In 1981, the 911 was famously saved by Peter Schutz, the then-new CEO of Porsche. The front-engined V8 928, which had begun production in 1977, was supposed to replace the 911, which was accordingly being run out during this period. The 911 received no meaningful changes because its production was due to end shortly, making the 1978 to 1983 period the longest in the 911’s production run without any substantive updates. 1984’s arrival of the 3.2 liter Carrera, the replacement of the 3.0 liter SC, was the direct result of Schutz’s decision to keep investing in the 911, bringing overdue upgrades in the form of an enlarged engine with, for the first time in a 911, electronic fuel injection via Bosch’s Motronic system. More changes followed in subsequent years including new seats, updated switchgear, revised dashboard, and for 1987, the new G50 transmission together with hydraulic clutch. It was an altogether more modern affair and addressed criticisms of the old 915 transmission’s shift character, which was a bit old fashioned even when it was introduced in 1972.
These Carrera 3.2s represent a sweet spot in the 911’s evolution, possessing modern, emissions-friendly engine management, but no other computers. Without ABS or power steering, they have an old-school feel that is a revelation to today’s enthusiasts, yet the galvanized chassis and fuel injection give the car a durability and usability that make them ideal classics.
This particular example is an obsessively documented three-owner car with service records back to new, the original purchase documents (down even to the returned checks with which the car was purchased new), and the original blue license plates and the frames from the original selling dealer, Niello Porsche in Concord, California. The car’s first owner was a civil engineer living in San Francisco and he kept a detailed mileage, gasoline, and service log for the car. He bought the car on the 27th of September 1986, making it an early G50 equipped Carrera 3.2. He retained the car the rest of his life, until March of 2016, at which point it was acquired by his estate attorney, who sold it to its current owner in August of 2017. The car has always resided in the San Francisco Bay Area and is an exceptionally undisturbed example.
In the years prior to the estate attorney’s acquisition, the car was driven sparingly, and during this period, the odometer broke. The car’s current owner fixed the odometer as soon as he purchased it, adding 2,500 miles to the reading to reflect the estimated mileage the car covered while the odometer was inoperative, as attested by a letter the estate attorney wrote which is in the car’s file. A compression check performed at the current owner’s purchase in 2017 shows compression readings of 170 to 180 psi on all six cylinders.
Maintenance during the current ownership period has included a new steering column bushing, valve adjustment, transmission oil change, new spark plugs, new ignition cap, new belts, new engine mounts, new fuel filter, routine oil services, new DME relay, new crankshaft reference and cylinder head temperature sensors, rebuilt ECU and Steve Wong (911chips) performance chip, new brake master cylinder, new brake pads, new Michelin tires, new front wheel bearings, new front windscreen (Saint Gobain), new Bilstein shock absorbers, new soft brake lines, repairing a rear sway bar bracket, new CV boots, new clutch slave cylinder, new starter, and ceramic coating the paintwork. A Porsche Classic single DIN head unit with CarPlay was also fitted.
The result is a car that drives absolutely superbly, a testament to both the car’s careful maintenance and how well Porsche built them to begin with. Cosmetically, the car is in very good condition. The body is straight and structurally excellent as one would expect of a car that has spent its entire life in Northern California’s dry climate. The paintwork has good luster and a few stone chips and minor scratches. In 2012, the car’s original owner scraped the left rear fender on a concrete light pole base in a grocery store lot and it was repainted to high standards.
The interior is in excellent original condition. The dashboard is free of cracks and warping and the leather upholstery is in good condition with a few creases and patina. The carpets, switchgear, and trim are all in excellent order.
This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a desirable G50 Carrera 3.2 Coupe with unusual integrity and obvious pride of ownership throughout its life which has translated into a superb driving experience and presentation that accurately reflects the way unmolested examples of these cars should be.
