Porsche Blogs

Porsche 911: Through the years

Posted on 18. Jan, 2011 by PB in 911

This is a guest article on behalf of Netcars.com – a used car search engine specialising in used Porsche.

How do you encapsulate a company into words that has dominated, succeeded and inspired for so many decades? Porsche has been leading the way in innovation, design and engineering for years and it doesn’t look like they will be stopping any time soon. Here’s a brief history lesson on why Porsche has become such a worldwide powerhouse.

Like all successful manufacturers, Porsche had the eccentric visionary who started it all. Ferdinand Porsche is one of those godfather figures in the motoring landscape. Like Enzo Ferrari and Sir William Lyons, he was a pioneer that changed the way people thought of German sports cars. He was responsible for creating one of the most iconic marques in the history of the motorcar; Porsche – and is subsequently responsible for one of the company’s finest efforts; the Porsche 911.

Production of the 911 started in the early 1960s and was viewed as a replacement for the aging 356. Little did they know that nearly 50 years on and the 911 would still be one of the most sought after sports cars on the planet. The first variant of the 911 family was a design classic – but it featured an interesting characteristic; the engine was mounted at the rear of the car. We all know of the reputation old 911s have. The image of an out-of-control, over steering 911 is something the company has tried desperately to shrug off and amend since it launched – did they succeed? Of course they did, they are German’s after all.

It was 1973 when we first saw the name Carrera on a 911. The 911 RS Carrera was a homologation special edition for racing and subsequently featured more power, bigger wheel arches and the classic duck-tail spoiler. It was so good looking that Porsche has used a few of the RS Carrera’s design features in a modern special edition model.

One year later came the 911 Turbo – perhaps the most praised variant of the range. The Turbo provided 911 enthusiasts with the power boost they sought after. The Turbo featured a 3.0-litre, 256bhp engine and a tricky but rewarding chassis. The Turbo is still with us today, although it has to battle it out with the GT2 for bragging rights of being the fastest 911. Its looks, power and composure on the road meant that consumers could finally utilise the 911’s amazing grip and performance to full effect.

The 1990s saw the end of the era of air-cooled 911s. The 993 variant was the final hurrah and was produced from 1993 until 1998. It featured the smooth lines and body shape that modern 911s take inspiration from and helped the 911 keep relevant and successful in an Italian dominated sports car market. It’s hard to keep a car that has been on the market for decades relevant, and Porsche really has done an amazing job of ensuring that the 911 stays with us for the foreseeable future.

Fast forward a little bit and Porsche produced the 996 GT3. A racing car lightly disguised as a road car, it became a cult-hit, and helped the trend of track days continue its rise during the early part of last decade. The final version of the GT3 produced 381bhp and boasted proper racing ideologies, such as lightweight materials, no rear seats, a roll-cage, an aggressive suspension set-up and a high revving performance engine.

We are now left with the 997 variant of the 911. The modern day Stuttgart bruiser is as praised now as it ever has been. Porsche has tweaked and perfected its design until we are left with one of the best driving experiences money can buy. Models like the 911 GT2 continues Porsche’s racing heritage and provides customers with a biblically fast, thrill induced exhilaration that few cars can replicate.

What’s the future for the Porsche 911? More of the same, we would guess. The company’s swansong has yet to hit its peak notes, and let’s be honest; the world just wouldn’t be the same without the charismatic looks, unique handling and German engineering that the Porsche 911 provides.