Offered may be the most original 1968 Porsche 911 coupe in the world, let alone the finest equipped with the intriguing Sportomatic semi-automatic transmission.

According to its factory Kardex, chassis no. 835019 was completed on 9 January 1968 and shipped 20 days later to VW Pacific in Culver City, California. The first noted owner was T.G. Tupman of Balboa Island, a coastal suburb of Los Angeles. Along with the Sportomatic transmission – an expensive option at $2,380 – Mr. Tupman selected 911 S instrumentation and oil tank, full tinted glass (Catacolor), bumper horns, and a radio installation package. The car was painted Silver Metallic (96024B), a single-stage paint without clearcoat, and the interior was trimmed in black leatherette. The original tires were Pirelli 165/15 radials mounted on ventilated chromed steel wheels. Upon delivery, an air conditioning system was installed; a former owner believes that work was carried out at Chick Iverson Porsche in nearby Newport Beach. Eventually, a Blaupunkt AM-FM radio was added as well.

The 911 coupe has led a much-pampered life, accruing fewer than 23,000 original miles from new, and passing through the hands of some well-known and devoted Porsche enthusiasts. These included Bob Hartwell, owner of Hartwell Vineyards in Napa, California. Mr. Hartwell kept the car until 2000 before selling it to renowned Porsche historian and collector Prescott Kelly of Weston, Connecticut; it later joined the Bob Ingram collection in North Carolina and was then again acquired by Mr. Kelly. In 2015 it was acquired by the former owner who sold it to the present owner several years ago.

There can be no question that this silver 911 is as near-perfect throughout as only an un-restored, low-mileage car can be. It boasts excellent fit and finish, and all the interior and trim is original. The paint is original with the exception of the front bumper, which was repainted in 1987. This 911 retains its original date-stamped chrome-plated steel wheels with vintage Semperit tires for show, including painted crests on the hubcaps and wire valve stem supports. It is also supplied with newer Porsche six-inch steel chrome wheels with new Vredesteins for reliable street use.

This wonderful A-series 911 is supplied with a factory-original tool roll, including a tire gauge and fuses, a correct and perfect Bilstein blue-tipped jack, owner’s manual with special Sportomatic supplement, radio and battery warranty booklets, a set of floor mats, Kardex, and Porsche Certificate of Authenticity. It still wears its original California “black plates.” Further, it is in excellent show condition and regularly out-scores restored cars when it is shown competitively. It won the 911 Division at the 1988 Pikes Peak Porsche Club Parade National Concours against restored cars, was declared the “Most Outstanding Porsche” at the 2001 Greenwich Concours, and won “Best German Sports Car 1967–1983” at the 2012 Greenwich Concours.

The Porsche collector seeking the very best and most original early 911 available need look no further than this marvelous Sportomatic.