The Porsche 911 is a two-door rear-engine sports car available since 1964. It is one of Porsche’s most iconic models that has been available with a wide variety of body styles, engines, and performance levels.
Porsche 911 Design and Development
By the 1960s, the Porsche 356 had allowed the car maker to showcase its ability to create high-quality race-focused vehicles in mass production. But after many years of redesigned 356s, it was time to bring something new to the table. Thus began the development of the then-named Porsche 901. The driving goal of this vehicle would be to stick with the proven air-cooled, rear-engine design, but throw in a more powerful 6-cylinder boxer engine. After the development period, Porsche unveiled the newly-designed 901 model and unveiled it at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show with a mockup engine. Nonetheless, it received much acclaim and Porsche moved forward with mass production of the new model. The car company was able to switch production to the 901 while the previous generation 356 C was still being produced. 82 vehicles were produced in the first week, and were almost immediately shown at the 1964 Paris Motor Show, where it received wide appraise with high expectations. There was one issue, however. A competitor car manufacturer, Peugeot, objected to Porsche’s use of the 901 designation, claiming that they had already laid claim to three-digit model numbers with a zero in the middle. As a result, Porsche simply changed the name of the 901 to the Porsche 911. And the rest is history. None of the 82 produced 901 models were sold to customers.
The First Porsche 911
The first 911 models featured a 2.0L flat-6 Type 901/01 boxer engine with 130 horsepower. It was air cooled. It was paired with a 4-speed or 5-speed manual transmission, and came in a 2+2 body design with seats for four people. A more powerful model, the Porsche 911S, was introduced in 1966. It used a a more powerful engine with 160 horsepower and was the first Porsche to offer forged aluminum alloy wheels with a 5-spoke design made by Fuchsfelge. 1967 began production of the convertible Targa 911 model, featuring a stainless steel roll bar in an effort to appease US regulators where the 911 proved to be a popular model. It initially had a removable plastic rear window, later changed to an optional fixed glass version in 1968. 1967 was also the year that Porsche launched the 911T with a Type 901/03 engine producing 110 horsepower and featuring vented front brakes. The original 130 horsepower model was renamed the 911L.
Porsche 911 B Series Begins
The B series began production in 1968, bringing in the fuel-injected 911E, and then in 1969 the C series was introduced with a larger 2.2L engine and a longer 89.3-inch wheelbase. The D series came in 1970, with a 153 horsepower 2.2L engine. E series came in 1972 with a 2.3L engine, and F series in 1972 with a different oil tank position. The 911 Carrera RS began production in 1973. This was the second time the Carrera name was on a Porsche model, following the success of the 356 Carrera. The 911 Carrera RS featured a 2.7L engine with Bosch mechanical fuel injection, producing 210 horsepower. Also in 1973, the 911S 2.7L was introduced with improved safety and emissions equipment. The 2.7L engine produced 173 horsepower. The Carrera 3.0 was introduced in 1976, bringing a 3.0L engine with 200 horsepower, a small decrease in power, but the same performance thanks to oversized intake and exhaust.
Late 1970s and 1980s Modifications
The 930 Turbo 3.3L was released in 1978, bringing in a turbocharged engine with a whopping 300 horsepower. A “tea-tray” rear spoiler was added so that the turbochargers intercooler was able to fit inside the engine bay. That same year, 1978, the 911SC was introduced with a 3.0L engine, producing 180 horsepower at first but upgraded to 201 horsepower by 1981. A convertible 911 Cabriolet was released in 1981 as well. The 911 models continue to progress through the 1980s, with the Carrera 3.2 coming in 1984. It used a 3.2L flat-6 engine with up to 234 horsepower. North American models were limited to 207 horsepower due to emissions regulations. This model saw a major improvement in braking and was also available in a Turbo model. The Type 964 series of the Porsche 911 was introduced in 1989. This major redesign featured a new chassis with Porsche first coil springs, ABS brakes, and power steering. It used a 3.6L engine producing 250 horsepower. A four-wheel drive Carrera 4 was launched as well.
1990s Redesigns to the Porsche 911
By 1994, the 911 model was revised once again, bringing in the 993 series. For some people, this is the ideal Porsche model, which also so happens to be the final air-cooled 911 produced by the German automaker. It featured revised body panels that brought in slightly more angular but still rounded shapes, with all-new front and rear ends. A new multi-link rear suspension was introduced along with a 3.6L engine producing 268 horsepower. The 993 Turbo came in 1995, pushing the twin-turbocharged 3.6L engine to an impressive 402 horsepower and a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.2 seconds. In 1998, the 996 series of the Porsche 911 was introduced. It was the first water-cooled engine and also received a heavily redesigned exterior. More than a dozen variations of this series were produced, including an all-wheel drive Carrera 4 and the racing-oriented GT3, with 360 horsepower. A 996 Turbo came in 2001, with a whopping 414 horsepower.
21st-Century Porsche 911 Models
In 2004, the 997 series came to the market, retaining much of the 996’s design but with the old bug-eye designed headlights. It had a 3.6L flat-6 engine with 321 horsepower, but also offered a 3.8L option with 350 horsepower. The 997 Turbo took the 3.6L engine and pushed output to an impressive 473 horsepower, adding an all-wheel drive system. Another redesign to the Porsche 911 came in 2011, when the 991 series was introduced. It is an entirely new platform that has a 3.9-inch longer wheelbase and 2.2-inches longer overall length, and uses mostly aluminum construction, keeping the weight lower even with the increased size. The 991 series was the first to come with a 7-speed manual transmission, along with a new torque vectoring system. The 2014 911 Turbo S model produced 552 horsepower and could go 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. In 2019, the 992 series was introduced. It is very similar to the outgoing 991 series models, with the potential for a plug-in hybrid Porsche to join the lineup as early as 2023.