The Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 was the link between the coveted Carrera 2.7 RS and the legendary 930 Turbo. It was misunderstood for a long time but it is now stepping out of the shadow of these Porsche icons and is finally being appreciated by real collectors and enthusiasts. With a manufacturing run limited to only two years – of which around two-thirds were coupes - the ’76 models of the Carrera 3.0 Targa are now extremely rare. Needless to say, therefore, that finding a good unmolested RHD model is not an every day occurrence.

Powered by a variant of the 930 Turbo's 2994 cc engine (minus the turbocharger) but with the lighter 6-bolt flywheel and the crankshaft from the 2.7 RS these motors offered some 200 HP. That’s good enough for 0-60 in 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 148mph. Those in the know will recognise that although it is often referred to as the tamed version of the original 2.7 RS these figures mean that the Carrera 3.0 was a tenth of a second faster from 0-60 and a good 3 seconds faster than the 2.7 RS and the 2.7 Carrera from 25 to 100 mph.

Our beautifully presented Carrera 3.0 is a super-rare survivor of one of only 479 Targas built in 1976. Finished in stylish silver and featuring original options such as Bilstein rear dampers, manual 5-speed 915 gearbox, whale tail spoiler, Fuchs alloy wheels, passenger door mirror and black exterior trim. The interior is a glorious throwback to the mid-70s with the original cloth, vinyl and leather cabin in full period good condition. The Targa top appears to be in very good order. Sadly, the previous owner has misplaced much of the car’s history file but we understand that he lavished significant sums on its upkeep including a professional engine rebuild in the mid-2010s which included replacement of the original head bolts with new alloy fixings. There is no evidence of any corrosion and the underside looks as clean as the day it rolled out of the factory!

The car drives superbly but needs to be taken out on to the open road to really experience and enjoy its torque and poise. With its low production numbers, fantastic air-cooled engine and beguiling sound and looks this is a real dream for enthusiasts.