PROVENANCE
Dr. Harold L. Williamson, Tampa, Florida (acquired new in 1965)
Dave White, Tampa, Florida (acquired circa 1969)
Current Owner (acquired circa 2003)

RACE HISTORY
24 Hours of Daytona, May 1967, Williamson/Drolsom, No. 61 (10th Overall, 1st in Touring 2.0 Class)
SCCA Daytona – 12 Hours, May 1967, Williamson/Drolsom (3rd in Touring Class)
2 Hours of Osceola, October 1968, Williamson (3rd Overall)
24 Hours of Daytona, February 1969, Williamson/Drolsom, No. 47 (8th Overall, 2nd in Touring 2.0 Class)
12 Hours of Sebring, March 1969, Williamson/Drolsom, (29th Overall, 3rd in Touring 2.0 Class)

THIS CAR
Porsche unveiled the Type 901 at the September 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show. Intended as a replacement for the venerable but dated 356, the 901 retained its predecessor’s basic configuration, but was more powerful, larger, and refined. After 82 units were built, Porsche was forced to rename the model “911” after a naming dispute with French automaker Peugeot.

The iconic 2+2 fastback design was credited to Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche, grandson of company founder Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche, while another grandson, engineer Ferdinand Piëch spearheaded development of its twoliter, single-overhead-camshaft, air-cooled flat six. In April 1965, Car and Driver called the 911 “the Porsche to end all Porsches – or, rather, to start a whole new generation of Porsches.”

According to its Kardex, this 1965 911 was completed by the Porsche factory at Zuffenhausen in May 1965. Finished in Signal Red over a black leatherette interior and equipped with Porsche-crested hubcaps, tinted glass, and Webasto gas heater, this car was delivered new through the Brumos Porsche dealership in Jacksonville, Florida, to Dr. Harold L. Williamson of Tampa, Florida.

Williamson, an avid amateur racer, drove the 911 in various regional events before he was approached by George Drolsom, a Porsche factory representative and talented racing driver from Jacksonville, who, according to a recent conversation with a Gooding & Company specialist, persuaded him to campaign the 911 as a privateer effort at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona in the new two-liter touring class that was open to the standard 911, but not the uprated “S.” With preparation done by Drolsom, including an engine rebuild, a new exhaust, and a change of gearing, Williamson’s 911 won its class, placing 10th Overall – quite an achievement for what was practically a stock car with no factory support.

Also at Daytona in 1967, the 911 was entered into the SCCA 12-hour event, finishing 3rd in the Touring Class. Then, chassis 301709 went on to the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona, taking 2nd in Class and 8th Overall; and the 1969 12 Hours of Sebring, placing 3rd in Class and 29th Overall. The 911 was subsequently sold to Dave White of Tampa, Florida, a mechanic and later a championship-winning race car driver who is believed to have kept the car for a significant period.

Today, 301709 looks similar to how it appeared in period and retains its numbersmatching engine per its Kardex. The 911 also has bucket seats, welded-in roll cage, a center-fill gas tank, electronic ignition, and slightly flared quarter panels to accommodate wider American Racing wheels. While currently in running condition, 301709 has been on static display in the consignor’s collection and will require mechanical attention and servicing prior to any use. The 911 is a landmark car in Porsche’s history, and one of the definitive sports cars of all time. This early, short-wheelbase example boasts interesting competition history and is an opportunity not to be missed.