This is my 1966 Irish Green 911, one of the first short-wheelbase cars that I acquired. It was advertised, I believe, on Pelican Parts Forum, listed in Seattle. So naturally, what did I do? Flew to Seattle.

I booked a round trip on Southwest, arrived at 9:00 AM on a rainy morning. The owner of the car picked me up at the airport, and we drove to an independent Porsche specialist, John Walker—no relation, not even related to the whisky—who serviced it. Walker put the car on a rack and I took a look to make sure it wasn’t a complete rust-bucket. I drove it around, and by this time it was probably 10:30-11:00. The seller drove me back to the airport, I caught a flight at noon, and I was back in LA by probably 3:00 in the afternoon. So that was it: I bought it on a whirlwind trip, on a rainy day in Seattle.

I wasn’t necessarily looking for a green car. This is really Porsche’s variation on what you’d call British Racing Green. Being a Germany company, I guess they couldn’t call it that, so Irish Green is what it is. It’s been repainted once. Other than that, it has its original numbers-matching motor, and as you can see, original interior with worn carpets...I love the way the steering wheel is worn.

When I got it was on Fuchs wheels which were not period-correct. I later put it on these steelies powder-coated in this shade of gray, which is not actually period-correct but close, and I’m running it without the hubcaps. It’s one of those cars that’s a great example of engaging all the senses. At 80 mph it’s moving around because it’s on these tall, 70-series tires which are pretty narrow. There’s body roll, body flex, but it’s engaging. It just feels faster than it is.

To me this car is like stepping back in time. We can’t time-travel, but if I want to go back to 1966, this is probably the closest I can get. It’s a little bit of a time-warp car.

—Magnus Walker

There are times when the perfect car remains elusive, a reward earned only at the end of a hunt lasting months or even years.

And then there are times when a car simply drops into your lap.

Magnus Walker’s 1966 Porsche 911 is a brilliant example of the latter sort of car. As noted by its accompanying Kardex copy, it was completed in January 1966 and delivered in the spring of that year. Finished in Irish Green (Irishgrün) over Black leatherette, it was distributed through Porsche Car Pacific of Burlingame, California, a significant early dealer in what was already becoming one of Porsche’s most important markets. Intriguingly, the Kardex lists a “B. Wilson” as the car’s first owner, though no address or further information is stated.

When Walker acquired the 911 in 2009 following a lightning trip to the Pacific Northwest, it remained much as it was when it was first delivered. It wears a repaint in its factory-correct Irish Green and retains its numbers-matching flat-six (it is currently fitted with an earlier type 901/0 gearbox numbered 100717). The original Black leatherette interior, original carpets, and wood-rimmed steering wheel boast the authentic patina that comes only from years of careful use. It still rides on the gray-coated steel wheels, sans hubcaps, installed by Walker after his purchase.

Though this 911 has attended a few cars and coffee events while in Walker’s ownership and was included in a 2013 XCAR video about this car and his collection, it has not been shown extensively. It has nevertheless remained a well-loved long-term tenant of his garage, where it serves as both a visual and tactile counterpoint to the outlaw and sport-purpose Porsches for which Walker is so widely known.

“It hadn’t been butchered, hadn’t been modified, hadn’t been improved,” Walker says of this short-wheelbase 911. “It’s just got the right amount of patina and character. That was what I loved about it when I first saw it.” Its fortunate next owner will undoubtedly find much to love, as well.