The Porsche 911 is a true icon in the world of sports cars. Introduced in 1963, the 911 has been in production in one form or another ever since. There have been a number of changes over the years but two things have stayed the same: power provided by a boxer 6-cylinder engine and the engine being mounted at the rear of the car.
Over the years I have owned 32 different Porsche 911 cars, everything from a 1969 911S Targa, various 1970s models (including a 1973 Carrera RS), and all the way up to a 911 RS America. Of all those cars the only single model I have owned twice was the 911 SC.
The 911 SC was introduced in 1978 as a way to increase sales, since those of the 911 were not strong enough to keep the doors open at Porsche. It may sound surprising, but due to weak sales the executives at Porsche did not see a bright future for the 911 as a model. The instead saw the new 928 as the car that would lead the company into the future. The goal was to boost interest by making the 911 SC both faster and more luxurious. This involved taking features that were options in earlier models like cruise control, air conditioning, and leather interiors, and making them standard features on the SC.
These were all welcome things in what was originally a fairly spartan car, but the single best part of the 911 SC was its 3.0 liter fuel injected boxer-six engine. This engine made the SC able to cope with increased emissions regulations and also restore performance back to what it was when the 911 was new. Of all the air cooled classic 911 engines, the one in the 911 SC is likely the finest ever put into a 911, and in my experience is even better built and more reliable than the 3.2 liter engine that came next in the 1984 911 Carrera series. My last 911 SC has now covered 290,000 miles and has never had an engine rebuild.
The ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day is one of these truly great Porsche road cars, a 1978 Porsche 911 SC coupe painted in Guards Red over a black leather interior.
The California dealer offering this Porsche describes it as a matching numbers 1978 Porsche 911SC Coupe that has traveled 70,774 miles from new. It is an original factory color code #027 Guards Red car with a black leather interior. The vehicle comes equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, Flat 6 Cylinder 3.0-liter engine, sunroof, 4-wheel disc brakes, Porsche ATS Cookie Cutter wheels, spare tire, tool kit, and jack.
The car also includes the original owner’s manual, warranty/maintenance booklet, copy of the original window Sticker as well as service documents and receipts totaling over $10,000. They call it an excellent original California car with lots of history and documentation.
In the past few years the 911 SC has come into its own. Sure it is not as fast as the 3.2 Carrera cars that came later, but it has a build quality that I honestly feel is the best that Porsche has ever delivered in the entire series of air cooled 911 cars.
From behind the wheel the 911 SC is pure classic Porsche with the iconic five gauge instrument cluster facing you with the tachometer central, a tradition that continues today. These cars have comfortable seats, and what I think is the most comfortable and best looking steering wheel in any Porsche. This might seem like a small thing but the steering wheel is the single point of contact that you have as a driver.
Also when compared to the previous 2.7 liter magnesium case engine in the 74-77 911S, the new SC engine case is manufactured from aluminum. The old 2.7 engine caused problems like pulled engine studs on a regular basis. The newer aluminum cased engines are much more durable with fewer problems, and they also have a more advanced emission system that uses a catalytic converter in place of the dreaded old Thermal reactors. These caused many overheating problems, all of which disappeared in 1978 with the launch of the 911 SC.
In a nutshell I honestly feel that the 911 SC is the model where everything came together to create what is the perfect air-cooled 911 road car. If you are seeking a classic 911 that completely delivers on the 911 driving experience, and is both easy to own and maintain, look no further than this 1978 Porsche 911 SC. It has an asking price of $59,950, which in today’s Porsche market is somewhat of a bargain. As Joel Goodson said in the movie Risky Business, “Porsche, there is no substitute.”
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Why do they have to sound like a city bus?
I got my 78′ about 6 years ago. It was my DD for pretty much 5 years (minus snow/salt in Illinois) and I have always thought it was more fun to drive than almost anything modern. I owned boxsters , Caymans and 911’s, but nothing like my 78′. Before getting it, I had seat time in some long hoods, a couple 964’s, and several 3.2’s. I only got to drive 1 SC and it was the one I bought. To me, the SC is much more fun to drive than the 3.2, which seemed heavier with less pep. Even modern super cars seem so much less in overall appreciation from the drive. I honestly wouldn’t sell mine for anything less than $500K, and if someone offered that sum to me, it would still be difficult. I drive a 1978 Porsche SC with no sunroof, no AC, no power windows, 15″ cookie cutter wheels, and I couldn’t be happier.