1974 Porsche 911 Carrera

Since the Mexican government canceled Carrera Panamericana—possibly the most dangerous race of its era down the Pan-American Highway—in advance of the 1955 running, the Spanish word Carrera (race) has been synonymous with Porsche. In fact, Porsche really adopted it as its own. Similar to the word “Targa” and the Targa Florio, Porsche chose to name its most interesting models after racing events where Porsche had achieved a tremendous amount of success. In their tenth year anniversary of the 911, Porsche christened their new top-of-the-line performance model as the Carrera, which they also scripted as a logo on the sides of their most exciting limited-production model. Demoting the 911 S from the senior ranks, they catapulted off the success of the 2.7-liter engine from 1973 and from the RS Carrera. And they established—along with a series of competition 3.0 Carrera RS, RSR, and IROC models—that the Carrera was the best Porsche you could buy.  

The enthusiast world feared it was a one-year-miracle! But Porsche had looked further ahead. And wider in their perspective. Remember, Porsche’s man-in-charge, engineer and chief executive officer Ernst Fuhrmann, was the man who devised the 2.7 Carrera as Porsche’s racing response to successful BMWs and Fords. But Fuhrmann, who also had created the twin-cam “Carrera” engine for the 356, knew that if Porsche let its customers know about such things, they often began to desire such things. And so he authorized production of a “Carrera” model for 1974…and beyond….

Delivered new to Verona, Italy, this Carrera went into the perfect region for some great driving. It wasn’t until the mid 1980’s when the original owner let it go to Angelo Martinoli, of Milano, who was the president of Porsche Club Italia. Va da sé, (which is Italian for “it goes without saying…”) this particular 911 Carrera had two great owners in Italy before coming to the U.S.

A great friend of ours then purchased the Carrera (circa 2014) from a Porsche dealer in Illinois. It was an un-restored unmolested example, and he set out to make it his own. To him, that meant going through the Carrera completely to ensure it was perfect for when he wanted to go for a drive…. Brescia to Rome and back comes to mind, the old Mille Miglia. Or Guatemala to the Texas border, as the old Carrera ran in its final years…?

As it is now, receipts accompany this car proving thousands of dollars worth of investment, and so this Carrera absolutely needs nothing. It is one of the best 1974 Carreras you will drive, and its paint and interior condition are nothing short of perfect. The car abounds with elegant personal touches: the popular black-with-gold script; seven- and eight-inch wheels were finished by Weidman; and its rich brown interior screams “sexy” appeal.  

Open the sunroof, and stuff the shift lever into first and then wait until second (don’t want to over-rev it in your exuberance, do you?) and slam the hammer down. And then you can feel what North America missed out on. (The U.S. version boasted 167 SAE gross horsepower; the “rest-of-the-world” got 210 DIN net horsepower. There is more than a numerical difference.)

Perhaps a drive down the Pan-American Highway is in order?!?!?  

But don’t forget, the Pan-American Highway starts in Alaska at Prudhoe Bay and extends now (mostly complete) to Ushuaia, Argentina, which is the place most ships know as “last call” before Antarctica. That’s about 19,000 miles at latest google search, and the route passes through some places you really may want to skip. So…do take your passport.

But most of all, do take this Carrera somewhere and stretch it out.