Description
Offered for sale is a truly exceptional first year 1978 Porsche 911SC Coupe. Intended to extend the 911 line through its planned cessation in 1981, the Porsche 911SC was introduced to the U.S. market in 1978 with only slight aesthetic changes to the 911’s previous incarnation. That said, under the hood it was much different, sporting the 3.0L (2994cc) engine upon which Porsche would build its “bulletproof” reputation for reliability. Putting out 172hp and a much more consistent torque curve, the 911SC was the most tractable and civilized 911 ever. That’s not to say that it gave up any performance, rocketing from 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds, times comparable to 911 variants all the way through the 1990’s. In fact, the 911SC was so popular with the public and so successful for Porsche, that they scrapped their plans of ending the 911 model LINE, and consequently many Porsche enthusiasts regard the SC as the savior of the iconic model and, by extension, the company.
A dry Southern California car all it’s life, this example boasts only 11,xxx original miles – and it looks it. The wonderfully era-specific deep blue metallic paint is in excellent condition, retaining striking depth and luster. All of the rubber, window surrounds and plastic insets are consistent and in excellent condition. Free of dings, scratches, corrosion or evidence of body-work, as evidenced by the pictures, the car appears as it did nearly 30 years ago – absolutely stunning.
The interior is equally clean. The rare optional turbo sport seats are in truly exceptional condition, completely free of imperfections such as tears, fading or stains. The headliner, panels and carpets are in excellent condition as well, and the dash is free of cracks or fading. The car is completely original, retaining its fully functioning Blaupunkt radio and period steering wheel. Everything works as it should, including the power windows, heating system and optional power sunroof.
The car is truly a pleasure to drive, starting right up (without any smoke), pulling smoothly and strongly through each gear and shifting crisply. There are no shudders or vibrations, no evidence of leaks or odd smells and no inconsistencies in compression. The brakes are precise, not gummy, and the car stops as straight as it drives. The car lives up to Porsche’s legendary handling (you’ll be grinning ear-to-ear in the canyons) and it always feels powerfully torquey. Always kept garaged in dry climates the car exhibits no evidence of rust or rust repair on the body or the undercarriage. It has always been well maintained and recently received a major service at the Porsche dealership in Palm Springs.
At nearly thirty years old, the 911SC offers the best of both worlds: a true classic that is still modern enough to drive comfortably and reliably. At only 11k miles, if properly looked after this “bulletproof” 3.0L engine is sure to give it’s next owner an arguably true collector quality car that will appreciate in value. If you’ve been looking for an exceptionally clean, rust-free California example, this 1978 Porsche 911SC Coupe seriously deserves your consideration.
