Porsche 911

It's been 40 years since the first Porsche 911 rolled out of the factory. For a single model to remain in production so long is a rare achievement, even more so considering that the 911 has maintained its character throughout. Someone who'd lost their memory after seeing the first model would instantly recognize the latest 911, should they suddenly regain their faculties. In terms of the 911, this is not a bad quality.

Tracking New Ground
Initially the Porsche 911 was to be called a 901, but Peugeot already had dibs on names starting with "90...", so the new Porsche became the 911.


In 1964, the 911 was a big step up for the small Porsche company. It had sold 73,303 examples of the highly regarded Type 356 four-cylinder sports cars, but by the early 1960s this "bathtub" Porsche was getting a little long in the tooth and had reached the end of its development cycle.


The then-new 911 retained some traits from the 356, such as its rear-mounted, air-cooled engine and high quality of assembly. But almost no parts were carried over to the new model. The 911 had an all-new, 2-liter, 130-hp six-cylinder engine with a single overhead cam per bank. (A less expensive 912 model followed, which used an updated version of the old 356 engine.) A five-speed transaxle took the power to the ground, and the fully independent suspension was a completely fresh design.


The steel body, styled by Ferdinand Alexander "Butzi" Porsche (son of company president Ferry Porsche), maintained visual links to the 356 and its Porsche ancestry. The 911 proved to be indecently quick for its engine size, but expensive. For American drivers, it was a revelation. It cost as much as a more powerful Corvette, but buyers soon began to appreciate its superior roadholding and attention to detail.