OVERVIEW
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera
VIN: 9114400253
Porsche 911 hot rod
Custom 2.7-liter engine producing 240 horsepower and 210ft/lb of torque
5-speed short ratio transmission built by Jerry Woods
Scored 289 points out of 300 at 2002 Porsche Parade Concours d'Elegance
One of 1,534 Carrera coupes made in 1974-1975
Car Appraisal by Bruce Anderson in 2002
The birth of the "G Series" 911, which was produced from 1974 until 1989, was the next evolution of the 911 and proved to be an incredible foundation to work with. With the G series introducing some worldwide classics like the Carrera, which shared the legendary Carrera RS engine, or the 930, the first turbocharged 911 street car, there was a little bit of everything for everyone. With 1,534 Carrera coupes built between 1974 and 1975, these cars have now found themselves skyrocketing in popularity. Highly capable on the street and track and equally comfortable on long drives, the G series 911 has proved time and time again that evolution is sometimes a great thing.
Purchased by Louis and Marian Locitell of Chico, California in 1994, the couple would own the 911 for a year and a half before being sold to Jerry Ehler of Eugune, Oregon on October 7th, 1995. From this point forward, the Carrera coupe would no longer just be an ordinary 911. It would transform into a hot-rod restomod that would compete in Thoroughbred Racers and Modifieds of the Porsche Parade Concours d'Elegance in 2002.
Through the copious amounts of documentation, receipts and notes, it's easy to see that Jerry intended to restore the 911 to a concours level despite it being a hot rod. Beginning with a full strip down of the car, the 911 was completely sanded down to bare metal revealing that it was a clean example with no damage and no rust. Sprayed in Glasruit Grand Prix White multi-stage paint, all surfaces were painted including the underbody. A new custom valance was made to accommodate the new style of exhaust. All aluminum was anodized black, all body to glass, bumper and rubber trim was replaced, the sunroof was given new seals with the sunroof aluminum was polished. New front and rear glass was installed, European fog lights were added, along with new electric window regulators and a new windshield washer pump and lines were installed.
Sharing the output from the 1973 Carrera RS simply wouldn’t do and Jerry had high aspirations for the 2.7 liter flat six engine. With blueprinted pistons, crank and rods, and heads rebuilt and match ported by Competition Engineering, Jerry handed off the engine to Dick Elverud of Portland, Oregon to assemble and dyno the engine. While being worked on, the engine also received an oil bypass modification, case savers, hydraulic tensioners, racewear cylinder studs, new Mahle Euro piston and cylinder set, new Elgin "E" grind camshafts, MSD, and Magnacore 8mm spark plug wires. SSI exhaust with dual outlet sport mufflers were added and JetHot coated. A BAT front oil cooler along with all new flex oil lines and a new oil tank were installed. The fuel system was redesigned, with all braided stainless steel lines with AN fittings, two inline K&N fuel filters with a Holly low pressure fuel pump, with the fuel tank completely refinished to complete the fuel system. Once completed and put on the dyno, the 2.7 produced a stout 240 horsepower and 210 ft/lb of torque per the dyno spec sheets. The engine pushes you continually down the road while raising the hairs on the back of your neck and sending tingles down your spine from its intoxicating exhaust note.
With the intent on spending some serious time in the car, Jerry made sure that the interior was just as good as the exterior. Recaro A8 seats with exceptional bolstering keep you firmly planted in the car. The German carpet and headliner, along with the seats, are the only things inside of the 911 that aren’t leather. The entire leather interior was made from scratch, with leather RS door panels added. The fuel system cutoff, total power cutoff and fire system buttons are at your fingertips on the dashboard. A "Fire Bottle" brand fire system was installed and is driver operated. All new shift linkage bushings with a factory short shifter kit were installed. No detail was left untouched, and the cabin is a true joy to spend time in.
No hot rod 911 would be complete without being able to carve up corners and hit apexes with ease, and the Grand Prix White 911 is a formidable contender. New Bilstein shocks were added with urethane bushings, an AJ USA strut brace was employed, along with all suspension components being powder coated gloss black with the rear trailing arms area polished. Drilled front and rear rotors along with stainless steel brake lines both solid and flex ensure the car can stop on a dime. All wheel bearings were replaced, steering rack replaced and new brake and clutch pedal bushings were added. New 930 Fuchs wheels were used, with 7"x16" up front, 9"x16" out back. The 911 now had the suspension to keep up with the newfound power being sent through the 915 transmission.
Proud of his accomplishment, he took the car to the Porsche Parade of 2002 in Boise, Idaho and scored 289 points out of 300. Bruce Anderson, an expert source of knowledge and knowhow about Porsche, appraised Jerry's car on October 3rd of 2002 and gave the car a glowing review, citing its exceptional fit and finish.
In 2006, the white 911 would arrive at Canepa with its new owner eager to apply a long list of upgrades to the hot rod along with general replacement items. Performance-expert Jerry Woods was tasked with installing all new short ratios into the transmission during the rebuild. A new fuel cell was installed into the car, the Fuchs wheels were powder coated black, along with host of other maintenance items. During the time at Canepa, the car would receive over $30,000 in upgrades, parts and maintenance. The 911 was sold in 2008 to its most recent owner, who enjoyed the car for more than a decade before returning to Canepa.
Upon its most recent arrival, the Porsche is exactly how you'd want a 911 hot rod to be: built well, looks fantastic, drives excellently and sounds like a race car straight out of Weissach. It's Grand Prix White paint still has the amazing sheen that it had before, and the entire car was washed underneath to reveal its modified suspension and upgraded components. Now available after more than a decade with its previous owner, this 911 offers a turn-key opportunity to get into a sorted, tasteful 911 hotrod, just in time for Rennsport Reunion 6.
