1985 Porsche 911 Carrera 'Restomod IROC'

At a Glance:

+  1 of 1 Customised Example
+  High-Power 3.6 Ltr Air Cooled Flat 6 Engine
+  Full Restoration Inc Steel Wide Arch Conversion
+  High Specification - Full 'Nut & Bolt' Upgrades

Equipment & Features:

Exterior:

Fully detailed and comprehensive restoration during 2015-2016

• Replacement sills
• Kidney bowls
• B-posts
• Genuine Porsche panels where needed 
• Converted to ‘Wide-Body’ utilising 911 Turbo steel rear arches and matching steel front wings.
• Roof rain gutter delete (as per RUF cars) 
• Conversion to single windscreen wiper
• Fresh air intake/windscreen washer jet delete
• Front fibreglass bumper extensively modified in IROC-style to house the large uprated RSR-style oil cooler and associated air ducting
• Modified lightweight fibreglass bonnet with integrated outlet for cooling and downforce
• Rear bumper carefully crafted in a 1974 3.0 RS/IROC-style with discreet ventilation holes, and grilles mounted behind the offset rear number plate to aid cooling
• Aero-style colour-coded wing mirrors
• RS/IROC-style rear spoiler mounted onto a lightweight engine cover
• Complete respray in period Porsche shade of Arrow blue (305/pfeilblau). 
• New Dansk fuel tank
• Lightweight alloy protective belly pan. 
• Lightweight 964-style heated front and rear screens (Not wired in)
• 993 rear quarter glass and seals.

Engine:

• 11.6:1 Compression Ratio
• Flowed engine case (windage)
• Mooned Mahle cylinders
• Lightly ported cylinder heads
• Supertec Head Studs
• ARP con-rod bolts on (standard) con rods, weight matched
• JE RS Pistons (to suit 993RS valve size), Weight matched
• Patrick Motorsport flywheel
• Sachs sport clutch
• 993 RS inlet valves (8mm shaft) and RS inlet valve seats
• 993 exhaust valves (8mm shaft)
• Uprated race valve springs with titanium retainers
• DC21 profile camshafts with 114-degree lobes
• Fibreglass engine tinware (Roger Harradine)
• Single alternator pulley conversion
• Strengthened engine mounting bar
• 993 Heat exchangers (flange flipped)
• Full bespoke slip fit titanium exhaust system
• Porsche/Akrapovic Titanium silencer from 997 GT2 RS
• Bespoke titanium exhaust tips
• Bosch 0 280 150 792 fuel injectors
• Late 964 (lightweight plastic) intake system with oversized throttle body
• 993 fuel rails
• Specialist Control Systems Typhoon II ECU and bespoke wiring harnesses Cam position, IAT and MAP sensors
• Distributor replaced with coil packs running wasted spark ignition setup
• Bosch 044 ‘motorsport’ fuel pump upgrade
• Tuned by Chipwizards to produce 318.5 BHP at 6,150 RPM / 293.7 lb ft at 4,920 RPM

Gearbox:

Fully rebuilt 915 gearbox by highly-respected Porsche specialist RSR Engineering in 2019.

• New genuine Porsche seals, synchros and bearings
• CMS bearing retainer (teddy bear or ‘8’) plate
• Wosp high torque starter motor
• J West Rennshift performance shifter assembly
• Superpro poly coupling and mounting bushes

Suspension:

Complete overhaul and set up by Chris Franklin at Centre of Gravity

• Custom valved Bilstein shock absorber units
• Fully refurbished front control arms with custom strengthening plates
• Front Strut brace (welded)
• Lemforder turbo tie rods
• Weltmeister bump steer kit
• 27mm Sanders Engineering hollow torsion bars (rear)
• Superpro bushes fitted throughout
• Extended length rear wheel studs
• Compomotive split rim lightweight alloy wheels

Interior:

• Recaro Speed reclining front sports seats & Recaro double lock runners
• Black leather rear seats with 3-point rear seatbelts fitted
• Full RS style carpets made by PF911 in black classic Porsche ‘square weave’ style
• Alcantara headlining
• Momo Prototipo steering wheel
• Dashboard retrimmed in black leather with stitching detail
• 911 Lockshield (security)
• Rennline blower motor cover
• Manual ‘keep fit’ window winder mechanisms
• Black RS door cards
• VDO Digital & USB Bluetooth Stereo with phone connection
• ‘Simplified’ heating system
• USB charging point
• Classic Retrofit blade fuse panel upgrade
• Odyssey PC680 lightweight battery
• Billet alloy battery mount

History:

• Detailed service history presented over three folders. Various invoices and receipts for detailed work throughout its life including old V5C and MOT certificates, and invoices for parts used for major works (engine, gearbox, body panels etc) down to small items such as clips and pipes. Presented also with the original service book:
• 08/05/1985 at 583 miles - Service, carried out by Roger Clark LTD
• 07/06/1985 at 2,728 miles - Service, carried out by Roger Clark LTD
• 09/07/1985 at 5,178 miles - Service, carried out by Roger Clark LTD
• 14/11/1985 at 13,637 miles - Service, carried out by Roger Clark LTD
• 05/06/1986 at 24,463 miles - Service, carried out by Roger Clark LTD
• 10/02/1987 at 37,225 miles - Service, carried out by Roger Clark LTD
• 10/03/1988 at 42,931 miles - Service, carried out by Two Mills Garage
• 1989 - Date and mileage not shown - Service, carried out by Porsche Specialist Tony Greatorex
• 28/06/1990 at 76,031 miles - Service, carried out by Porsche Specialist Tony Greatorex
• 21/01/1991 at 89,309 miles - Service, carried out by Porsche Specialist Tony Greatorex
• 20/03/1992 at 92,113 miles - Service, carried out by The Classic Car Workshop*

*At this time a replacement used speedometer was fitted. Mileage on replacement showing 51,266 miles, indicating a 40,847 mile change.

• 24/05/1993 at 54,778 miles (95,625 miles) - MOT
• 03/12/1993 at 58,296 miles (99,143 miles) - Service, carried out by 930 Sport
• 21/05/1994 at 59,159 miles (100,006 miles) - MOT
• 26/10/1994 at 60,230 miles (101,077 miles) - Service, carried out by 930 Sport
• 22/05/1996 at 63,259 miles (104,106 miles) - Service and MOT, carried out by 930 Sport
• 30/05/1997 at 64,060 miles (104,907 miles) - Service, carried out by 930 Sport
• 30/05/1997 at 64,108 miles (104,955 miles) - MOT
• 18/05/1998 at 64,500 miles (106,247 miles) - Service, carried out by 930 Sport
• 11/05/2000 at 66,702 miles (107,549 miles) - MOT
• 17/05/2001 at 70,150 miles (110,997 miles) - MOT
• 09/01/2002 at 70,518 miles (111,365 miles) - Service, carried out by Ron Hodgson Specialist Cars
• 09/01/2002 at 70,570 miles (111,417 miles) - MOT
• Vehicle then dry stored for approx. 5 years
• 20/11/2007 at 74,780 miles (115,627 miles) - Service, carried out by Memsie Garage
• 04/02/2009 at 76,836 miles (117,683 miles) - MOT
• 21/04/2009 at 77,506 miles (118,353 miles) - Service, carried out by RPM Technik
• 13/02/2010 at 78,821 miles (119,668 miles) - MOT

During 2011 the upgraded replacement 3.6 litre Porsche '964' 911 engine was built and installed by Nick Fulljames, RedTek

• 15/06/2011 at 78,981 miles - Speedometer sent to JDO-Instruments to be reset to zero to match new engine 
• 19/08/2011 at 23 miles - MOT
• 05/10/2011 at 1,334 miles - Service, carried out by RedTek
• 18/08/2012 at 4,027 - MOT
• 26/07/2013 at 6,580 miles - MOT
• 04/03/2014 at 7,797 miles - Service, carried out by RedTek
• 01/08/2014 at 9,119 miles - MOT
• 29/05/2015 at 11,082 miles - Service, carried out by RedTek
• 13/10/2017 at 11,178 miles - MOT
• 04/10/2108 at 12,805 miles - MOT
• 20/09/2019 at 14,439 miles - MOT
• 16/09/2020 at 15,362 miles - MOT
• 15/09/2021 at 15,855 miles - MOT
• 15/10/2022 at 17,893 miles - MOT

We understand the vehicle has been serviced regularly, and with high quality components and lubricants.

More:

There’s no sports car quite like the 911. While its size and weight has grown over the years the silhouette remains unmistakable, alongside its evolution of ingredients honed over the 6 decades of 911 production. It was, however, nearly consigned to the history books and saved from planned retirement in 1981 by then Porsche AG CEO Peter W. Schutz. That decision has led the 911 - the company's icon - to  be what many believe is the saviour of the company. For the updated 1984 car, Porsche brought back the Carrera nameplate - the first time since 1977 - and along with it a host of improvements including a larger 3.2 litre version of the flat 6 engine of which Porsche claimed was 80% new. The 1984-1989 is considered by most as being the last iteration of the original 911 series, given the redesign and raft of changes brought in for the 964 911. 

This however, is no ordinary 911 Carrera 2.

Purchased as a standard 1985 narrow-body Carrera 3.2 in Prussian Blue by the previous owner, the 911 was used and enjoyed, and, over the years as parts wore out they were either replaced or more often upgraded until the whole car has been refreshed and upgraded to the specification and condition presented today.

The choice of bespoke upgrades took cues from both fast-road and motorsport, it's clear to see the exterior modifications were inspired by the Porsche IROC cars. The premier season of IROC (International Race Of Champions) in 1973-1974 was founded around purpose-built  identical 1974 Porsche 911 3.0 litre RSR racing cars and were driven by the racing greats of Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, and other highly regarded international racing series. Only 15 were built.

Whilst the work to the car was an ongoing affair over a 15 year or so period, a large proportion of the improvements were made during 2015 and 2016 when the car was subject to an extensive bare metal restoration, customisation, and high-quality upgrades. 

During 2015 and 2016 the car underwent general body maintenance including replacement of the sills, kidney bowls, B-posts and genuine Porsche panels where needed, and converted to ‘Wide-Body’ utilising 911 Turbo steel rear arches and matching steel front wings. Further enhancements were chosen such as deleting the roof rain gutters (as per RUF cars) and converting to a single windscreen wiper and fresh air intake/windscreen washer jet delete. The front fibreglass bumper was extensively modified to house the large uprated RSR-style oil cooler and associated air ducting which not only keep the oil cooler under direct airflow, but also aid the aerodynamics by venting the funnelled air out through the integrated outlet in the modified bonnet, forcing air over the car to create downforce rather than under it and causing unwanted lift. The rear bumper follows suit, carefully crafted in a 1974 3.0 RS/IROC-style with discreet ventilation holes, and grilles mounted behind the offset rear number plate to aid cooling. The colour-coded wing mirrors were chosen due to their ‘aero’ styling and provide a healthy balance of style and functionality. Completing the exterior look is the RS/IROC-style rear spoiler mounted onto a lightweight engine cover.

Upon completing the customisation's and ensuring the car was made rust free, the owner chose not to repaint the car in its original shade of Prussian blue (Preußischblau), instead going with a period Porsche shade of Arrow blue (305/pfeilblau). A ‘new’ Dansk fuel tank was also fitted, along with a lightweight alloy protective belly pan. The car now features lightweight 964-style front and rear screens which feature heating elements if the next owner wishes to wire them in, and also 993 rear quarter glass and seals.

While the 911 has grown to be the backbone of the Porsche marque, it’s the iconic flat-six engine which has endeared the sports car to generation after generation of followers, even more so for the air-cooled examples. The lack of cooling system and associated gubbins meant the engine was designed flat and more compact, allowing for a lower centre of gravity and for the 1984 model the engine grew once again in capacity, now standing at 3.2 litres and 230 bhp. This, of course however, is no ordinary 911 and as expected just as much care and attention has gone into the engine as the rest of the car.

The original 3.2 litre engine has been replaced with a fully rebuilt 3.6 litre example from the 964 911 at the hands of renowned specialist Nick Fulljames of Redtek in 2011, and has only covered 18,000 miles since. No stone was left unturned during the rebuild, the engine now featuring a raft of upgraded and proven components and upon having a general maintenance tune in 2022 by Wayne Schofield of respected tuning house Chipwizards, the car produced a very healthy 318 bhp. Given the car weighs approx. 1050 kg, performance can be described as very entertaining.

To ensure all that power could be used reliably, the late 915 gearbox - along with factory oil cooler - was completely stripped down, inspected and rebuilt using genuine Porsche parts by highly-respected Porsche specialist RSR Engineering in 2019, and as with the running gear and bodywork, the suspension was privy to the same attention. Completely overhauled and then set up by Chris Franklin at Centre of Gravity, the upgrades provide an excellent balance of road holding and usability, and fully adjustable to cater for both track and road use.

Moving inside is an interior designed in a minimalist, but focused style. Although very capable on track, you will not find a stripped out interior, roll cages or harsh competition seats, instead the interior retains a full carpet set and rear seats, and up front sit reclining Recarco seats. The pillars and roof lining are alcantara, and it even has a stereo. Of particular note are the interior door pulls which were originally activator pull cords for fighter jet ejector seats, noting the passenger side which had actually been used to eject.

Coming from the collection of a Porsche connoisseur and affectionately known as 'Big Blue' this stunning one-of-one example is now ready for its next custodian, and will make a fine addition as an exciting but usable road car or very capable track toy.