1970 Porsche 911 3.0-Litre Rally Car
Registration no. WRP 217H
Chassis no. 9110120812
Engine no. 6390045

Few sports cars are as versatile as Porsche's perennial 911, a model that, for the past 50 years, has proved equally capable as a Grand Tourer, circuit racer or rally car. The 911 first appeared in the latter role, as a works entry, on the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally. Group wins were achieved in the European Rally Championship in 1966 and 1967, with works driver Vic Elford securing the overall European Championship in the latter. In 1968 the 911 emphatically established its credentials as a frontline rally car, works-entered 911s winning eight of the 15 European Championship rounds with works driver Pauli Toivonen taking the European title. Two years later the 911 brought Porsche its first World Championship of Makes. Today, the Porsche 911 in its many forms is a mainstay of historic rallying worldwide.

By far the most successful historic Porsche rally specialists in the UK are Banbury based Tuthill Porsche, whose customers have won events in historic rallying globally, including the British Historic Rally Championship and the East African Safari Tally in 2011 with father and son team Björn and Matthias Waldegård. Father and son, Francis and Richard Tuthill, have gathered an enormous amount of experience and knowledge, building well over 100 competition cars for some of the best drivers in the world including Björn Waldegård, Jimmy McRae, Russell Brookes, Tony Pond, Walter Röhrl, Michèle Mouton and more recently Francois Deleçour.

This particular car was fully prepared in 2005 from a bare 1970 Porsche 911T bodyshell to full 'Safari Specification' and then driven and tested by Jimmy McRae. It was then used for just only two events: the 2005 East African Safari Rally, driven by John Lloyd to 4th place overall, and the 2006 Carrera Sudamericana driven by the previous owner on his first major event to 10th place overall.

The specification is very comprehensive, as the car was built on a 'no-expense-spared' basis, which included a welded roll cage that picks up on all suspension points, including the rear torsion tube. Other highlights are full Safari suspension that includes WRC four-way fully adjustable dampers; a 90-litre fuel tank designed to enable twin spare wheels to be accommodated ahead of it; a competition lightweight wiring loom and latest dashboard; centrally mounted 'Marathon' oil tank; and oil coolers mounted in the 'Duck Tail' rear spoiler, etc. The engine is a 3.0-litre, twin-plug 'high torque' unit giving a healthy and reliable 250bhp-plus, which is coupled to a limited-slip differential and high-ratio competition gearbox with its own oil cooler. An equivalent new-build car today, Tuthill inform us, would cost in excess of £150,000 and in the right hands this car is still more than capable of a podium place in any major international historic rally.

The Porsche was purchased by the current vendor at Bonhams' Spa Classic Sale in May 2013 (Lot 37) having undergone a £30,000 rebuild by Francis Tuthill following its last rally. Since acquisition the car has benefited from extensive work exclusively by Tuthill, as evidenced by detailed invoices on file. The car also comes with an MSA Historic Rally Vehicle Identity Form and Competition Car Logbook, French Carte Grise and V5 registration document.