Here’s an interesting Porsche. It’s a left-hand drive 1976 911S Sportomatic. The S was the mid-range 911 of the day, with a 2.7-litre engine developing a healthy 175bhp.

The Porsche is finished in its original Grand Prix White with 15-inch ‘cookie cutter’ wheels. The black interior features tweed fabric seats. It even has what appears to be the original radio. A rare option is air-conditioning which, to be honest, gives a waft of cool air, rather than an icy chill of a modern system!

The car was originally registered in Japan (where, oddly, left-hand drive cars are considered a status symbol even though they drive on the left!) and, apparently, was stored for some 20 years before coming to the UK. The bodywork is in very good condition. The odometer reads 31,650 miles although we don’t know if that is accurate.

The engine was fully rebuilt by well-known Porsche engineers WrightTune in 2018, and has covered just 1600 miles since. The rebuild is fully documented with paperwork and a nice book of photographs.

The clever Sportomatic transmission was ahead of its time and allows clutchless gear changes with a conventional manual gearbox. As soon as you touch the gearstick to change gear, the clutch magically disengages without the need to press a pedal. If you are unable or unwilling to use a clutch pedal, then this is a novel and ideal solution. Please click here for a good description of Sportomatic.

The Sportomatic transmission was a rare option which Porsche offered from 1967 to 1978 and very few were sold in the UK. Over the years, many Sportomatics have, sadly, been converted to conventional manual transmission, which makes this lovely example a very rare and interesting car. Whether you have a need for clutchless transmission, are a Porsche collector, or are just looking for something a bit different, then this 911E is worthy of your attention. Interestingly, although the Sportomatic gives a more relaxed drive than a manual, the system was used in the Porsche 911R Sportomatic which ran to victory in the Marathan da la Route (84 Hours of Nurburgring) in 1967!

If you are unable to get to us, please get in touch as we can make a video or organise a conference call to show you around the car, covering all aspects you want to see. We are based in the historic village of Bosham, on the south coast of England, nestled between the South Downs and Chichester Harbour, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s a lovely area to visit and you are very welcome to come and view our stock or just have a chat about cars!

Philip Raby Specialist Cars is refreshingly different. We like to build a friendly relationship with customers; before, during and after you buy from us. You won’t get a hard sell but you will get friendly and professional advice to ensure that we find exactly the right car for you. We have sold hundreds of Porsches and other specialist cars and have a vast experience to share with you.

Each car we sell goes through a thorough mechanical inspection and any faults found put right before sale. This ensures that your new car is ready for you to enjoy from day one, without you having to worry about a thing. In the unlikely event you have a problem, we include a six-month warranty underwritten by us. We stand by this warranty so, if you have any issue with your Porsche, wherever you are in the UK, we will work with you to put things right, without any quibble or fuss. Please note that we are open during normal hours on weekdays and by appointment at weekend so do please get in touch for a chat and to arrange a visit or a video. Part exchange and finance available – please click the Finance button below for details.

Philip Raby says: “The Sportomatic is a fascinating part of Porsche history and surprisingly enjoyable to drive. This example is in lovely condition and the engine rebuilt is great news.”

To chat about this car, please call 01243 780389 or click here to email us. We’d love to hear from you.