TECHNICAL BACKGROUND & SPEC: 911 2.4S (1972–3)

In 1969, the 911’s flat-six was bored out to 84mm making 2195cc (the 2.2 series). This was part of a programme in which a much wider range of engines was foreseen by technical director Ferdinand Piëch, who wanted to use the successful racing ‘eight’ of the 908 as a base for future four, six- and eight-cylinder models. The advent of more stringent emissions controls from the US effectively scuppered this ambitious proposal and led to a further revision of the production flat-six, necessary to keep its tailpipe behaviour in bounds. The 1971 911 acquired a longer 70.4mm stroke, the squarer cylinder architecture making 2341cc. With revised compression ratios, the heady 9.8:1 of the 2.2S now lowered to 8.5:1 for the 2.4S, 911s could run on 91 RON, meet the latest Federal hydrocarbons edicts (for a few years at least) and offered 10 per cent more torque, with no loss of performance. The 2.4 was the last engine in which Piëch was directly involved.

Capacity: 2341cc

Bore & stroke: 84mm x 70.4mm

Power: 190bhp @ 6500rpm

Torque: 162lb ft @ 5200rpm

Compression ratio: 8.5:1

Fuel requirement: 91 RON (still sold in Germany in 2020!)

Transmission: Porsche 915 gearbox, five forward speeds

Wheel rims 6Jx15

Tyres: 185/70x15

Suspension: Front: torsion bars, Macpherson strut Rear: torsion bars, semi-trailing arms

Weight: 1080kg

0–60mph/maximum speed 6.6secs/144mph (Paul Frère’s measurements)