P O R S C H E.
These 7 letters are the most powerful and emotional letters for me out of any car manufacturer on this planet.
70 years ago this now legendary brand was born, only three years after the second world ended. While the company was founded slightly earlier in 1931, the brand ‘Porsche’ in terms of road cars turns 70 years old this year. We can thank legendary engineer Ferdinand Porsche (and son Ferry) who started developing the model 356 (main picture) in the end of 1947 in Gmünd Austria, and gave birth to Porsche the brand as we know it today.
(Main picture Credit: Gooding & Company).
Porsche appeals to me on many different levels.
First are the optics. I find the silhouette of the 911 just timeless with the legendary Fuchs wheels. Secondly, I love the air-cooled sound of the older cars. Still today I can hear the sound of an air-cooled engine from miles away – the particular sound of the boxer motor is something I learned to memorise. Third my father had many 911’s and I certainly was influenced by him when I was young. He provided the training for me to fall in love with the air-cooled engine.
Last, I love what Porsche stands for. Solid German engineering that is reliable, precise and works. Porsche is universally accepted as not a show-off car, but a rather is a sports car that is functional, a pleasure to drive and sporty in character.
To celebrate my love of Porsche and the fact that this brand is turning/ turned 70 – I list my favourite 11 Porsche models ever made.
(For our post on the famous Fuchs wheels and their origins see our story here).
1. 356 Series (Speedster, carrera GS, C2). 1948-1965
Let me start with the oldest Porsche model, the famous 356 series. Made famous in part to James Dean who owned one, the Germans call the 356 (main picture above) the Ur Porsche (or Porsche that started it all). After all the 356 is the first Porsche road car made in production.
The 356 was also the first time Porsche used the word Carrera (which came from the legendary race Carrera Panamericana in Mexico).
While any 356 Porsche is nice to have, I prefer the rare versions: Like the Speedster (the brainchild of Max Hoffman) made for the American market. Or the 356 Carrera 2 GS with Fuhrmann engine (my personal favourite).
The original Porsche speedster from the 1950’s is pure in its design and form.
(Credit: Gooding).
Not only a speedster 356 remains a dream. The 356 Carrera 2 coupe (with Fuhrmann engine) is among the most desirable for collectors.
(Credit: Unknown).
The ultimate version for many remains the Speedster Carrera GS with a 4 cam Fuhrmann motor. See below.
(Credit: Bonhams).
For more on the Fuhrmann engine and specifics see this site here.
2. 550 Spyder 1953-1959
The 550 Spyder is one of the most famous models to come out of Porsche.
Not only because James Dean tragically died in one, but also because it put Porsche on the map for building serious competition cars for racing (it was raced at Le Mans, Mille Miglia). The 550 spyder was often (but not always) fitted with the legendary Fuhrman 4 cam, air cooled boxer motor and given that the car was very light (only 550kg) the car was very fast (output was 110hp to 135hp depending on motor type).
Of all 90 cars built – almost half of them were road cars (like the one below that belonged to Jerry Seinfeld) while the others were race cars.
For many Porsche aficionado’s, the 550 spyder remains the most beautiful dual purpose car Porsche ever made. The values reflect that, with a 550 spyder today trading in the USD 4 – 5m. In fact just last month two of them sold, one sold at Gooding for USD 4.4m, and the other sold for $4.9m at RM Sotheby’s.
(Credit: Topspeed.com)
3. 718 (RSK, RS 61) 1957-62
The 718 replaced the 550 Porsche and was difficult to differentiate, at least optically speaking (the 718 tended to be round in the front and often had closed headlights versus open headlight for the 550 spyder).
It had a stronger motor which put out 160hp at its peak variation and increased engine capacity and was even lighter than the 550. The result was impressive with race wins: a 1960 win at Sebring (with Herrmann) and wins at Targa Florio.
Although the 718 might have been ever more successful for Porsche racing wise, I prefer the 550 spyder. Both remain highly collectible with a 718 selling at Gooding just last month for $3.7m.
(Credit: Revs institute).
4. 904 Carrera GTS 1963 -1965
The 904 GTS must be also considered among the all time great cars for Porsche.
Replacing the 718 RSK was not an easy feat, but demand was so strong that they ended up building more than the 100 cars necessary for qualify for racing (116 were made). With a middle centered engine, this 2 litre 4 cylinder, four cam box motor was capable of 180hp. Porsche produced both race and road cars for the 904.
The 904 was a successful race car for Porsche in Le Mans, Sebring, Nurburgring and Targa Florio. Many consider also one of the most beautiful cars ever made by Porsche.
5. 911 Porsche (911 s, 911 Targa, 2.7 RS, 911 SC). 1963 – 1970s
There was a time when the 911 was simply a 911.
For me they are among the most beautiful Porsche cars and 911s ever made. In fact, these models speak most to me out of any Porsche period.
The early models had a special color tachymeter and rev counter (that was off green rather than white) – I love all the early 911 models that included the 911 S (which was a faster more powerful version) but also the 911 Targa, especially those with a soft window targa. The early 911’s had a wonderful chrome grill in the back where the engine was located. Additionally the 911 SC* is another Porsche from the 1970s that played a part of my youth, a car that made the list of 7 cars that influenced me growing up story.
I also love the Porsche gold writing that was fitting on the back of the car with individual stamped letters on the rear engine hood (see picture below).
For me the early 1970s 911 cars are among the most beautiful Porsche ever made. Pure and simple – this design remains unchanged and represents the DNA of Porsche better than any other model.
The car below is what Porsche is all about in my opinion. Fuchs Felge included.
(Credit: Porsche Medien Abteilung).
For many the ultimate version of a 911 from the 1970s is the 2.7RS with the ducktail.
(Credit: Supercars.net). * (Credit: Paul Maudesley).
6. Porsche 917
Ever since I saw these race at Goodwood, I have been fascinated by the 917.
The extreme low positioning of the car (it almost touches the ground) as well as the fact that the driver’s legs were almost touching the very front of the car (I would have hated to be a racing driver in these cars at 250km /h) made this one of the most brutal and successful race cars for Porsche ever. It allowed Porsche to win its first Le Mans race in 1970/71.
7. Porsche 928
Hard to believe but there was a time when Porsche was in dire straits (middle 1970s), including the iconic 911 model – which seemed outdated.
Porsche introduced the 928 to diversify away from the 911 – as a more expensive and technically advanced car. For me the early 928 series are the ones to have with of course Pasha seats. I think the shape has already proved itself to be an iconic design – there is no other car like it. For me for sure one of the most interesting designs ever to come out of Porsche.
There is no other Porsche like the 928 – immediately identifiable by its peculiar lines and shape which has become an Icon today.
(Credit: Heise.de)
The pasha seats are almost as legendary as the 928 model itself.
(Credit: Rennlist.com)
8. Porsche 964 (turbo, RS*, Jubilee, Speedster***) 1989-1994
The 964 is for sure among my favourite Porsche ever made.
Yes, I have one, so of course I am biased. But I think it is among the all the time greats because it bridges the past and future of Porsche better than any other car. It represents the last true 911 in my opinion with the front lights that stand out and are not sunk into the car (something that I regret in the 993 shape). The 964 is also in a winner in my books as Porsche made so many attractive variations (RS, speedster, turbo and Jubilee).
For many and I include myself here, the 964 remains the last truly great Porsche ever made (along with the 993 as a close second).
I say this because look how many great cars the 964 model produced: The turbo, the RS, the Jubilee, the Speedster, even the plain C2 is wonderful too. Simply put I cannot think of another series where I can list so many beautiful models.
Below the Porsche 964 RS which Porsche developed for owners who wanted a lightweight 964 to go on the track with.
(Credit: AutoEvolution).
The 964 Turbo Leichtbau (or lightweight) being among the most sought after and valuable modern Porsche.
(Credit: BMW z8 US Forums, Carlos Z8) / *(Credit: AutoEvolution). ***Credit: Speedster.com
9. Porsche 959 1986-93
Many experts believe the Porsche 959 was the most technologically advanced car ever to leave the manufacture in Zuffenhausen – even still today.
It certainly had the performance to prove that – when launched it was the fatest production car in the world. It had a twin – turbo charged 2.8L engine that was all wheel drive and good for 450hp. In fact, the 959 ‘all wheel drive‘ was used in all subsequent Porsche 911 models including the 964 Porsche’s first all wheel drive 911 model (Carrera 4 model). Only 337 cars were made and it is said that Porsche lost money on every single model they made, the development costs were just to high for Porsche to recoup their investment.
Today the 959 remains extremely collectable, especially the Sport version.
(Credit: Classic driver magazine).
10. Porsche 993 (turbo, turbo S and 4S) 1994-98
The 993 was a dream car for me growing up and in my 20s. It represented at the time what a 911 should look like.
Today the 993 is sought after for being the last air cooled 911 Porsche made, after that Porsche would introduce a whole new engine technology. While I prefer the purity of the 964, the 993 has a large advantage that the technology was better (for example 993 was a six-speed gearbox vs 5 speed for the 964) and so too were the maintenance costs. For many the Porsche 993 remains the ultimate 911 as it has the latest technology of an air-cooled engine, but also the classic lines of a 911.
(Picture Credit: DCT.com)
11. Porsche 911 GT 1
I am fascinated by the GT 1 which Porsche introduced to battle McLarens F1 which had won the 1995 race of Le Mans.
While I am not necessarily in love with the shape, I do respect the design (taken from the 993 GT 2) and the fact that there was a street version (or Strassenversion) that collectors could own (for Porsche to build the GT1 they need homologation which required them to build a certain amount of street cars). The first cars featured a 993 headlight design, and from then on, they had 996 headlights (Source Felix Archer).
Indeed by 1998 Porsche managed to win Le Mans in a GT 1. It is a brutal car and if I was purely a Porsche collector – I would aspire to own one of these cars for sure.
(Classic driver.com).
For some general pictures of collectable air cooled Porsche please see below. We go from old to new again. Starting with the 356.
The 356 with Carrera 2 engine and 4 cam remains THE 356 to have (besides the Carrera speedster GS).
(Credit: Bonhams).
This color of a 356 Carrera 2 was a dream (I saw it at technoclassica at Essen).
I love the details of certain Porsche models. Like the mirror of this 550 Spyder.
Or the spare tire storage of this Porsche car (if I recall it was also a 550 Spyder) seen at Essen (the car has a mid – engine layout).
The cockpit of a 718 Porsche. Clean and functional. No carpets, no nothing – this car was meant for racing.
A cockpit of a 356 speedster is similar in layout to the racing 718 above (except it has carpets and is more of a road car).
An interior shot of the 356 Coupe. Notice how the steering wheels differed depending on the model of 356. (Credit: h_cd).
We move on to the 911, here an extremely early 1960s 911 with early dashboard.
Later on the print on the rev counter and tachymeter would turn to white from green.
A stunning 1968 Porsche 911 L (SWB) in an equally splendid (Burgundy) color.
(Credit: Worldtime).
An interior shot of a early 1970s Porsche. I love the Pasha interiors of these early 911.
(Credit: Jasper max).
I have a weakness for the Targa, the concept of the removable roof, even the targa font writing is appealing.
Below a very rare and early targa with soft top (notice leather on the left.
Here a targa with wheels removed. A naked Targa if you will.
But Targa’s are best viewed while in motion perhaps.
(Credit: Jasper max).
A purple 2.7RS Porsche must be the ultimate dream for many Porsche fans. I saw this at Goodwood a few years ago.
This car is owned by David Cottingham of DK Engineering.
What about this color combination for 2.7 RS? Also nice.
Many people love the blue script on white for a 2.7RS and this might also be my favourite combination for a white RS.
Speaking of rear spoilers – this superb shot of a 911 SC is just marvellous. Don’t you love the font of the 911 SC writing?
(Credit: Paul Maudesley).
One of my favourite pictures is this 928 showing the motor and technology – seen at Essen in 2017.
I don’t like Porsche racing cars that much but fell in love with the 917 seeing them at Goodwood in 2016.
The car is so low it is almost touching the ground.
Another pair of 917 Porsches – they are aggressive and beautiful.
With Porsche it is often about rear spoilers.
A superb shot of the 911 SC by my friend Paul Maudesley (who is also the owner).
The 959 in guards red – what a dream shot from my friend Tedgushue.
Just because it is so beautiful – from the rear (Credit: Tedgushue)
Let us move on to the 864 Jubilee – one of my favourite cars ever made by Porsche. A perfect link to past and present in my view.
A 964 wide body Jubilee made for Porsche’s 911 30th anniversary in Violettmetalic – an original color for this limited edition car.
The 964 RS remains among my favourite cars. The front of the car still pure and typical Porsche.
The shape still pure something that changed a bit with the 993 – the last gen air cooled 911.
(Credit: Silverarrow cars Ltd).
Or what about this dream color for an RS?! Mint green.
That must be one of the coolest colors ever for a 911 RS (or any 911 for that matter).
(Credit: Steve Kings).
One way of always recognising a 911 RS is the back.
Look at the way the back spoiler gets indented in the middle section- where the license plate gets mounted (see below).
A wonderful 964 Turbo (Credit: Philip Rathgen).
To end the 964 series -this one seen in Zurich recently – with GT2 spoiler.
We move on to the 993. I love this shot of the cabriolet. What a great picture.
You can study the perfect Porsche silhouette of the car.
(Credit: h_cd).
This 993 below is extremely rare in this configuration as it came with the turbo spoiler when new.
A very rare Porsche 993 Carrera 2 S with original spoiler owned by a watch collector J.Y – Hennabav on Instagram.
Below a 993 modified by RUF which I took at Villa d’Este last year and owned by a friend and American collector PG.
One of these cars recently sold for $900k at Monterey 2018.
How can I not include this dream 993 in black with black wheels. (Credit: h_cd).
Another rear view of a 993: This time a white 993 GT 2 seen at Essen a few years ago.
This might be the king of all spoilers. A pair of GT1 – a rare supercar by Porsche built for the road and to race.
(Credit: Enrico Morollli).
The last picture shows a superb shot of various Porsches gathered in Amsterdam, for the ‘tunnel run’.
(Credit:SSSZphoto).
