Estimated Price: £120,000 - £140,000

The Porsche 911 F-Model (also known as the F-Body or ‘Classic 911’) is the first generation of the iconic sports car. Produced from 1964 to 1973 and regarded as the original and purest form of the model, they are greatly sought after, especially the higher-performance models. In 1966, Porsche first introduced the 911 S, standing for ‘Super’ or ‘Sport’, its top-tier model, a car that really marked the beginning of the 911 as a genuine performance car.

In these early days of the 911, the model continued to be developed and improved on an annual basis and the 1969 C-series cars saw a huge step forward in the car's evolution; with a longer wheelbase, wider wheels, low profile tyres, improved lighting, trim and ventilation, stronger suspension and brakes, plus the introduction of the excellent race-derived CD ignition and mechanical fuel injection on their mid-range and top performance model. By MY 1970, all 911 engines had a larger 2.2-litre displacement (2,195cc) and had established themselves as one of Europe's most refined and enjoyable sports cars for the road and with real competition potential.

The 1970 MY 911 S 2.2 now had an enviable specification, including the superior Type 911/02 flat-six engine, still a short-stroke free-revving unit, but now with 180bhp at 6,500rpm and 199lb/ft at 5,200rpm, a 9.8:1 compression and having a claimed top speed of 138mph and a 0-60 mph time of 7.0 seconds. It featured an aluminium alloy crankcase with a forged steel crankshaft (in the case of the 911 S treated with Tenifer), forged light-alloy pistons, Biral cylinders, a magnesium crankcase, and mechanical Bosch induction manifold fuel injection (using a six-element twin-roll fuel injection pump), connected to a five-speed dog-leg 911/01 gearbox with modified ratios, a stronger clutch and much-improved wiring and electrics.

The use of aluminium parts, including the engine cover, and 15-inch forged drop-centre lightweight Fuchs alloy-wheels kept the weight down, whilst transverse anti-roll bars front and rear with Koni dampers and front and rear ventilated brake discs meant the car could also handle the increased performance.

In the late 1960s/early 1970s to have a Porsche 911 as a road car made a statement - you knew about driving, but also about style. There is no better illustration of this than the opening three minutes 40 seconds of the cult 1971 film Le Mans starring Steve McQueen, who is seen charging around French country roads in a Slate Grey 1970 911 S 2.2. The glorious sound of its flat-six and virtually open fuel injection intakes, combined with Michel Legrand’s atmospheric score, are ‘up-there’ for film/car aficionados with the iconic opening sequence from The Italian Job. Le Mans opens with the magnetic pair in perfect harmony, the Porsche being the ideal pairing with the steely-eyed McQueen, who’s contemplating the complex and shifting equations of life and death in competition.

Click here for the Le Mans film opening sequence: Steve McQueen driving Porsche 911S - Le Mans intro

It's perhaps no surprise that McQueen (who already had a 1969 Slate Grey 911 S back home in LA) decided to buy one of the cars that was used in the film for his own personal use after filming was over.

The car presented here is a fully restored exacting tribute to the famous film car, a MY 1970 Porsche 911 S 2.2. Originally sourced from Oregon by a contact of Dorset-based Porsche specialists Canford Classics, it was still in an original, low-mileage state, so the ideal candidate to emulate the McQueen Le Mans car. Like that car, it also has a very low chassis number Coupe: #9110300093 (vs #9110301502). After being imported, the absolutely fastidious nut and bolt restoration process began, not just being period-correct in the detail, but ensuring that components are finished correctly and go together as Porsche intended. The body had a full bare-metal restoration by Tony Littlejohn’s famed GTR Motorsport team - in Slate Grey obviously, the engine was given a comprehensive rebuild by the late engine-master Bob Watson, the gearbox was completely rebuilt by the renowned Mike Bainbridge, and the car was completely re-assembled by leading Porsche restorers, Canford Classics. Every part was new or fully restored with the interior requiring just a new headlining and carpets.

The restoration was finished in 2018 and was subject to a seven-page main feature in Classic Porsche magazine (which accompanies the car). Since then it has always been garaged, done less than 2,000 miles and presents in outstanding condition.

The car is as accurate in the details as is possible, right down to the ‘sugar-scoop’ headlights (which will accompany the car, as our vendor has the European-style surrounds currently fitted), original Fuchs alloy wheels (with the correct 185/70 tyres), period Blaupunkt radio, plus details like the tinted glass, aluminium rear skirt and front fog lamps (with the then required in France, and oh so cool, yellow lenses) are all faithful to the Le Mans film car.

What an opportunity this is, to acquire a never-out-of-fashion classic 911, a car that is as cool now as it was for Steve McQueen in 1970, a worthy addition to any collection. Indeed, it comes to auction from our vendor’s personal group of cars, which include some very special and rare Porsches and, being good enough for this, should give huge confidence to any bidding or ownership intentions.