Porsche Torque

The Beverly Hills Car Club founder and CEO shares his views on special edition Porsches and what they mean to him

The name Targa came from the Targa Florio sports car road race in Sicily, in which Porsche had scored seven victories since 1956, with four more to come in 1973. The 911E Targa’s shape is unmistakable thanks to its iconic fly line and elegant roof. This design has characterised Porsche since 1963, and is part of the legend of the company’s sports cars.

Yet despite that somewhat macho image, there’s something cute and charming about all Porsche 911s. And it goes far beyond a mere familiarity with the shape. It always seems there’s something beautifully primal in the appearance of Porsches.

The Porsche 911E was the mid-range option in the E- and F-series 911s, with production running from 1969 to 1973. The model benefitted from the larger 2.4 that used a longer stroke for a total displacement of 2,341cc. 1972 Porsche 911Es had steel wheels that were upgraded in 1973 to a 6Jx15 alloy wheel by ATS.

Capable of reaching 0 to 60mph in 6.2 seconds and with a top speed of 143mph, Porsche’s 911E model of 1969-1973 essentially replaced the shortlived 911L (Luxus). The 911E was designed to be the more comfortable, more drivable model of the 911 series – slotting between the tamer 911T (Touring) and the high-performance type 911S (Super). In these years, the least-expensive model in Porsche’s range was the four-cylinder 912, followed by the Type 914. Adding together the Targa, Coupe and Karmann Coupe versions of the 911E, a total of 12,159 911Es were produced.

In the manner of much German machinery the Porsche 911 was the result of bringing together a myriad extremely efficient pieces of engineering.

The 911E’s designation derives from the German word for injection: einspritzung. The mechanical fuel injection (MFI) system used on the 911E (and 911S) was jointly developed by Bosch and Porsche. It’s similar to the injection system used in the Carrera 6 of 1966. In addition to more precise control of the fuel-air mixture and equality of distribution among the cylinders (compared to carburettors), the MFI contributed toward meeting the nascent emissions control regulations of the time. The 1969 Types 911E and 911S also featured a new, high-voltage capacitor ignition system that addressed the spark plug fouling problems experienced in earlier 911s.

Mechanically, the very notion of the 911 was notable for being rear-engined and air-cooled. From its inception, the 911 was modified both by private teams and the factory itself for racing, rallying and other types of automotive competition.

The original 911 series is often cited as the most successful competition car ever. This is mostly down to the powerful 911-derived 935 that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1979 and other major races.

Intended as the luxury model of the marque, the 911E came standard in most markets with the Comfort package. These included ventilated brake discs with aluminium calipers, velour carpeting, a leather-covered steering wheel, heavy bumper rub strips and rubber guard inserts, chrome rocker-panel trim and gold-coloured script on the rear deck.

The 911E was developed by Boge in conjunction with Porsche in an effort to improve handling and ride quality, and was fitted with self-levelling hydro-pneumatic dampers. These negated the need for front torsion bars and anti-roll bars, while also automatically adjusting the height of the front of the car to compensate for weight in the trunk. Such dampers – or struts – were standard equipment on 911E models from 1969 through to 1971. Yet for buyers seeking more sporty handling, conventional springing could be specified when ordering a new model 911E. Meanwhile, for a really soft ride you could order smaller, 14-inch wheels with higher-profile tires.

With astonishing performance and its archetypal silhouette, the Porsche 911E showcases the characteristic harmony of tradition and modernity at the core of the marque. The Porsche 911E is a sporty, timeless vehicle that to this day boasts outstanding sports car action.