2005 Porsche 911

The vendor bought the car around 18 months ago, having known the previous owner, and the car, for many years beforehand.

Now then.

There are several things that make this car stand out from the common herd, and we’re not just talking about the striking red decals and fancy rims.

No, this car stands out for other reasons.

Firstly, it has covered just 60,760 miles.

Secondly, in 2019 it had a full Hartech engine rebuild, which included a new IMS bearing, 3 new pistons, 6 new cylinders, new timing chains, and plenty more besides. 

It had a new clutch and dual-mass flywheel at the same time.

Last, but by no means least, it was bought by someone (the vendor) who is very well known to us here at HQ. 

In fact, the automotive workshop and bodyshop he co-founded is regularly called upon to service, maintain, repair and MoT many of our personal cars, and is our default, go-to centre of expertise and advice whenever we have an issue or concern with a customer’s car.

What that means, of course, is that a respected and very experienced car professional and garage owner chose this vehicle for his personal use on the strength of its dynamic and mechanical integrity. 

That really should tell you something.

He’s only selling now because he hasn’t had much use out of it and, as the weather improves, you’ll be more likely to find him on a motorbike.

We have driven the car and can confirm that this is a thoroughly sorted and well-screwed-together example of the model and the marque.

There are no unsettling rattles, squeaks, sighs, moans or whistles to report. 

The manual gear box is positive, slick and notchy. The steering is precise and perfectly weighted.

It pulls very strongly, handles predictably and goes about its sporty business with plenty of poise and balance. 

It feels possessed of all the Teutonic engineering flair you’d hope and expect to find in one of Zuffenhausen’s finest.  

The car has recently earned itself a fresh MoT certificate (with no advisories), valid until 15.3.25. 

The condition of the bodywork is really pretty good and, aside from one almost indiscernible dink on the n/s/f wing, there are no creases, dents, crumples or other aberrations of note in evidence.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are consistent and even.

The mahoosive 19” wheels are looking good, and the matching Bridgestone Potenza appear to have a good deal of life left in them. 

The black paintwork is mostly good, save for a pretty standard number of stone chips in the usual places: around the front valance, the ‘nose’ of the car, and the front facing aspects of the rear wheel arches (which are protected by film anyway). 

The only area that might call for some attention is the frunk lid, which has a few scuffs and stone chips towards the front and a scattering of micro-blisters elsewhere.

That aside, there are one or two light scuffs around the rear bumper, but they look as if they’d quickly capitulate if threatened with a polishing machine. 

The headlight cowlings could also do with a polish, and there’s a small bullseye on the windscreen towards the passenger side. 

The vendor thinks that one of the hydraulic struts on the bonnet may be a little ‘lazy’.

It’s an equally reassuring story on the inside, where the general condition is far more a reflection of the car’s low mileage than its age. 

The black leather upholstery is barely troubled by anything more serious than a light crease or two, let alone any ingrained patina, and the seats look to be in first-class order, front and back.

The headlining is untroubled by any damage or stains.

Ditto the door cards, carpets and mats.

We didn’t press every button, tweak every toggle or fiddle with every knob, but those we did press, tweak and fiddle with did as they were instructed without dissent or attitude. 

Some of the paint has worn away on the controls on the centre console and there are one or two light scuffs on the glove compartment.

We also spotted a little flap of loose trim at the rear on the base of the driver’s seat.

The ‘frunk’ appears to be in fine condition.

Basically, it’s all really pretty good.

Everything (visible) in the engine bay appears clean, dry, right and proper. 

The undersides of the car look to have a good deal of structural integrity and seem to us to be wholly untroubled by either time, wear or use. 

This car comes with plenty of invoices, bills and receipts covering its service and maintenance history from 2016 onwards. Most of that expenditure was through Hartech and Autofarm.

Prior to 2016, there’s a Porsche service book with main dealer stamps up to 2011, and Slades Garage (Penn) and Autofarm stamps after that. 

In addition to the service book, it also has a wallet containing the full set of guides, handbooks and manuals.

We know from many years of experience that people buying 911s of this vintage will invariably have as their first question, “Has it had the IMS bearing changed?”

Their second question will be something to do with the Nikasil cylinder liners; the third will be about the other bearings; the fourth will be about the pistons; and the fifth about the clutch and flywheel.

Well, with this expertly (and expensively) maintained and curated example, all the answers are a resounding and well-documented, “Yes”. 

All the heavy lifting has been done by someone else, so you won’t have to.

And if that’s not enough for you, just remember that this vehicle comes to us courtesy of a vendor we routinely trust to expertly look after our own cars.

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £28,000 - £33,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.