This 1968 Porsche 911 Is the Lightest 911 in the World, Here's Why It Was Built

Now, Richard owns the lightest Porsche 911 that is road legal. Yes, that is an achievement in itself, and it was done after it exceeded its creator's initial plan of turning a poorly-modified example sourced from the U.S. with no drivetrain into a 911 R replica.

The best part about this vehicle is its previous condition, which meant finding its original engine near impossible, thus eliminating it from the list of a potential Concours d'Elegance feature. It did not have a famous first owner either, so that route was also lost, unlike Elvis Presley's BMW 507, which was found, acquired, and restored despite losing its original engine over time.

Back to the matter at hand, the lightest 911 in the world started life as a 1968 Porsche 911 SWB coupé. It used to tip the scales at 1,050 kilograms (2,314 lbs.), which is next to nothing by today's standards. Even at the time, it was rather light, but the 911 R that it was supposed to be turned into weighed just over 800 kilograms (1,763 lbs.).

With intensive grinding, drilling, custom fabrication, and a bit of creative engineering, Richard King managed to get this 1968 Porsche 911 at just 627 kilograms (1,382 lbs.). It still has two seats, all of its functions work as intended, and it comes with a special kind of purity. The kind where you need to wear ear protection if you want to drive it for more than 30 minutes.

Now, before you go ahead and start drilling holes in your project car, you should know that Richard has been modifying cars for decades, and he knows what he is doing. Do not attempt to replicate this, as it may become dangerous on the road for you or other drivers.