Porsche 911L (A Series) ~ 1967-1968

In 1967, the 911 received its first, albeit very minor, update when the A series came along. At the same time, the range expanded. The standard car become known as the 911L (for Lux or Luxury) and sat alongside the high-performance 911S and the entry-level 911T.

 

All models received black (as opposed to the original polished) windscreen wipers, redesigned door handles with recessed buttons, the window frames were polished aluminium instead of plated brass, and the door mirror grew in size. The wipers, by the way, now parked to the left on left-hand-drive cars.

 

Inside, the wood trim on the dash was replaced by brushed aluminium and the wood-rimmed wheel went, too, in favour of a black item. The dials now had black inside of chrome bezels; which is what Butzi Porsche had originally wanted, but the marketing people had demanded a silver finish.

 

The 911L retained the 130bhp engine of the original car, with the later-type Weber carburettors. US models were fitted with air-pumps to help comply with emissions regulations (put crudely, these pumped fresh air into the exhaust gases to dilute them). These proved troublesome and many owners quickly removed them, with no adverse effects.

 

Brakes were the ventilated discs from the S, and the wheels increased in width to 5.5-inch, and were steel as standard, although Fuchs alloys were an option.

 

To comply with US regulations, a dual-circuit braking system was employed for all markets, with US cars having a dash warning light to indicate failure of either circuit.

 

Today, there’s little to choose between this early 911L and the original O-series cars – mechanically and bodily they are practically identical.

 

• Black wiper blades (parking to the left on left-hand-drive cars)
• Black-rimmed instrumentation
• Brushed-aluminium dash
• ‘Porsche’ lettering spaced across width of engine cover
• ‘911L’ badge centrally placed on engine cover

 

Sportomatic Not exactly a model in its own right, but rather an unusual option. Sportomatic was effectively a manual four-speed transmission without a clutch pedal. The gearlever was conventional but as soon as you began to move it with your hand, a microswitch at the base of the lever activated the clutch hydraulically, which a torque converter helped ensure a smooth gear change. Sportomatic was most popular in the USA, but it is thought that Porsche would have sold even more cars in that market if it had offered the 911 with a fully automatic transmission.

 

Targa Similar to the earlier Targa, but in January 1968 what was known as Version II of the Targa was offered alongside the existing Version I. This had a fixed glass rear window instead of the folding plastic item, thus giving better rear visibility and comfort.

 

Capacity: 1991cc

Compression ratio: 9.0:1

 

Maximum Power: 130bhp @ 6100rpm

 

Maximum Torque: 173Nm @ 4200rpm

 

Brakes: Front: 282mm discs; rear: 290mm discs

 

Suspension: Front: MacPherson struts with telescopic dampers and 19mm torsion bar springs; Rear: Trailing wishbones with telescopic dampers and transverse 23mm torsion bar

 

Wheels & Tyres: Front: 15x5.5J with 185HR tyres. Rear: 15x5.5J with 185HR tyres

 

Length: 4163mm

 

Width: 1610mm

 

Weight: >1075kg

 

Early 911 Targas could be had either with two small rear seats, or an additional lockable luggage compartment.