Porsche 911 History

PORSCHE 911 HISTORY

The Porsche 911 started its 30-year legendary life as the Type 901, directly descended from the 356. In 1963, Porsche introduced the Type 901 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The car was later renamed the 911 as Peugeot had copyrighted all 3-digit car model numbers with a zero in the middle. The 911 has kept essentially the same exterior shape for three decades. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, Ferry's son, designed the body of the car while the engine was designed by Ferdinand Piech, Dr. Porsche's nephew.

Styling changes had remained minor throughout the years. The wheelbase was stretched for 1969, the bumpers and lower valances restyled for 1974 and again in 1989. Subtle changes throughout the years included various sizes of fender flares and spoilers as needed, but in essence, the body has remained as it was originally designed.

The 911 engine is an air cooled six cylinder opposed design. The cylinders bolt onto the crankcase such that displacement increases are often achieved by replacing the pistons and cylinders.

The engine had originally displaced 2.0 liters and had gradually increased in displacement over the years, as a 2.2, 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.3 and finally, at its present and final 3.6 and 3.8 liters of displacement before being replaced by an all new 3.X air-cooled flat six in the 996, which many say is no longer a true 911.

There are various ways to identify and differentiate the numerous 911 models, namely by body style, by turning and trim options, and by fuel system delivery. Truthfully, the numerous styling options are difficult to distinguish unless you look closely at a particular car.

The common aspects of the 911 design such as the body styles and turning options and later dwell on the engine size. The Body Styles are as follows:
Coupe
Targa,
Cabriolet,
Speedster.

Tuning options are designated as:
T,E,S
Carrera
SC
H,N L
R, RS, RSR
Turbo.

The model year usually starts in August or September of the previous year, thus the 1968 model was actually introduced in August or September of 1967.

Four prototypes of the 901 were built. A total of 125 Type 901s were built. From 1964 to 1968, 911s had shorter wheelbases (2211mm, SWB) than 911s built in 1969 (2268mm, LWB). 2.0, 2.2, and 2.41 911s made till 1973 have either mechanical fuel injection or Weber or Solex carburetors. In the middle of the model year 1973, the 911T was actually fuel injected. The Sportomatic (automatic) transmission, predecessor of the present Tiptronic, was introduced in 1968 until 1971 as an option. A 4-speed manual was the standard transmission.

From 1964 to 1969, 911s had 2.0. In 1970 displacement was increased to 2.21. In 1974, 2.4L. Among the special models were the 1972 911RSR with the 2.81, the 1973 2.7 Carrera RS and 3.0 RSR.

From 1974 to 1977, 911s had the 2.7 liter engines notoriously known for its short lifespan. The bumpers and rear valances were also restyled, with the accordion sections at the edges. The ducktail spoiler was also introduced and 5-speed manual transmissions became the standard.

In 1974 911s had 2.7 engines. 3.01 engines were present in 1976 till 1977. Notable exceptions were the 74 3.0 RS, 3.0 RSR, 76 & 77 935 2.8. And of course, the Turbos.

The 1976 Turbo Carrera was introduced in 1975, derived from the European Carrera RS 3.0 It featured suspension modified to accommodate the engine's extra weight and significantly higher output of 245 bhp, not to mention the car's greater than normal propensity for oversteer. It was distinguished visually by its flared fenders and wheels and tires that were 1 & 2 inches wider at the front and rear than the standard 911s. The 930 also had a uniquely shaped rear spoiler dubbed the "whale tail".

"It went from 0-60 in 6.7 seconds and hit 156 mph flat-out. And went from understeer to oversteer at the drop of a throttle. Then there was turbo lag - the calm before the storm - that came as the turbine spooled up before unleashing some serious horsepower. But wants and all, the Porsche 930 was an unforgettable automobile that added a new buzzword to the automotive enthusiasts' lexicon: "Turbo"."
- Road and Track, July 1995

From 1978 till 1983, the 3.01 911 SCs were the most luxurious Porsches ever built. The ___ of the previous 2.7L engine had been replaced by the nearly bullet-proof 3.01 engine. Aside from the SCs, notable models include the 1978 935 and 936, 1979-80 930 and 935, 1981 935 and 936, 1982 and 1983 956.

The 1978 Porsche 911 Turbo featured a re-shaped rear spoiler to accommodate an intercooler built into the exhaust ________ turbo charger. This second generation 930 had an increased displacement of 3.31L to the flat-6. Brakes from the racing Porsche 917 were also added. 265 bhp. 0-60 mph in 5 seconds.

1981 to 1989 911s have 3.2 L engines and _________ fuel injection. In 1985, the Gruppe B derivative of the 911 was also introduced - the 959. This featured full-time all wheel drive and a sequential twin -turbo engine. The 959 is the spiritual ancestor of the soon to be introduced Carrera 4 of 1989.

The 1989 Porsche Turbo had a new 5-speed transmission and a slightly revised rear suspension. The 3.3 L flat-6 engine now had 300 bhp and an estimated 155 mph top speed. 1989 was also the year the 964 Carrera 4 was introduced. The 964 featured revised bumpers and rear valances, wrap around tail lights and an electronically activated rear spoiler that rises at 50 mph and retracts at 6 mph.

Aside from the redesigned exterior, the 964 benefited from a revised suspension set-up where coil springs replaced the previous tensions bars. A new engine block was also designed, increasing the flat-6's displacement to 3.6 L, 247 bhp. Sporting a 5-speed transaxle, the new transmission carries the power to a transfer case, delivering 31% of the power to the front and 69% to the rear wheels, giving it full time all wheel drive. It was the first time Porsche offered AWD in a 911 model, the 959 notwithstanding. This all new chassis cured the tail-happy idiosyncrasies of the 911 giving it 959 supercar handling without the supercar price. And in 1990, a Carrera 2 was introduced, similar to the Carrera 4 but without the all wheel drive system.

In 1991, the Carrera 2 Turbo was introduced. With the 964 chassis and suspension, 17 inch wheels and tires, 315 bhp, the car was regarded as the first 911 Turbo ever. However, it still had the 3.3 engine found in earlier models since 1978.

The Turbo 3.6 was introduced in 1993. Aside from the increased displacement, twin ignition engine, and 964 chassis, the new Turbo 3.6 sported distinctive 18 inch wheels taken from the Supercup series, 8 inch wide up front and 10 inches wide at the rear. With 355 bhp available and a top speed of 174 mph, the Turbo 3.6 went down in Porsche history as the finest handling and fastest member of the 930 family.

In 1994, a new 911 was introduced, the 993. Initially available in rear wheel drive only, the 993 Carrera 2 was visually different from the previous 964.

Porsche designers essentially created a new shape, yet instantly recognizable as a 911. The 993 featured sloping headlights reminiscent of the 959 and 968. It also had wraparound bumpers front and rear and a larger rear spoiler (still electronically activated). The non-turbo 3.6 engine had 370 bhp, up from 247 bhp of the previous C2. The new body covers a radically new suspension mounted on an intricate subframe. This results in greatly improved road holding and is designed to handle racing stresses without modification.

The 959, introduced in 1984, was a proving ground for a highly sophisticated 4WD chassis. The 964 was the first high-volume production 4WD model. Six years later, the next evolutionary model became available - the 1995 Carrera 4. Porsche's design goal for the all-new all wheel drive system was rear wheel drive handling but with the superior grip of 2 4WD chassis. The new 4WD system is more than 50% lighter than the 964 and because of all wheel drive, the 993 Carrera 4 is probably the best handling 911 model produced.

Aside from the AWD, the new 993 also sported a 6-speed transmission, giving it 0-60 performance in 5.4 seconds.

In the model year 1996, Porsche introduced perhaps the greatest of all Porsche Turbos, the 911 Twin Turbo. This all new Turbo had 402 horspower, twin KKK turbines operating simultaneously, dual air to air intercooler AND all wheel drive. The new Turbo picks up where the 959 left off, with 0-60 timer of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 181 mph. AND averages 18 mpg.

The Turbo also differs from its normally aspirated brethren with a restyled front bumper with bigger air intakes, more muscular fenders, being wider and lower, flared sills, 18 inch hollow spoke wheels and a new rear spoiler. Thanks to the AWD hardware, it hardly matters if the road is wet or covered with snow. The grip is tenacious and the car produces such tremendous power that it has pulling power normally reserved for locomotives.

Just when people thought things couldn't get any better, in 1997, Porsche introduced the 911 Turbo S - the fastest and most powerful, most expensive, and perhaps the last of the 911s as we know them. Porsche has coaxed another 24 horsepower from the air-cooled flat-6 raising output to 426 bhp and goes from 0 - 60 in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 183 mph. It can be distinguished from the Turbo by its unique rear wing waist--high air intakes behind the door handles, and yellow brake calipers (from the normally red). Another set of air intakes beside the fog lamps set the Turbo S apart from the garden variety Turbo, if a Porsche Turbo can ever be "garden variety".

The 911 Turbo S is probably the last of the 911s. It is the last in the sense that the flat-6 air-cooled engine, round headlights, door mounted mirrors, wraparound taillights have made their last appearance before Porsche introduces an all new water cooled flat-6, Boxster-derived car that appears in 1998 - the 996.

Having said that, and given the some Porschephiles have yet to accept the 1974 model, Porsche enthusiasts await the car that will take Porsche and the 911 badge into the next millenium.

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