Barn find LWB 911, now what to do with it.

[CPS996]

Hi,

I’m a new member and this is my first post. I just bought a 1970 911 Coupe from a friend. It was driven into his shop years ago and disassembled and has been sitting ever since.

After a little detective work it appears to be a US Model 1970 911T Karmann Coupe w/5-speed and A/C.

VIN: 9110121981
Engine: 6106948
Engine Type: 911/07
Transmission: 7115686
Transmission Type: 911/01

The good:

• It was a regular running/driving car when it was parked
• Engine and transmission appear to be the original units
• Engine and transmission turn freely.
• There appears to be no rust or structural abnormalities of any kind.
• The body is bolted to a rolling dolly that came from Stottard.
• Less the drivers side front fender joining plate there appears to be no bodywork of any kind.
• Everything from the car appears to be present in all the boxes.

The bad:

• The drivers side front fender joining plate (911.501.053.00) appears to have been repaired from what looks like a hyper extended door or stuck catch.
• Someone tried to update the car (poorly). The window frames are black and the bumpers are wrong.
• The 2 or 3 plaques were removed when the car was disassembled and have been lost.
• The mice got to the upholstery.

The interesting:

• The deck lid badges are 911S and 2.4
• Pressure washing the underside of the front fenders revealed a fairly bright (signal?) green
• The carburetors are Webers

So the question is... What should I do with it?
I have written Porsche and asked for a CoA with the engine/transmission numbers.
Are the plaques available from anyone?
Restore it or Hot Rod it?
I have a 1997 3.6L VarioRam engine with 41k miles. That bolted to a built 915 gearbox w/good ratios and a limited slip could make a really fun car.

Either way I think the body should be brought down to metal and the car completely refinished. Something I am capable of doing.

What do you guys think?

More pictures here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_Z_eIm_yv9HewPpmNuOvbdC5u9jxP9VU

[911SauCy]

I'd go with it's a 911T...considering that's what the dash says...but only numbers and research would tell if you cared.

Looks like a serious recipient for a V-Ram. Moth ball original paperweight

[CPS996]

Is it safe to post the vehicle numbers? Here?

I have nothing to hide I've just never done it before.

[75 911s]

Here's what you should do:

Put it back together and drive it! And document your journey for all of us to see. :-)

[911SauCy]

Worst that could happen is someone knows more about the car than you do

[CPS996]

Vehicle numbers added.

[jrbennett]

'70 T should be 911010xxxx or 911012xxxx for a Karmann

Looks like you are correct with the info as a '70 T Karmann, engine number also looks correct for a '70T engine

Transmission looks like a 5spd from a '71

[fanaudical]

Nice find!

[Matt Monson]

Check that rear decklid and see if it is steel or aluminum. If aluminum it’s an S lid and worth thousands. The car is a T. But it might have a few nice S Parts.

[CPS996]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Check that rear decklid and see if it is steel or aluminum. If aluminum it’s an S lid and worth thousands. The car is a T. But it might have a few nice S Parts.

The deck lid might be aluminum as a magnet will not stick to it.

[Trackrash]

Nice find.

Take a look at the motor. Use a magnet on the cylinders to see if they are aluminum or iron. T motors had cast iron cylinders, those appear to be aluminum (biral).

It looks like they only did some weird paint on the front bumper. It looks to be original, as does the hood latch panel, which is awesome.

If it is the original motor, with the price of long hoods now days it makes sense to keep it as original as possible. At any rate, keep the body original regardless of your plans.

[Bill Douglas]

It looks to be (fairly much) rust free. So you are WAY ahead of the other guys who have done a barn find.

Good score!

[SalParadise]

To do most things properly you'd have to drop the engine and trans to reseal - so it's good it's already out. It doesn't look that bad at all.

[puddy]

Cool find, and enjoy the journey wherever it may lead!

[gomezoneill]

What's with the rear bumpers? Nice find.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Very cool, congrats! Considering the money that longhoods are bringing, I would be hard pressed to invest the money required for the inevitable restoration and not return it to nearly stock. Maybe stick the 3.6 into a cheap SC instead if you want a hot rod. But if the long term value of the car isn't a huge concern, go for it! Either way it looks like a great starting point.

[ed317]

I have done a number of these cars
restoration = $$$$$$$$$$
If you just want a fun car, hot rod it and enjoy it
Ed

[CPS996]

So I heard back from Porsche. The engine is the original but the transmission is not. Strange thing about the engine, per Trackrash I put a magnet on the cylinders but it does not stick. So that’s a little confusing as the engine appears to have never been apart. The cylinder heads are all dated 10•69 except for one that is 9•69.

The carburetors are Webers, I thought they were supposed to be Zenith or Solex.

Is the front bumper the original? It is not steel.

The rear bumper is steel, but is from what?

The tail lights and rear reflector are in perfect shape but are obviously the wrong year, what year are they?

The decklid is aluminum.

The window trim is black, is it from another car? Painted over?

All of the factory plaques are missing and presumed lost are those obtainable anywhere?

Apologies for all the questions but, I know nothing about the older cars.

[Trackrash]

The engine numbers indicate it is the original motor. So I'm guessing someone updated the motor at some point. Possibly S cylinders and pistons? So until you tear it down you won't know what's in it. With the 2,4 S emblem, who knows?

That rear bumper center piece and center reflector were an available bolt on "upgrade" back in the day.

The front bumper is a fiberglass replica of an S style bumper.

The US T models had Zenith carbs originally.

The window trim was most likely pained over. Try some paint stripper to find out.

The aluminum deck lid is worth $$$. Might be worth selling to recoup some money.

There are reproduction and NOS plaques available.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

Good luck on a good score.
Cheers
JB