Studio Photography Julian Gries Location Photography Thomas Walk

A little over two years ago, we featured a very neat 1977 Porsche 911 owned by architect and All-round Porsche enthusiast Hugh Feggans. Well, being the ‘911 guy’ that Hugh is, he got himself this rather tasty ‘69 T and applied his own special touches to it.

Read on for a recap about Hugh and what makes him tick, followed by full details of this rather special machine. FYI, the car is no longer under Hugh’s ownership, it was passed on to a new owner earlier this year.

Who are you and what do you do for a living?

Hugh Feggans, father of three, Architect and self-confessed Porsche addict from the Mornington Peninsula, Australia.

Tell us about your first love for cars, right back when you were young. What inspired you?

I’m one of three boys with two older brothers and we all grew up in Tamworth (country New South Wales). Growing up in a country town you had to make your own fun and I developed a strong interest in bicycles. I just loved the escape and freedom my bike provided. I believe this naturally led to an interest in anything on wheels and cars were a natural evolution. The Porsche 911 has always been the yardstick for sports car comparisons and I’ve always loved their uniqueness and non-conformist design philosophy. I’ve also always had a keen interest in design and was probably around 15-16 years old when I watched the ABC program ‘In the Mind of the Architect’. I remember very clearly the image of Barrie Marshall (DCM Architects) driving a black 964 turbo through his then recently completed Melbourne Gateway project, this resonated so strongly with me, a coming together of all my worlds. There was no going back. Funnily enough having moved to Melbourne and finally purchasing a 911, driving through the Gateway was a key part of its initiation.

What was your first car?

I bought my first car at 18 under the guidance of my Dad (conservative voice of wisdom) and it was a demo Proton from the local Tamworth dealer. It was a special moment for me as I had been working for several years and the (relatively new) car meant a lot to me and my sense of freedom. It had some aftermarket wheels on it, rear spoiler, lowered sports suspension but most importantly a sports exhaust that made it at least sound fast. I drove that car everywhere, road tripping throughout the later part of my High School years and finally onto Melbourne where I would start the next chapter of my life. It served me well.

How many cars have you had?

My car history is pretty limited, following the Proton I purchased a Toyota HiAce van. As a keen bike rider this was an awesome and necessary mode of transport. 18s, side pipes and it was a sled! It was during this time I bit the bullet and purchased my first Porsche, a 1977 3.0L 911. It’s the same car featured here albeit somewhat reborn from the initial car I purchased some 10+ years ago. As a 21 year old retail shift worker it wasn’t what you’d consider a sensible purchase but it’s something that I’d always wanted, thankfully I’ve managed to hang onto it and have no regrets to this day. There is a lot of me in this car and it’s most definitely a keeper. Two years ago I purchased my second Porsche, a 1990 964 C2 manual coupe and that is now my daily. It rocks two child seats in the rear for my 3 year old twin boys and has enough room for my seven year old son to ride up front. Sorted! I’ve recently also purchased a 2000 996 MK1 GT3 CS that is a dream car of mine and something I’d never expected to get my hands onto. Each of the three 911s offer something quite different in terms of experience and are a great example of how diverse the 911 evolution is, they are unmistakably unique in that regard.

Why Porsches specifically? Are you into other genres?

Porsches, or more specifically the 911, have just always intrigued me. Whilst I’m into other cars, it’s the history and design evolution of the 911 that has always put them in a league of their own. As a creative professional I believe the design process never stops, you can always test and refine ideas to influence design. I think the 911 is probably one of the best examples of that, not just in the automotive industry, in the design industry as a whole. I do have a soft spot for old Land Rovers and Lotus’ though for similar reasons.

What are we looking at here?

A 1969 911T coupe in its factory original colour of Ossi Blau.

When and how did you come to own it?

I had known of the car for a while as it was the long-term project of a fellow TYP 901 member John Forcier. I was searching specifically for an early 911 (pre ‘74) as I’ve always lusted after an original early ‘long hood’. There were several months of searching for everything from completely restored original cars to semi-complete cars with a view to creating my own project. Each proposition had its pros and cons, but I did want a car that I could evolve into my own ultimate early 911, John’s car was a really great fit in that regard.

In what condition was it when you bought it?

The car’s assembly had only recently been completed following the extensive restoration and re-build. I flew up to NSW to collect the car with the intention of driving it back home to Melbourne via my home town of Tamworth to visit my Dad. This particular drive would also include the Oxley Highway, a fantastic stretch of road I remembered from numerous trips across to the coast from Tamworth to visit grandparents as a child. This would be a great way to get to know the car. So, although it was complete, it was yet to have a proper shakedown and this drive would provide just that. I got just outside of Tamworth before what would turn out to be the alternator gave up and left me stranded and waiting for a flatbed. The drive up until then was very memorable though, windows down, a really nice way to bond with the new addition. After finally getting transported back to Melbourne work got underway to get the niggles sorted whilst adding some of my own modifications.

What were your intentions back then?

All of the hard work had been done to get the car to where it was and this included a really great collection of aftermarket parts. The Porsche market has diversified a lot more recently, but not that long-ago modified Porsches, especially early cars, were a really (virtually non-existent) niche market. As a result, for several reasons, this car could be overlooked due to its non-original parts. It was actually this collection of parts that drew me to the car as an overall package, I saw it as being a great fit for the early 911 I was wanting to own and enjoy. The goal was to build a road car, but having spent time in a more focussed early 911 track car I definitely wanted it something a little more-hard edge as I am drawn to race cars – that’s what epitomises a sports car to me. This car was an opportunity to find that balance and create something completely in-period but just with those extra touches to make it my own. To create a car that drives as good as it looks. Early 911s have a level of charming simplicity that is really lovely but I wanted something that takes all of I love of early 911s and combine it with a level of capability compatible with my 77 3.0L that you’ve previously featured.

Body & Paint

The car had benefited from a full bare metal restoration on the body and this was then completely repainted in the cars original colour of Ossi Blau, inside and out. At some stage, wider rear wheel arches/flares were added and the car still retains these. They are the same as found on the later model ‘73 RS that was widened to accommodate the 8” rear wheels. The car retains its original bumpers but with the bumperette trims deleted. They originally had rubber strips with chrome surrounds that ran the length of the bumpers, race cars (in particular ST models) deleted these, it just goes with the cleaner, sports purpose race/rally car look. I still love the original chrome rear bumperettes though so they need to stay. It’s more common now to see backdated 911 versions wearing full fibreglass rear bumper units – the original chrome just again gives this car that point of difference and authenticity.

Interior

The interior has been stripped as a spartan RS/sports purpose theme, nothing unnecessary to take away from the driving experience. The original dashboard is retained with all of the gauges beautifully restored, radio delete and a period larger diameter steering wheel complete with the classic hockey puck horn button. BF Torino Nurburgring RS seats finished in blue/green tartan, perlon carpets and basketweave leather complete the interior palate.

Engine & gearbox

Originally the car would have been a 2.2L, this has been increased to a 2.7L on period Weber carburettors and is mated to a 915 gearbox with a Wevo shifter, linkages and clutch (including pedal box). The 2.7L is a very lively engine, loves to rev and is a really great balance in these early chassis 911s – there is a very good reason why the 2.7L 73 RS is such a highly desirable package. Not too much HP and critically very usable. This encourages you to drive them well into their optimum rev range and exploit the playfulness of these cars without overwhelming the chassis. The Wevo parts littered throughout this build just add to the really direct feel all of the components working together add to the driving experience.

Wheels & tyres

Minilite wheels, 15 x 7 fronts, 15 x 8 rears with Michelin TB15 competition classic tyres 170/65 fronts, 215/55 rears.

Suspension

Factory Koni shocks all round with some (really trick) adjustable Wevo torsion bars. Low and semi aggressively set up specifically for energetic B-road driving.

Accessories

To complete the period rally look, a pair of Cibie hood-mounted spotlights, bonnet straps and some extended pea shooter pipes out back. Sea sucker bike rack is added on special riding occasions.

Follow Hugh: @hughfeggans_aych

True Blue | Hugh Feggans' 1969 Porsche 911T Coupe