Shy of the Carrera RS, the beautiful and powerful 1973 911 S Coupe represents the pinnacle of Porsche’s lightweight sports cars from the early 1970s. The year 1973 marked the end of the “long-hood, thin-bumper” period of Porsche design. The following model year would bring five-mph safety bumpers and increased weight. The high-performance 1973 “S” had a highly responsive 2.4-liter Type 911/53 engine that packed a wallop, with 190 horsepower at 6,500 rpm. It was bolted to a new Type 915 transmission, which offered stronger internals and a simplified shifting pattern. A new front chin spoiler reduced front-end lift at speed by a claimed 40%, and it helped pin the front of the car to the pavement. It was so effective that Porsche soon adopted the part across the 911 line. The 1973 S was rather expensive when new, bearing a base price of just over $10,000 before any options were added.

This 911 S Coupe is an early example of the 1973 F-series, built on Porsche’s legendary unitized body and fitted with an electric sunroof at the factory. It also includes Porsche’s competition-oriented M409 Sport Seat option, complete instrumentation, rack-and-pinion steering, and forged alloy Fuchs 6x15-inch wheels. The owner, a long-time Porsche enthusiast and vintage Porsche racer, states that this car was acquired in restored and excellent condition. It retains its original floor panels and matching-numbers engine and transmission. Also included are its original tool kit, jack, owner’s manual, and Porsche-issued Certificate of Authenticity. After it was purchased by the consignor, it was left with a marque expert, RennGruppe Motorsports in Lexington, North Carolina, for some minor work, which brought it to its present outstanding condition.

Finished in its original Special Order 335 Gemini Metallic paint, it also sports a stunning black leatherette interior, with the seats trimmed with attractive black-and-white hounds-tooth cloth inserts. With a dry weight of just over 2,500 pounds, lots of power, and large disc brakes at all four corners, the 2.4-liter 911 S delivers a great driving experience with terrific (140 mph-plus) performance, comfort, and good looks, making it perfect for rapid touring or club events. A 22.4-gallon gas tank allows long runs between fuel stops. Relatively few of these S Coupes were produced in 1973; just 1,430 were made in total, and only 524 of those were designated for the U.S. market. Their relative scarcity means these models are always in demand by knowledgeable Porsche enthusiasts, and this example presents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the best.