Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI: Classic Drive
The 1974 Carrera 2.7 MFI is one of the most significant variants of Porsche’s impact-bumper G-Series 911. We take a rather eye-catching magenta example for a spin.
I could not believe my eyes! A few months before I drove this Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI, I had no idea this model even existed. My fascination began when I visited a collector and she showed me pictures of this car, taken while visiting a group of car enthusiasts in Johannesburg.
IMAGES: Rob Till
My initial thought was one of disgust – how could someone paint a Porsche 911 pink, especially hot pink? It was quickly explained that this was, in fact, the car’s original colour, giving it a fascinating history.
A few phone calls later, and an appointment was made with the owner. The story of how he came to own it proved to be one of the most interesting Porsche 911 tales I have ever heard.
What colour is it?
“I was always a Ferrari fanatic. I really wanted a 246 Dino GTS,” the owner explained.
See also: Dino 246 GT: Classic Drive
After he graduated from university in South Africa, he and a friend travelled to London by ship. Shortly after arriving, they visited the Ferrari importer, but there was no Dino in sight. He later asked the importer to try and source a second-hand Dino, but again had no success.
Shortly thereafter, Ferrari invited him to drive the then-new 308, but as it turned out, he “didn’t like it.”
See also: Ferrari 308 GTB: Classic Drive
He subsequently drove all the other mid-engined Italian supercars: the Lamborghini Urraco, Maserati Merak, and DeTomaso Pantera. “I didn’t like any of them, and then a friend suggested I try a Porsche. I told him I wasn’t really a Porsche fan. My friend eventually convinced me to simply test drive one.”
“It was a bright green 911 Carrera 2.7, which had been featured in several UK publications – and we could not believe how fast a car could go! I couldn’t quite afford it, but Porsche eventually came back to me, saying they had found a car for me that cost only slightly more than what I was prepared to pay.”
The owner was so relieved that he had finally secured a Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI that he assumed the colour would be white, similar to the 911 S he had been interested in shortly before the Carrera deal.
After a phone call with the salesperson, the owner was even more excited: “I was told that the car was on its way, and that it was actually a ‘special colour’, called Magenta.”
“As a youngster, I didn’t know what colour Magenta was, so I asked the salesman. There was a pause on the other end of the line… and then he said, ‘it is a sort of pink’!”
Not convinced, Porsche eventually made a deal that when he left the UK, he could drive the car to Germany, where they would strip and respray the vehicle in his chosen colour at a reasonable price.
He decided to take the car. He was also informed that the car had been used for the 1974 Earl’s Court Motor Show and another show in Manchester shortly before he took delivery.
“I eventually grew to like it, and it became a really fun car to drive.” As market prices of these early cars have proved, these unique elements add to the car’s value today.
History of the 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI
The arrival of the impact-bumper series, which started production in the 3rd quarter of 1973, signalled a few significant changes for the 911. The new bumpers were implemented owing to US regulations, but, more importantly, all engine sizes were now 2.7 litres due to larger 90 mm bore cylinders.
Instead of the previous T, E and S variants, the range now consisted of the 911, 911 S, and the top-of-the-range 911 Carrera. This 2.7-litre Carrera engine (Type 911/83), featuring a Bosch Mechanical Fuel Injection (MFI) system, remained in production for 3 years almost without any change, until the end of 1975. However, it continued to be available into 1976 in countries such as Australia and South Africa.
To compensate for the additional weight of the impact bumpers and the changes to the structure, Porsche implemented a few updates: a single battery replaced the previous 2; new seats (with integrated headrests) were developed, and aluminium inner rear trailing arms replaced the previous steel units.
This effort paid off. The new G-Series was not much heavier than its predecessor. For example, a 1967 911 S weighed 1 100 kg, while this 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI weighed only 1 075 kg.
Specifications:
- Model: 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI
- Engine: 2.7-litre flat-6, petrol
- Power: 154 kW at 6 300 rpm
- Torque: 255 Nm at 5 100 rpm
- Transmission: (915) 5-speed manual
- Weight: 1 075 kg
- 0-100 kph: 6.1 sec (tested)
- Top Speed: 237 kph (tested)
As with the RS, this 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI adopted the same ducktail. This was necessary to lower the amount of aerodynamic lift the car generates. Tests on the RS revealed that not only did this wing lower the Cd figure, but rear lift was reduced from 145 kg at 245 kph to only 42 kg.
When I drove this car, its odometer read about 100 000 km. Just over 35 000 km of that mileage was completed by the owner while he had the car in the UK.
“We would drive to tracks such as Snetterton, Silverstone, and Brands Hatch to watch racing. The car also took us down to Le Mans, where we actually ended up on the track as the officials hadn’t closed it off yet! The amount of dices (races, ed.) this car attracts is truly amazing, in the UK and also when I returned to South Africa. At every traffic light, guys want to have a go.”
The mundane colours of the rural landscape surrounding Johannesburg further highlight the vibrant hue of the Carrera, but as the traffic clears, my attention turns from the car’s colour to the driving experience.
What the 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI is like to drive
Even from below 4 000 rpm, there is a lightness to the way the engine picks up speed, but it is the last 3 000 rpm where you really want to keep the rev needle. Past 4 000 rpm, the engine revs even quicker, along with that typical flat-6 mechanical sound.
As the needle passes 5 000 rpm, it swings even faster past 6 000 rpm to just over 7 000 rpm. I shift into 3rd gear and, although you have to be deliberate with the 915 gearbox (the optional, but very popular, 5-speed unit), it somehow focuses your mind on how free-revving the engine is.
Although much has been written about the inaccurate shift quality of the 915 gearbox, this one is one of the better units I’ve experienced. A smooth engagement from a standstill sometimes requires shifting into 2nd before selecting 1st, but despite this, the gearbox feels comparatively tight and precise.
As a few corners beckon through the mostly flat West Rand, the lightness of the car, in conjunction with the firm suspension, pays dividends. Although I didn’t get close to the limits of the car’s cornering ability, it changes direction eagerly through the 3-spoke steering wheel, which is brimming with feedback. As it should in a proper sportscar, the suspension minimises body roll and provides a very stable setup.
Owing to the colour, you are even more aware of the compact size and extremities of the front wings. Your view may be filled mostly by the road, but the pink wings indicate your placement on the tarmac.
Every time I drive these early air-cooled 911s, it is a stark reminder of their performance. Fortunately, these experiences are backed up by the facts. Auto, Motor & Sport tested a 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI and achieved the following results: 0-100 kph in 6.1 sec, 0-160 kph in 15.2 sec, and a top speed of 237 kph.
To put those figures into perspective, the standard 911 2.7 achieved 8.1 and 21.9 sec, respectively, before topping out at 211 kph.
After a while behind the wheel, another standout element of the car surfaces: for a 5-decade-old car, there is a complete lack of rattles or creaks. This is despite the low mileage of just 100 000 km.
Only when you hit a notable road irregularity does a sound or two filter through; otherwise, there is a solid feel throughout the chassis and cabin – a quality that I’ve only experienced in a few other 911s.
The dashboard is immaculate, offering no hint of its age. Even the light-brown vinyl seats don’t show any sign of their vintage. The only non-standard items on the car are the wheels.
The owner explained that he had bought two 8-inch wheels from a race car in the UK. He had fitted these to the rear and moved the car’s original two 7-inch wheels to the front.
Instead of the original black Fuchs, he had them refurbished in matching gold. Today, you’d be forgiven for thinking that is how they emerged from the factory, as they perfectly blend with the gold “Carrera” script both along the side and below the ducktail.
The South African Chapter
When he returned to South Africa, this 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI was the owner’s and his wife’s only car. This meant that when they needed a new double-bed mattress, the Porsche was the only car available, and the mattress was put on the roof and taken home!
Shortly after shipping the car to Johannesburg, he was offered nearly double what he had paid for it. As he had just finished his studies, he considered taking up the offer, as he didn’t have money for tyres and they were already threadbare. He decided against a possible sale, only to be given an even better offer a year later by a different buyer – again he refused.
Around 30 years ago, the car was resprayed, and fortunately, the owner decided to keep it in its period colour. And period it was. The poster for the 1974 Earl’s Court Motor Show illustrates that the main theme colour was none other than the Magenta seen on this car.
Summary
After all these years, you have to congratulate the owner for keeping the car in its original state and colour. Although these days it is almost a non-negotiable to keep a car in its original colour, decades ago it would have been totally acceptable to change it.
Following the unprecedented rise in the value of the Carrera RS 2.7, it is almost understandable why the value and interest in these lesser – if you can call them that – 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI variants have also climbed. In my view, this particular car must be one of the most significant 911 derivatives of its era.
Find a new or classic Porsche 911 listed for sale on Cars.co.za
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