Auction Highlight: 1971 Porsche 911 2.8 S/T Replica

Some may scoff at replicas, but faithful tributes to motoring icons can be just as exciting and emotive as the originals, and often more enjoyable; more readily relished as intended without the fear of damaging an especially rare piece of automotive history.

While the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 is probably the first car to come to mind when enthusiasts consider classic motorsport-focused Porsches, the 911 S/T of the early 1970s holds a special place in the marque’s history.

Following changes to FIA homologation rules, Porsche engineers recognised that lightweight versions of the 911 could be competitive in sports car series. Thanks to their vision and readiness to shed weight, the stripped-out and wider S/T with thinner-gauge sheet metal, reinforced suspension mounts, and powerful 2.5-litre motors was born – and it became particularly successful in Group 3 and Group 4 championships.

Around 25 genuine S/T 911s are understood to have been built, with examples rarely coming to market – and when they do the asking price is likely to be north of £700,000. With this context in mind, the merit in creating a detailed recreation becomes clear.

In 2020, this 911 2.8 ST Replica was offered on Collecting Cars; a thrilling tribute to one of the most coveted road-legal racers from the Porsche back catalogue, presented in pristine fully rebuilt condition.

Powered by a 2.8-litre twin-plug flat-six, producing a dyno-proven 265bhp through a five-speed 915 transmission, this car tipped the scales at just 960kg and had covered a mere 479 miles since its total nut-and-bolt rebuild and conversion to S/T specification.

What started life as a left-hand drive 1971 911 T 2.2 coupe was transformed into a faithful S/T tribute by classic Porsche specialist DSD Motorwerks, at a cost of around £150,000.
The shell of the original car was subject to bare-metal restoration with all-new panels, including lightweight front wings, hand-formed steel rear arches, a lightweight engine lid, and a lightweight bonnet with a centre-fill aperture for the 100-litre fuel tank.

It was finished in the vibrant Porsche hue of Conda Green, and before its sale was treated to a professional detailing session by Refined Detail in West Sussex.

In period, the flared rear wheel arches of the S/T could house nine-inch section wheels, but there was not a Fuchs design big enough to fit properly. For that reason, Porsche employed nine-inch wide Minilite wheels at the rear, with eight-inch wide Fuchs rims at the front – and this original non-matching style was replicated perfectly on this replica.

The interior of this 911 was also pared back to recreate S/T specifications. There were lightweight door cards with pull-to-release straps and plastic grab handles, a lightweight carpet set, and the glove box, stereo and sun visors were removed. Cobra Classic RSR retro bucket seats and an FIA-approved half-roll cage were fitted as well as a period-correct three-spoke Momo steering wheel.

At the heart of this bespoke build was a 2.8-litre twin-plug Porsche racing engine, coupled to race-specification exhaust manifolds, which fed into a custom-made stainless steel exhaust system built to original S/T specifications.

Its suspension was totally renewed, using stiffer, later lightweight alloy arms with Bilstein shock absorbers, and a set-up that has been calibrated for fast road or track driving. The brakes consisted of lightened hubs and cross-drilled discs, with alloy 911 S specification callipers. The battery was also relocated to the ‘smugglers hatch’ in the boot for better weight distribution.

The car was accompanied by extensive documentation including all the restoration paperwork, plus a large number of photographs documenting the build, including the bodywork restoration, and the engine and gearbox rebuilds.

This Porsche 911 2.8 S/T Replica represented a wonderful bespoke build, which was remarkably faithful to the original model and was offered in outstanding condition. As a superb candidate for historic road racing, it attracted spirited bidding, and the hammer eventually fell at £97,500.

With more than 1,100 examples of the Porsche 911 sold to date, Collecting Cars is the ideal place to find a buyer if you have a similarly impressive classic sports car that needs a new home. Speak to our Consignment Team today if you’d like to find out more.