Double Take: 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI Coupe

A couple weeks back we featured two fantastic 911s for sale at 4 Star Classics – this 1995 Carrera RS Clubsport and this extremely rare 1994 Speed Yellow Turbo 3.6 – and they happen to have two 1974 Carrera 2.7 MFI Coupes for sale so I figured why not show both of them. We’ve had the pleasure of featuring a few of these wonderful 911s in the past and as their values rapidly accelerate I imagine we’ll begin to see even more pristine examples come up for sale. The Carrera 2.7 MFI Coupe combines the running gear of the 1973 Carrera RS Touring with the mid-year redesign of the 911. So while they won’t look as good as a Carrera RS they still possess similar dynamic capabilities and come at a much cheaper price (even if they are still very pricey themselves).

We’ll begin with this example in Grand Prix White over Checkered Leatherette cloth, which shows 54,026 miles on it.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI Coupe on 4 Star Classics

Year: 1974
Model: 911 Carrera
Engine: 2.7 liter flat-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 54,026
Price: £179,995 ($277,866)

MODEL HISTORY
After the legendary 1973 Carrera RS finished production a series of Carreras were built for the European market that were equivalent to the ‘73 RS Touring models. This rare and desirabled Porsche was the G-series Carrera 2.7 MFI, which used the same 911/83 RS mechanically fuel injected (MFI) engine that produced 210 bhp. The major difference between these Carreras and the RS was that they were built with the “G-series” body. The weight of the G-Series Carrera MFI was also 1075 kg like the 1973 RS Touring cars. All 1974 Carrera MFI cars either came with a ducktail spoiler or tail delete, while examples produced from 1975 and onwards either came with the whale tail or tail delete.

What makes the early 911s, Carrera RS, and the 2.7-litre MFI Carrera’s so interesting and exciting to drive is the Bosch Mechanical Fuel Injection (MFI) setup. The glorious sound and instantaneous throttle response has a remarkable feel compared to the computerized injection systems of the 70s and 80s cars. In the December 1974 issue of Motor magazine the Carrera 2.7 MFI was extensively tested and they measured a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds.

Porsche built a similar number of Carrera MFI’s to the ’73 RS with roughly 1,026 in 1974; 508 in 1975; and 113 in 1976. A total production of 1,647 as compared to 1,590 ’73 Carrera RS built.

These cars were never imported by Porsche into North America. The strict US emissions laws required smog equipment that drastically impacted the performance of the 2.7-liter motor. The US version of the Carrera in 1974-1975 used the significantly less powerful CIS (K-Jetronic) based injection engines to meet the California and US emission standards.

The 1976 Carrera 2.7 MFI was the last street car Porsche ever produced with mechanical fuel injection. In fact there were only three MFI based cars produced by Porsche after 1976, all race cars. First were the ten turbocharged Porsche 934 ½ built for Group 4 and the 1977 IMSA Championship, alongside the various incarnations of the turbocharged Porsche 935 built for Group 5 and, later, the twenty 3.0-liter 911 SC/RS (954) rally cars built in 1984 to compete in Group B.

EQUIPMENT
Electric windows, Clarion cassette player, Dash clock, lockable glove compartment, Heated rear window, Fog lights, Porsche carpet mats, Toolkit, Spare wheel.

EXTERIOR
The Grand Prix White paintwork is in fine order and presents with a lustful shine. This particular example has come from a dry climate and is structurally excellent with no signs of repairs in any of the usual 911 weak spots. Aside from a few unobtrusive chips to the front bumper the paint shows minimal signs of ageing.

On close inspection there are absolutely no unsightly scuffs or dents to any of the panels, with the trademark Carrera decals presenting as new. All lenses are in immaculate order with zero cracks or chips to note; even the chrome headlamp surrounds retain a stunning mirror finish.

INTERIOR
The front seats of the 911 are upholstered in the seldom seen blue leatherette and checkered cloth, a striking compliment to the external colour scheme. Unsurprisingly the seats are in wonderful condition with the only sign of use being the tiniest amount of wear to the piping on the driver’s bolster.

The dash and fascia are unmarked, plus all the dials remain crystal clear. The switchgear is fully functional and perfectly solid to operate, with the original cassette player further adding to the period charm. Furthermore, the hand-stitched leather steering wheel retains a shine-free texture, and the door cards are entirely free from any scuffs. The originality extends to the carpets, which, although faded, have a great patina. Under the bonnet the factory-applied protective wax is still present on the inner wings.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
At the heart of this Carrera is the legendary 2.7-litre MFI engine as fitted to the ’73 RS. The engine compartment itself is remarkably clean with zero corrosion to the inner panels, and only light surface corrosion to a select few components.

Erupting with a fantastic noise on first ignition, the car pulls away with a glorious surge of acceleration. The five-speed manual gearbox feels strong and precise, exactly as the factory intended.

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
The 15-inch Fuchs wheels, much like the rest of the car, are in great order. Displaying only very minor curb marking to a single wheel, the whole set presents remarkably for their age.

The alloys are shod in a matching set of Pirelli P6000 tyres, which have been recently fitted and show minimal wear.

HISTORY FILE
Since first registration in 1974, this Carrera has covered only 86,947km. Equating to a mere 54,026 miles, this low mileage is further proof that the car has been used sparingly throughout its life to date.

Like most cars we’ve seen from this dealer, the condition inside and out looks fantastic. These are certainly well cared for machines. The interior is made more interesting by nicely accented blue checkered cloth seats and this one comes with the standard duck tail rear spoiler. Those points aside, for a car with this sort of sporting pedigree the Grand Prix White exterior doesn’t really provide quite enough of that eye-catching look that many might crave, taking us directly to our next example in the always alluring combination of Yellow over Black.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI Coupe on 4 Star Classics

Year: 1974
Model: 911 Carrera
Engine: 2.7 liter flat-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 48,188
Price: £199,995 ($308,732)

EQUIPMENT
Electric windows, Front fog lights, Whale tail rear spoiler, Radio, Spare wheel, Tool kit.

EXTERIOR
This 1974 2.7 looks sublime in the classic 70’s shade of yellow with the correct black Carrera decals down each side. This particular example has come from a dry climate and is structurally excellent with no signs of repairs in any of the usual 911 weak spots. The whole car is completely original, having never had paint, and still presents in remarkable order with a lustful shine and very few chips or imperfections. The originality of this Porsche gives the car a wonderful patina.

All of the black plastic trim and rubber seals are in good shape and the glass is free from cracks or chips. All the lights are in excellent condition and the underside of the car is very good with no damage, repairs or corrosion. This MFI features a ‘whale tail’ rear spoiler, as opposed to the usual duck tail, making this ’74 an even rarer example.

INTERIOR
The condition inside is near-perfect; the interior remains in excellent original condition and has that wonderful classic 911 feel. The dash and door cards are in great shape, with all the dials and switch gear functioning exactly as they should.

Much like the exterior, the inside is completely original and unmolested. The rear vinyl seats remain immaculate, as do the carpets, which are protected by a set of Porsche over-mats. The steering wheel still retains a superb texture and shows very minimal wear.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
At the heart of this Carrera is the legendary 2.7 Mechanical Fuel Injection (MFI) engine as fitted to the ‘73 RS. This is the original number-matching unit which starts first turn of the key and produces a fantastic noise.

The engine bay itself presents beautifully and has clearly been well-maintained throughout its life. All factory stickers under the boot lid are present, with all plastics and rubbers appearing very healthy. The car is a truly remarkable example.

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
All of the alloys are in completely original condition with the correct finish, with only a couple of wheels displaying very minimal wear. The tyres are a matching set of Pirelli P6000s, all of which have plenty of tread remaining.

HISTORY FILE
This 911 has covered just 77,552km which equates to just 48,188 miles. Present with the vehicle is a wealth of previous invoices and inspection reports to complement the low mileage.

The car still has its original crested Porsche document holder, owner’s manuals and service book. Furthermore, an original 1974 Porsche colour chart is included, as are the original Panasonic radio operating instructions.

Despite its higher price, the overall condition of this Carrera doesn’t appear to quite match the condition of the Grand Prix White example. This is splitting hairs a bit, especially since the lesser condition likely is due to basic polishing and cleaning rather than any significant work needing to be done. That said, you are paying quite a premium for the more interesting color combination and the less common whale tail in place of the duck tail spoiler when it comes to these two cars. There does need to be some documentation showing that the whale tail is the correct piece for this car as the ’74 Carrera typically came with either the duck tail or no tail at all. Overall, we have two very nice examples of somewhat iconic 911s. They aren’t the full ’73 Carrera RS that is so highly regarded, but they are certainly easier to come by.

-Rob