70 911 sportomatic RARE??

[dporsche74]

hello

I just got a 70 911T with the sportomatic, I was wondering if this is a rare car
I looked on google and yahoo couldnt find much about the 70 911 sportamatic
Seems like a few in the UK , but i couldnt find to much or info in the USA
any comments would be great
here is the car
stopped driving for 5 yrs, Engine spins, told it was rebuilt, very miniium rust, looks in good shape, interior complete need cleaning I am going to try to get her running this week, planning on draining GAS , OIL, replace with fresh, see if there is spark, take a compression test,
What kind of tune up/ first start should i do on the sportomatic,
thanks for any help

[Dirty Marty]

Dporsche 74

A 911 with a Sportomatic transmission isn't that rare. It was an option package offered to entice buyers that didn't like a manual transmission and was sold primarily in the early 70's version. I believe that they were sold as a "911L" with a Sportomatic transmission.

So if your car is badged as a 911T somewhere along the way it was converted to a sportomatic or it was a 911L that was rebadged..........I'd check numbers and history

Dirty Marty

Fallbrook,CA

[dporsche74]

thanks i found this fact
looks to be only 374 that yr which seems alittle rare ??
http://www.sportomatic.org/production.htm

I will post the numbers has soon has i get them
thanks

[Matt Monson]

You could get a 1969 911 Sportomatic in a T,E, or S car. Starting in 1970, they only offered it on the T and E models. Starting again in 1972, you could once again get an S or T or E in a sporto.

Finding cars that still have them in them is becoming more rare. Over the years, given the complexity of them and costs of replacement parts many were converted to 5spds when they needed service. Historically (like in the 80's and 90's) they often sold for less, and this made them attractive to hot rodders and racers to use as builder that they again converted to a 5spd as they did their builds. Especially if it was sold as a project with a broken sporto-tranny in it. Unmolested examples may at some point be considered "rare" though I don't know that we are quite there yet.

[BK911]

No they are not very rare. Hundreds (thousands?) of people on Pelican and maybe a handful of sportos? Ok, maybe they are a little rare! My 71E is a sporto. I can't wait to finish it and see how it runs.

http://www.sportomatic.org/

Here are the numbers:

[1982911SCTarga]

This may sound odd, but I would really like to catch a ride in a sporto-equipped 911 sometime. I've always thought it was a very interesting system that Porsche developed.

How do you sporto guys like how these cars drive?

Brian

[dporsche74]

Im looking at parts lists and am not seeing any parts for the sportomatic, where is a good place to look for parts , I all ready see the brown wire broken on the shifter, I figure it is way it was parked 5 yrs ago
thanks

[aminter0]

I would think it would be rare from looking at the numbers. As a few others said before, and as you may seem, finding parts can be a bit tricky.

Wanna post pics????

[Matt Monson]

I guess different people define rare differently. Some people say my 912e and my Bumble Bee are rare cars but I don't. I define rare by how hard the car is to find if you are actually looking for one to buy. I consider Carrera RS's and RSR's rare. I consider a 3.2l Carrera Club Sport or a 924 Carrera GTS rare. If I wanted a Sportomatic, it would take me maybe 6 months or a year to find a decent one. If I wanted one of the other cars I mention it might take me several years or more to find one. Regardless, my comments were not meant to start an argument. Sportos are cool cars and definitely a unique piece of Porsche's history. Bottom line in my book is if you personally are into the car you bought. If so, then you are a winner.

dporsche74,
Porsche's PET lists sportomatic parts if you need numbers. If you don't have a copy, I can print and mail you pages specific to your car. I see a fair bit of parts for them get sold off through our classifieds here. There's been a few things on Ebay recently, but they've been mile high opening bids for a lot of it. I think you will be best served by joining up with the sportomatic.org folks. Kind of like 912 people, they take good care of their own.

[BK911]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

I guess different people define rare differently. .... Regardless, my comments were not meant to start an argument. Sportos are cool cars and definitely a unique piece of Porsche's history. Bottom line in my book is if you personally are into the car you bought. If so, then you are a winner.

Matt, I hope you don't think I was trying to start a war. I was just being a smart a$$. I think your original post was right on and I totally agree with you, as well as the post I quoted above. Rare is subjective.

As far as finding parts, good luck! I search several places and buy up almost everything I can find. You can never have too many spare parts.

[chrisg252]

Parts are still available for some Sportomatics. I've just had my '75 3 speed transmission rebuilt. We were able to locate all the parts- synchros, seals, shiftrod etc.- we needed. Not cheap- the parts cost nearly $1,000.00. It wouldn't be fair to our host for me to tell you how we found them, but all the parts came from one source here in the US. I'll post some pictures of the rebuilt tranny- it's beautiful.
There are major differences between the early Sportos, which are 4 speed and the post 1974 versions, which, on US models, have only 3 speeds. At the first Rennspeed Reunion I met Vic Elford, who won a Marathon de la Route Rally driving a Sporto and he loved them- claimed the time he saved by not having to use a pedal clutch was measurable.
Chris

[Scott Douglas]

In answer to Brian's question about how us sporto drivers like 'em...well, I really enjoy mine.
You can read about how I came to own it here:
My apologies...

[1982911SCTarga]

Thanks, Scott. Is yours a three-speed then?

When driving around, are you always going through all the gears?

Brian

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by BK911

Matt, I hope you don't think I was trying to start a war. I was just being a smart a$$. I think your original post was right on and I totally agree with you, as well as the post I quoted above. Rare is subjective. .

No worries. I didn't take it that way. I just felt like some clarification was in order on my end. As I indicated there's guys in the LE registry who think Bumble Bee's and Creamsicles are rare cars. I prefer the terms unique and limited production. I just didn't feel I conveyed that in my first reponse.

[bkreigsr]

one of the founding members of Jersey Shore Region had one of the twelve 1976 Carreras with a sporto, and a targa no less. He had to go sporto when he lost the use of his left foot/ankle scca racing in the 60's
Very nice car - Saraha Beige, aka 'Trigger'.
Bill K

[Scott Douglas]

Brian
My car was upgraded to a four speed by a previous owner.
Since I got the shifter working properly I find myself 'using' it more often now. To save gas around town I usually just stick it in third and toodle along, old man style.
I find that when I shift it myself I tend to put my foot into it more than is called for.
It really is a lot of fun and when it's on the boil you can't beat it for shifting speed.
It's a blast to drive.

[crater64]

Not too rare; I just got one too!



Ed

[carrera turbo]

i have had several 911s in the past and we have recently came across a sportomatic 1975 targa in very solid condition. i first heard about this car two years ago and like most of us i thought not worth the trouble to even a look at. well after a bit of pressure from my significant other we stopped by and looked at it. i started the car drove the car around a bit and thought this is so strange its cool..

we now drive it when ever we can its just a bunch of fun to drive. down shifting in low traction can be tricky as you have no clutch control .

and as far as rare goes i think that all odd built 911s will become desirable. and as these sportos are removed and 915 installed it makes the survivors more attractive.

just my thoughts

[1982911SCTarga]

this is so strange its cool

This is what fascinates me. They are so clearly not a run-of-the-mill automatic transmission.

Nice T, Ed!

Brian

[Matt Monson]

I just read that strange but cool comment and chuckled. I think that covers it perfectly.