It’s common knowledge that the market values of air-cooled Porsche 911s are rather high these days. And that’s even for non-restomodded examples. However, not every air-cooled 911 is priced into the stratosphere; a few bargains remain. And this week on Bring a Trailer, there’s an opportunity to buy one: a 1975 Porsche 911 S.

The ‘impact bumper’ Porsche 911 S was the more powerful sequel to the first-gen car

Although the 964-gen Porsche 911 gave the rear-engine sports car “its first comprehensive update,” it wasn’t the second-gen model, Road & Track explains. Between the 964’s launch for 1989 and the end of first-gen 911 production in 1973, Porsche introduced the second-gen car.

Available from 1974-1989, the 911s from this generation are often called ‘G Model’, ‘G-Series,’ or ‘impact bumper’ models. That last name comes from the impact-absorbing bumpers installed to meet contemporary US crash standards. These 911s also have shorter hoods than earlier models, hence why the latter are sometimes called ‘longhood’ cars.

Under the skin, the impact bumper Porsche 911s are largely the same as their predecessors, R&T says. But that doesn’t mean the second-gen cars didn’t have any updates. For one, this era of air-cooled Porsche 911 gave birth to the first 911 Turbo. And while emissions regulations robbed US-spec cars’ performance, the G-Series 911 got a new, larger fuel-injected 2.7-liter flat-six engine.

However, G-Series customers who wanted some extra performance did have a solution: the Porsche 911 S. Positioned right below the 911 Carrera, the 911 S’s engine makes 175 hp, rather than 150 hp like the base car. While that doesn’t make it fast per se, an impact bumper air-cooled Porsche 911 S is still a vintage 911. And even Jay Leno admits it can be difficult to make an air-cooled engine more powerful.

The 1975 Porsche 911 S on Bring a Trailer

The 1975 Porsche 911 S currently listed on Bring a Trailer sold on the auction site in February 2019. Since then, the car’s seen some notable service, though it was also extensively serviced earlier in its life. As a result, although the left door is refinished, this 911 S is in excellent condition overall.

Being a mid-range 1970s air-cooled Porsche 911, the equipment list on this 911 S isn’t extensive. It has front fog lights, pop-out rear quarter windows, A/C, and a period aftermarket radio. But it does ride on Fuchs alloy wheels and the seats have tweed inserts.

One of the writers at MotorBiscuit, Gabriel Vega, owns a G-Series Porsche 911. And in his experience, these cars’ A/C can underperform. However, given that the seller of this 1975 911 S replaced the A/C belt, that doesn’t appear to be an issue. And that belt was only one of the most recent service items.

Besides the A/C Belt, this 1975 Porsche 911 S received a new fuel pump, transaxle case gasket, air filter, and steering rack boot in May 2021. Bring a Trailer also notes this car received an engine-out service in 2018 that included a fuel system overhaul, a new clutch, and a new rear main seal. And in preparation for the sale, the seller rebuilt the rear brake calipers, flushed the brake fluid, and installed new brake hoses.

It’s an affordable, well-maintained classic

As of this writing, this 1975 911 S is listed on Bring a Trailer at $22,250 with two days left in the auction. Considering the average BaT price for an impact bumper Porsche has crept closer to $50K, this 1975 car is a true bargain.

It’s worth pointing out that early G-Series 911s have a reputation for heat-related engine issues. However, as this car demonstrates, most cars from this era have rebuilt, modified, or replacement engines, Hagerty and PCA note. The hard repair/maintenance work has already been done on this car. That makes this 911 S a great way to get into affordable air-cooled ownership.

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