The Porsche 911: More Than 50 Years of Quality and Fun

Posted 10/10/16

The Fascinating History of a Truly Iconic Sportscar

The 911 has a long and well-celebrated place in Porsche history. The original concept for the 911 went all the way back to some original drawings made by Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche in 1959, which were made just 10 years after the start of the company’s first production vehicle. Though Porsche’s 356 Speedster had a solid showing during its peak years in the 50s, by 1963 Porsche was ready for something new. And the something new was the 911. The 911 had more power than the 356, was more comfortable, and had an iconic style that is still mirrored today in its modern counterparts. Porsche was so confident in their new design for a car—and design for the car’s engine—that the first time the car was displayed there wasn’t even a working 911 engine in existence. The 911 made its debut at the 1963 Frankfurt Auto Show. Its air-cooled straight 6 engine, however, didn’t debut a working prototype until 1964.

Earliest editions of the Porsche 911 boasted 130 metric horsepower. By 1966, the Porsche 911 carried a Type 901/02 engine, increasing the power to 160 PS.

The 911 Cemented Porsche’s Premium Racing Reputation

When it comes to racing, the 1973 and 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS are considered to be the most classic models by most Porsche technicians and Porsche aficionados alike. They carried a larger engine as well as larger Porsche brakes and wheels. In 1974, a prototype Carrera RSR came second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1974, and won several additional major races, establishing Porsche’s reputation in the racing industry.

A Whole Lot of Numbers That Aren’t 911 But Are 911s

German car companies love to keep things simple and logical by giving their cars numerical names related to things like their production numbers instead of something more fanciful. This means that 911s have gone through quite a series of numbers throughout the years despite all of them being simultaneously considered 911s. And they didn’t even start out as 911s. The original run of 911s were called 901s (because it was the car’s project number, of course) before Peugeot claimed that they had dibs giving cars names with 3 digits and a zero in the middle. So the 901 became the 911 to the public, despite the fact that internally its parts numbers still had the 901 for years after the change.

These days you can get an idea of the type of 911 by looking at the other 3 digit numbers that are often listed alongside the 911—or instead of the 911. The original run of 911s from 1964-1989 are just 911s. The turbocharged version that was produced between 1975-1989 is a 930. But also a 911. The last of the air-cooled Porsches produced from 1995-1998 are 993s. This naming style continues to this day, with brand-new Porsches that were ready to drive off of the lot beginning in 2019 as 992s. If you are a Porsche technician who hears people asking “Fix my Porsche” on the regular, it starts to make more sense. With all of this now cleanly laid out, check out this interactive website with a fascinating soundtrack that detailing the Porsche 911’s even more fascinating history.

Most Common Reasons for Needing a BMW Technician

Most people choose BMW because of its reputation for reliability. And it has earned this cred, hands down. Own a BMW, and you won’t be calling the mechanic too often. But like any mechanical piece of equipment, parts do break down over time. Electronic issues are some of the most common reasons BMWs need fixed. Remote door locks tend to also have problems. The alloy on the wheels can tend to crack, which could cause a flat. Ignition modules, the clutch, and injectors occasionally need to be replaced. Power windows are known to have problems from time to time.

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