911 SC Cab - Part 1

This isn't my car, but I'm claiming it for a Soul Machine machine. I wish it were mine; I shall explain why in a minute. But it belongs to Emma, my better half.

In a momentary loss of sanity she asked me towards the end of 2017, what I thought about her investing some money from a house sale in a classic car. Yup, you can guess how that went.

I set out some rules; mainly because I was seriously worried about getting it wrong for her. The rules were: we buy a car that there will always be a quick market for; we buy a convertible to appeal to a broader audience; we buy at least 10% below the market; we only buy if the history supports the mileage completely; we only buy something that is really good as is; and we get an independent survey. No shit...

This thing however confirms that cars meeting that list exist. I had to go to Glasgow and haggle a little, but I'm glad I did. And I'll be stunned if she ever sells it; she loves it...phew.

If you haven't planted your backside in a 3.2SC, or any of the old air-cooled 911s that wear those famous seats, you don't know what you're missing. It might be because there's not very much of me in that general area but they are almost beyond good. I'll admit to just climbing in sometimes, simply to experience that 'being gently hugged' sensation. They really are that special; as is the car.

If it were mine I'd backdate the look and make my own special version. I know that goes against what purists like me most of the time would want to see, but there are numerous 911s out there and there's something about never letting a classic 911 go. If that's the case, then build your ultimate 911; I'm sure we all have a view of what that might be. The Singer boys did. It's a matter of taste but I'm a big fan. I'm also fortunate enough to know someone who has the first Singer in the UK; watch this space....

It's a different engine the 3.2 to the 2.7 which is currently in the old '69. They're both very different to the 2.2 I prematurely took out of the '69, yet they all have the same type of magic. I need to drive the 3.2 much more but with the right mods, the 2.7 would make the livelier engine. It spins up faster and feels almost as torquey. That said, wind the 3.2 up well in the right gear and it flies and sounds incredible. For me, they could both do with more top-end punch - a set of 964 cams and a hike in compression would probably do it, as would electronic ignition or if fuelling wasn't a concern, some damn good carbs. I bought a set of 964 cams a year ago for the '69. You'll be the first to know if and when anything happens in that dept.....

Air-cooled Wonder

The 3.2 feels modern compared to the '69. Nothing like a 991 or even 997, but it's tight, quiet despite being a rag top, and utterly planted. And I really like it; I may have mentioned. This could be down to the simple fact that I haven't had enough time in other 911s, though I have driven a lot of them; it could be the 'wonder of the air-cooled experience'. I'm not sure I know, but I do know that it puts a bigger smile on my face than any of the recent cars and that includes some turbos. But it's not about the pace; it's something more. Something innocent and personal that classic 911s have - it's as if they're alive. They have a soul. They absolutely qualify as soul machines and I'm a lucky bastard to be able to qualify them. Sorry.