1965 Porsche 911

Price:  $255000.00

1965 Porsche 911 Chassis: 301379 | Engine: 901477 Finished in its original Champagne Yellow (Champagnergelb, 6405 B) over Black leatherette, this 1965 Porsche 911 Coupe is an early short-wheelbase example that has undergone an extensive, carefully documented restoration to its original factory specification. Originally delivered to California, the car subsequently spent more than three decades in Europe before returning to the United States in 2024. Accompanying documentation includes its original Porsche Kardex, Porsche Geburtsurkunde (Birth Certificate), historic European registration records, FIA documentation, restoration photographs, specialist correspondence, invoices, and an independent appraisal.

According to the Porsche factory records, chassis 301379 was invoiced on 05/31/1965 and delivered through Porsche Car Pacific in Burlingame, California, to its first recorded owner, Walter Matson of Pleasanton. The original specification included Champagne Yellow paintwork, Black leatherette upholstery, a five-speed manual transmission, and an optional Webasto auxiliary heating system. The Kardex also identifies the original engine as number 901477, which remains with the car, confirming its matching-numbers status. Early service entries are recorded in the factory documentation through 1967.

The car's subsequent European history can be traced to Sweden by 1991, supported by an FIA Historic Vehicle Identity Form identifying the chassis and engine numbers. In 1997, it was registered in the Netherlands under registration DM-86-70, where it remained for approximately 26 years. During this period, the car belonged to a Dutch collector and underwent earlier bodywork before being acquired by Jacques Verdier in 2014. Verdier subsequently commissioned a comprehensive restoration, drawing upon several Porsche and automotive restoration specialists throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. The project is supported by an extensive collection of invoices, technical records, correspondence, and photographic documentation dating from 2015 onward.

A significant portion of the body restoration was entrusted to Siemerink Porsche Restauratie Specialist in IJmuiden, Netherlands. In a detailed statement dated 05/23/2016, Siemerink documented the work performed to return the body to its original 1965 configuration. Following the metalwork, the entire body was stripped to bare metal and refinished using a documented Glasurit Classic Colors paint system. The process included Glasurit two-component epoxy primer, body leveling and surfacing materials, high-build primer, and a Glasurit 22 Series two-component topcoat in the factory Champagne Yellow color. The underside, luggage compartment, and engine compartment received protective coatings, while the dashboard structure, inner door edges, and seat-rail areas were finished in matte black as specified in the restoration records. The work extended to the removable body panels and exterior trim, with considerable attention given to recreating the original appearance and panel alignment.

The car retains its original matching-numbers 1,991cc Type 901/01 air-cooled flat-six, engine number 901477, equipped with twin Solex 40 PI triple-choke carburetors. Rated at 130 horsepower when new, the engine was comprehensively overhauled during the restoration, as recorded in the accompanying documentation and 2016 appraisal. Additional invoices describe the refurbishment of engine-related components, including generating equipment, carburetor gaskets, fuel lines, ignition wiring, oil-pressure sender, exhaust components, and associated hardware. The engine compartment was also refinished and detailed as part of the broader restoration.

The five-speed Type 901 manual transmission was likewise rebuilt. A Porsche-Parts.nl invoice dated 02/23/2017 documents the installation of five new synchromesh rings, a gasket set, transmission oil, a gearbox switch, miscellaneous components, and 14 hours of associated labor. Additional mechanical work included renewal or refurbishment of front suspension bushings, braking components, steering and shifting hardware, seals, fuel-system components, and various electrical fittings. The documented mechanical specification includes red Koni shock absorbers, 15-inch steel wheels with chrome hubcaps, and Vredestein Sprint Classic tires. Further invoices record brake-system servicing, replacement fluids, and wheel-alignment work during final assembly and recommissioning.

The interior was reconstructed with a particular emphasis on the materials and construction methods used in the earliest production 911s. Much of the upholstery work was commissioned through CarTex SitzKlinik in Königswinter, Germany, with correspondence between Verdier and the specialist documenting the precise requirements. Rather than relying upon generic replacement upholstery, original unrestored 1965 examples were referenced to establish the correct seat design, perforation pattern, and upholstery details. The front seats were reconstructed with the appropriate five-pleat pattern, perforated Black leatherette, original-style internal padding, and no headrests, consistent with the early factory configuration. The work also included refinishing the seat frames and restoring the rear seats, dashboard coverings, door panels, rear quarter trim, headliner, interior insulation, and carpeting.

Particular attention was also given to the smaller interior and exterior components that distinguish these early cars. Restoration invoices document refurbishment and refinishing of chrome and polished trim, handles, bumper components, dashboard fittings, and interior trim pieces. The completed cabin incorporates its wood-trimmed dashboard, period instrumentation, wood-rim steering wheel, Black leatherette seating, and dark carpeting. A Blaupunkt radio is also included in the car's documented equipment, together with the unusual factory-specified Webasto auxiliary heating system.

The restoration was independently assessed in 12/2016 by Gratama & Luxwolda Classic Car Taxaties in the Netherlands. At the time of inspection, the project was in its final stages, with the appraisal describing the bodywork, paint finish, interior workmanship, and mechanical restoration in exceptionally favorable terms. The report noted the use of original components and period-correct specifications wherever possible, characterizing the quality of the work as being of top-tier concours standard. An insurance replacement valuation of €300,000 was assigned at that time. Further mechanical and finishing invoices from 2017 document work undertaken following this assessment.

Having spent approximately 26 years in the Netherlands, chassis 301379 was returned to the United States in 2024. The car has seen limited use following its restoration and continues to be presented in its original Champagne Yellow and Black specification, retaining its factory-matching engine and the distinctive features associated with the earliest production 911s.

Accompanied by substantial historical and restoration documentation, this 1965 911 offers an opportunity to acquire an early, California-delivered example with a traceable European history and a thoroughly documented return to its original specification. From the extensive structural and cosmetic restoration to the mechanically rebuilt drivetrain and carefully researched interior, the work reflects a particular emphasis on the construction, materials, and detailing that distinguish the original two-liter 911.

DETAILS:

StockNumber: 301379
VIN: 00000000000301379
Trim: 
Body Style: Convertible
Mileage: 859
Engine Description: F6 2.0L
Cylinders: Unspecified
Fuel Type: Unspecified
Transmission: Manual 5-Speed
Exterior Color: Champagne Yellow
Interior Color: Black - Leatherette