Publicly unveiled at the Frankfurt Motorshow in 1963, the 901 was introduced as the successor to the Porsche 356.
From September 14th to November 16th of 1964 eighty-two examples were built and the 901 was presented at the Paris Auto Salon. It was at this showing that the French auto-maker Peugeot objected to Porsche designating any model with a three digit identification where the middle number was a 0, testifying that they had the rights to this method of identification in certain markets. Due to this Porsche changed the middle number from a 0 to a 1 thus becoming the iconic 911.
None of the eighty-two 901 examples were sold to the public -- these all became test and exhibition cars. The first 911 models were available in the United States in February 1965 with a starting price of $6,500.00.
This early example of the 911 model is a pursuit of preservation and not that of a restoration. With only 37,000 original miles there aren't too many things on this 911 that are not original. Aside from a few paint touch-ups such as the front hood, and a couple replacement parts such as the floor-mats in the interior, this early 911 is exemplary of what exactly you were getting as a consumer for that $6,500.00 price-tag.
Some mileage history:
May of 1965: New delivery at factory - John Chalik
5/31/1965: 553 miles
2/21/1966: 2074 miles
2/16/1967: 6137 miles
12/1/1978: Purchased by Dennis Kochvar
8/20/1979: 12,862 miles
11/8/1986: Purchased by Ken Wilson
11/11/1986: 24,594 miles
11/18/1986: 24,786 miles
7/22/1987: 25,663 miles
11/30/1987: 28,786 miles
10/15/1992: 32,009 miles
9/8/1994: 32,851 miles
1/7/1997: 33,615 miles
11/18/1997: 33,762 miles
6/23/1999: 33,815 miles
6/8/2000: 33,815 miles
6/9/2005: 36,614 miles
11/2/2005: 37,003 miles
12/6/2005: 37,078 miles
12/14/2005: 37,131 miles
12/4/2006: Sold to Ron Thomas; 37,495 miles