-style)
• Custom wiper arms and rebuilt wiper motor

Interior by Tony at Acme Auto Upholstery in Pleasanton, California

• Classic Touring seats
• RS lightweight carpet kit
• New dashtop
• REPA reproduction seat belts
• New headliner and refurbished dash
• Flat Momo-style steering wheel with tungsten Cerakoted solid hub from Zuffenhaus
• Cerakote tungsten finished interior metal trim
• Rennline foot rest panels
• JWest Engineering shifter cerakoted
• Lightweight door panels finished in woven leather with cerakoted trim
• Restored gauges with body matching Terracotta 10k rpm tachometer.

The car was completed in 2021 and displayed at Concours on the Avenue in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California, during car week.  After the initial break-in miles, the recent owner took the car back to Sports Purpose Garage for a fluid flush and tuning.  In 2022, the owner moved from Northern California to the Los Angeles area and started utilizing TRE Motorsports in Van Nuys, California, for continued service needs, which have included the following over the past couple of years and 14k miles:

• Oil cooler system and other misc. services (7/22 @ 64,185 miles)
  • New front fender mounted oil cooler with electric fan
  • New aircraft hose oil lines
  • 7mm wheel spacers
  • Oil service (Brad Penn 20w/50 high zinc)
• Repair oil leaks and other misc. services (12/22 @ 65,372 miles)
  • New set of Avon CR6-ZZ tires 
  • Remove engine and replace starter and ring gear
  • Replace flywheel and pilot bearing
  • Oil service
  • Replace internal engine oil cooler
  • Chain cover and breather cover gaskets
  • Oil cooler seals
  • Flywheel seal
  • Front pulley seal
  • Valve adjustment
  • Valve cover gaskets
  • Reseal transmission
  • Transmission fluid flush (Swepco 80-90 gear oil)
  • New ignition switch
  • Repair window winder
• Check over vehicle / new wiper blades in preparation for sale (3/24 @ 65,384 miles)

The recent owner who commissioned this build is a long-time Porsche enthusiast who owns a constantly rotating collection and drives more than any other collector I know.  At least 4+ days each week, he’s driving our local backroads in one of his cars.  He thoroughly enjoyed the build process, in addition to his driving time with this custom build for 6 years and 14k miles.  Due to family commitments, this owner asked us to help sell this 911 earlier last year.  We sold it on April 11th, 2024, to a local enthusiast and friend of ours.  Over the past year, he’s only added a couple of hundred miles.  Due to travel and some recent health issues, he asked us to help find another caretaker who can enjoy it more.  In his year of ownership, he had TRE Motorsports perform the following services:

• Refinish parts of the interior
  • Tan wide wale corduroy seat inserts with additional foam for support
  • OE German basketweave vinyl across dash face
  • Reinforce upper cushioned part of dash pad and recover in Germany vinyl
  • Replace fabric on pillars
  • Edge trim on rear ¼ window body edges
  • Reinstall rear plastic window with new seals, trim, and safety clips
  • Recover headrests
• EFI system work and other misc. repairs
  • Replace vacuum hoses/connectors on both sides of the ITBs with silicone ones
  • Throttle position sensors
  • Calibrate system and mapping
  • Multiple dyno-tune runs (221 rwhp / 182 rwtq = 245hp & 209tq at crank)
  • Rewire pathway for fuel pump
  • Replace flasher
  • New headlight connections

In total, the current owner spent $9,468

The exterior of this 911 has a lightweight sport-purpose attitude.  The owner didn’t build this to be a Concours lawn example but rather something to truly enjoy on a tight and twisting road.  The paint is in good shape, and recently, he had some touch-up done to correct some of the rock chips from driving.  There are still a few minor chips and flaws here and there.  The front bumper, hood, and front fenders have been protected with PPF.  Part of the PPF is peeling on the lower front fender where it meets the driver’s door.  The glass/Plexiglas is in good shape with no major blemishes.  All the windows are Plexiglas, except the windshield.  The windshield has no significant chips or scratches.  The aluminum wheels are finished in a magnesium/tungsten-look and have no significant curb rash or other flaws.  They are wearing Avon tires that were installed 2.5 years/3k miles ago.  They still have around 75% life remaining.  The brakes also have at least 75% life remaining.

The interior has a minimalist vibe with a touch of flair.  Fortunately, in the pursuit of lightweight, they kept roll-up windows, door locks, and heat.  It’s amazing how these few things make a car like this so much more usable.  The seats show minimal wear with no tears or rips.  The seat inserts are new.  The headliner, carpet, and door panels are all in good shape.  The dash looks fresh with no warping or cracks, and all the gauges work.  The interior is tidy, comfortable, clean, and sport purpose focused.  The belts snap together easily, and although new material, they have a vintage look.  The tungsten Cerakote finished metal bits are a nice accent and complete the look.

This 911 starts incredibly easy thanks to the modern electronic fuel injection.  It holds an even idle and makes a purposeful exhaust grumble without being too loud.  Once at operating temperature, the engine pulls hard through the rev range with no hesitation. 8k rpm (recommended red line) approaches quickly once the engine winds past 4k rpm.  This 911 loves to rev, and below 3,500 rpm, it can surge if not careful with the throttle.  The aluminum Brembo and SC brakes do a nice job of slowing things down with no fading or pulling and have an excellent pedal feel.  The transmission shifts smoothly with a rifle-like bolt action with each shift.  There is no grinding of gears, and the clutch engages properly with no slipping.  Handling is where the lack of weight is noticed as the car dances through corners with excellent steering communication.  This 911 is one of the fastest cars I’ve seen on our local mountains, especially in the hands of a competent and skilled driver.

The car is California registered, and it is exempt from smog/emissions testing.

This 911 comes with 1 main key, 2 extra keys (1 key works ignition and both door locks), copy of Certificate of Authenticity, copy of Excellence magazine article, build receipts, original space saver spare wheel with matching Cerakote finish.

**Note: VIN and other numbers withheld to protect against fraud.  All numbers including VIN, Engine, and color will be provided to serious buyers.