The brilliance of Porsche is creating a huge number of variations on a car debuted way back at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963: the famed 911. One fascinating variation—on the second generation of the highly respected 911 SC (1978 - 1983)— was the Weissach limited edition, named after the German town that housed the company’s research center. Just 408 were sold on the U.S. market, and only in 1980. Those 1980 Porsche 911 editions are rare beasts.
The Weissach was offered in two exclusive colors, platinum metallic or black metallic. There were 204 of each. “The platinum cars seem to have survived better than the black ones, but that’s just anecdotal,” says Rob Sass, editor in chief and content director of the Porsche Club of America - opens in new window or tab.. “By this point, some of the bright colors that Porsche had used earlier were gone.” No more Tangerine or Bahama Yellow - opens in new window or tab..
A definite visual point of reference is the aero kit, with front and rear spoilers. The Weissach got a metal-framed fiberglass rear wing (known as the “whale tail”) adapted from the unit on the 1977 Turbo Carrera and 1976 Carrera 3.0. The metal framing is unique to the Weissach. The 15-inch aluminum Fuchs wheels had platinum metallic centers.
The unique whale tail is the original equipment in the Weissach.
And then there’s the interior, triple-tone with black, Doric gray and red (the piping) leather. The red leather is echoed in the red carpet. The headliner is perforated black leatherette. Other equipment included sport shocks, power windows, mirrors (heated), sunroof and locks, an alarm system, fog lights mounted below the bumper, an electric antenna, tinted windows, Pirelli tires, and cruise control. Some 120 of these cars are known to the Weissach Registry - opens in new window or tab..
Despite its rarity, most Weissach parts are standard-issue 911 SC (especially the mechanicals), which aren’t hard to source. Start with the main 911 eBay page - opens in new window or tab., or narrow down to vintage and classic parts of the Porsche 911 - opens in new window or tab..
“These cars aren’t that different from a regular 911 SC,” Sass said, “though they command a small premium. Mechanically they’re the same. Porsche people drive their cars. They aren’t into appearance packages as much as devotees of some other marques. Cars with sport suspension or a limited-slip differential are more highly prized.”
That said, the air-cooled 911 SCs of this period, long in the doldrums, are now highly prized. According to a buyer’s guide - opens in new window or tab. from the Porsche Club of Great Britain, “The 911 SC is a landmark because it was the first Porsche model developed to appeal to a wider market, not just the enthusiast driver. It is the 911 that launched the reputation for excellent durability and build quality.”
It’s amusing to note that there was talk about phasing out the 911 around this time. The advent of the front-engine, water-cooled 928 and 924/944 coupes had some folks thinking the rear-engined, air-cooled 911 had outlived its usefulness. The sleek V-8 928 was supposed to replace the 911. But when the American Peter W. Schutz arrived as CEO in 1981, he looked at the timeline chart and extended the entry for the 911 out the door.
Surviving the Test of Time
Early Porsche 911s were significant rusters. But all the cars wore galvanized metal beginning in 1976 (everything but the coupe roof), and very rarely rust. And Sass points out that they’re remarkably robust. “I wouldn’t buy a garage queen, but I wouldn’t be afraid to purchase one with 200,000 miles if I knew it was properly maintained,” he said. “I did buy one with 191,000 miles, and it drove like a new car, with only a top-end rebuild in its history.”
This platinum metallic 1980 911 SC Weissach Edition has 138,000 miles on its odometer, but that shouldn’t scare off prospective buyers.
With Porsche, it’s what’s under the hood that counts. The 1980 Porsche 911 SC used a naturally aspirated version of the strong three-liter engine from the Turbo. Earlier 2.7s had been taken about as far as they could go. The 911 SC also got Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, which fails infrequently. The engine is coupled to a tough-as-nails five-speed manual.
For 1980, output was up on Euro cars to 185 horsepower (later, 201). But the American versions had lower compression ratios so they could run on lower-octane fuel. American Weissachs had 180 horsepower, and reportedly had a top speed of 135 mph.
The Weissach is an ultra-rarity, that special-edition Porsche that doesn’t cost a king’s ransom to buy. Recent auction prices for a nice example are below $60,000. The hard part is finding one.
But good news! This platinum metallic example, with recent paint, is for sale on eBay with a Buy it Now price of $55,000. It has 138,000 miles on the odometer, but as we noted, Porsche owners drive their cars. And high-mileage is not a barrier as long as the car was well-maintained.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.