{"id":8878,"date":"2025-01-30T17:26:12","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T17:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.design911.co.uk\/blog\/?p=8878"},"modified":"2025-08-07T08:32:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T07:32:06","slug":"recommissioning-a-classic-the-story-of-a-1972-porsche-911e-sportomatic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.design911.co.uk\/blog\/recommissioning-a-classic-the-story-of-a-1972-porsche-911e-sportomatic\/","title":{"rendered":"Recommissioning a Classic: The Story of a 1972 Porsche 911E Sportomatic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some cars come with a story; this one has a particularly poignant past. A 1972 Porsche 911E in Signal Yellow – <\/strong>once the pride and joy of its owner\u2019s late wife\u2014has sat dormant for 18 years. Now, with a fresh lease of life in sight, the goal isn\u2019t an obsessive nut-and-bolt restoration but a recommissioning<\/strong>: keeping it as original as possible while ensuring it drives like Stuttgart intended.<\/p>\n

Enter Graham, the Workshop Manager<\/strong>, a man who knows his way around an air-cooled flat-six. His mission? To revive this rare right-hand-drive Sportomatic 911E<\/strong> with sensitivity, skill & a keen eye for authenticity.<\/p>\n

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The Porsche 911E: A Snapshot of its Legacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Built between 1969 & 1973, the Porsche 911E<\/strong> was the middle child in the range; slotted between the no-frills 911T<\/strong> & the firecracker 911S<\/strong>. The \u2018E\u2019 stands for Einspritzung<\/strong>\u2014German for \u2018injection\u2019\u2014signifying its Bosch mechanical fuel injection<\/strong> system. This wasn\u2019t just about efficiency; it made the power delivery smoother & the driving experience more refined.<\/p>\n

By 1972, the 911E came with a 2.4-litre flat-six, producing 165bhp<\/strong>. A key quirk of this model year? The one-year-only external oil filler door<\/strong>\u2014a well-intentioned design decision that was swiftly dropped after too many people mistook it for a fuel filler. Classic Porsche eccentricity at its finest.<\/p>\n

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But here\u2019s the kicker: this one\u2019s a Sportomatic<\/strong>. Porsche\u2019s early attempt at an automatic transmission, clutchless, but still shiftable was designed for effortless grand touring rather than full-throttle backroad blasts. Love it or loathe it, it\u2019s a rarity today, making this particular 911E even more special.<\/p>\n

The Sportomatic system was Porsche\u2019s first real attempt at an automatic transmission, aimed at making driving easier while maintaining some degree of manual control. Unlike a conventional automatic, the Sportomatic transmission doesn\u2019t change gears for the driver; instead, it allows for manual selection of gears but eliminates the need for a clutch pedal. Instead, a vacuum-operated system disengages the clutch when the gearstick is touched. The result is a gearbox that offers a level of driver engagement not found in traditional automatics, though purists often prefer the traditional manual gearbox.<\/p>\n

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Recommissioning the 911E: The Master Plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is a sympathetic revival<\/strong>, not a concours restoration. \u201cThe owner has a budget & just wants to enjoy the car again,\u201d says Graham. \u201cWe\u2019re focusing on getting the engine running, testing the gearbox & driveline, then making sure the brakes & fuel system are all up to scratch before looking at the bodywork.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phase 1: Engine & Fuel System Revival<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The car\u2019s been sitting for nearly two decades<\/strong>; unsurprisingly, the fuel system is shot<\/strong>. \u201cAll the fuel lines have perished; the fuel tank is full of corrosion,\u201d Graham explains. First job? New fuel lines, a deep clean of the injection system & replacing all the brittle rubber hoses, belts & vacuum lines.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the plus side, there\u2019s hope: \u201cThe engine turns over, has oil pressure & compression so we\u2019re in good shape,\u201d he adds. But before it roars back to life, the fuel system needs to be 100% sorted.<\/p>\n

Phase 2: Testing the Sportomatic Gearbox<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A clutchless manual<\/strong>, Sportomatic allows you to shift gears without a pedal; instead, a vacuum-operated system disengages the clutch when the gearstick is touched. \u201cIt\u2019s an odd system, but it works,\u201d Graham says. \u201cWe won\u2019t know if it\u2019s functional until we fire up the engine & test it under load.\u201d Fingers crossed.<\/p>\n

Phase 3: Brakes & Driveline Check<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Once the engine\u2019s running, the driveline & brakes<\/strong> take centre stage. The car\u2019s been idle for too long<\/strong> to trust the existing system, so every calliper, disc & line<\/strong> will be checked to ensure it\u2019s safe before it hits the road.<\/p>\n

Braking performance is key for any classic car. Given the car\u2019s age, the existing braking components may have corroded or degraded beyond safe usability. The team will inspect everything and replace only what is necessary to retain as much of the car\u2019s originality as possible. The suspension will also receive a once-over, with bushings and mounts being checked to ensure they haven\u2019t deteriorated over time.<\/p>\n

Phase 4: Keeping the Interior & Bodywork Original<\/strong><\/h4>\n

This isn\u2019t a resto-mod job. \u201cThe owner wants to keep the originality intact,\u201d Graham says. \u201cThe seats, dash & headlining? All original & in great condition.<\/strong>\u201d That\u2019s unheard of for a 50-year-old Porsche<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The bodywork will get attention in time, but for now, the priority is mechanical soundness<\/strong>. The goal? To keep it as close to how it left the factory as possible.<\/p>\n

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FAQs About the Porsche 911E<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What makes the Porsche 911E special?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A balance of performance & comfort<\/strong>, the 911E featured mechanical fuel injection<\/strong>, making it smoother & more refined than carburetted models.<\/p>\n

How does the 911E compare to the 911T & 911S?<\/strong><\/h4>\n