‘Beginning mid-1973 until early 1975, the Carrera 2.7 MFI was Porsche’s top-of-the line production model … [in fact] Porsche actually produced two very distinct models … one was a much lower powered K-Jetronic model for North America with a continuous injection system and the other was their high-performance range-topping mechanically fuel injected Carrera 2.7 model’ (Ryan Snodgrass, Carrera 2.7: the soul of the legendary Carrera 2.7 RS lives on within the Carrera 2.7 MFI, Parabolica Press, 2015)
The engine is type 911/83, the same Bosch mechanical fuel injection of the 1973 Carrera RS, which gives the car 210 bhp. However, it has a 5-speed gearbox with closer ratios and a limited slip differential. The suspension was uprated and all pick up points were strengthened while polyurethane suspension bushes were used throughout. Although braking is not servo assisted and uses standard calipers and discs, competition brake pad materials are used. This particular car has a long-range 85 litres fuel cell and a full-sized spare wheel in the front, unlike the standard road car. Front (laminated) and rear screens are heated, while the remaining windows are plastic.
This car was built in late 1974 and the current owner was told that it was one of the very first of that year’s production run to be imported into the UK. He bought the car in 2005 as a nice road car. He has covered over 50,000 predominantly rally miles in the car but recently commented that it is now, sadly, probably up for sale.
The previous owner, Ken Coad, had altered the specification of the car—so as to replicate the iconic 1973 Porsche 911 RS 2.7 – in the course of which he changed the wings, bonnet, front air dam, and most notably, the duck tail engine cover. And the impact bumper ‘bellows’ front and rear were removed too. While the bodywork would benefit today from some TLC, the mechanicals have been maintained regardless of cost.
The car was converted to a regularity rally car in 2008/09 with much of the preparation being done in a home workshop; some work was also done by Francis Tuthill Workshops in Banbury—who have been involved since in helping to maintain the car. The car has now competed in some 53 events in the UK and Europe, with roughly one half of those being multi-day events that could last up to a week.
On display courtesy of Paul Bloxidge from Monday 14 January to Sunday 20 January 2019.