Before you start reading, I would like to say that this is a strictly subjective article. You might or might not agree with what I wrote.
It’s great to own a BMW M or a Mercedes-Benz AMG; they are beautiful, fast and high-quality cars with bulletproof reliability, but they’re missing something, something you simply cannot touch, something that makes you feel different, in a good way.
They’re not a Porsche, and to be more specific, they’re not a 911.
The 911 was born out of pure passion, a benchmark to all sports cars. It is in one word: Legendary.
The car has undergone continuous development, though the basic concept has remained little changed throughout the years.
First introduced in 1963 as a successor to the famous 356, the 911 Classic had a very distinctive shape with a steeply-sloped rear roofline, rounded headlights, horizontal taillights and best of all, an air-cooled rear-mounted flat-6 engine developing 130hp.
The 1989 Porsche 911 was the first major update of the original 911, a new flat-6 engine, heavily revised suspension, power steering, anti-lock brakes and an electric rear spoiler meant that the 964 is a whole new car. It was still recognizable as a 911 though, thanks to its shape and exterior styling.
With 1993 came the 993. The new 911 carried over the engine and gearbox previously seen on the 964. The 993 was a much better ride than its predecessors due to the introduction of a new all-alloy rear suspension and subframe; the car also saw the introduction of a new six-speed manual transmission.
The 993’s exterior was basically a refined version of the 964’s.
In 1997, Porsche made quite a stir with the introduction of the new 911.
Codenamed the 996, the car was quite a revolution compared to its predecessors. It featured new headlights, new taillights and a fresh interior. The 996 saw Porsche ditch the air-cooled engine in favor of a more conventional water-cooled unit which sounded tamer due to stringent noise regulations.
Some people welcomed Porsche’s bold step, while others heavily criticized the car for not having the 911’s unique characteristics.
All of the critics were soon quieted after test driving the 996; it might’ve looked different but it felt and drove like a true 911, an untamed horse.
2005 witnessed the birth of Porsche’s most successful 911 yet, the 997.
Porsche switched back to the original rounded headlights, and introduced a renovated interior, reminiscent of older generation 911s. The rear-mounted flat-6 engine remained on the car though with added performance. The 997 proved a more practical choice compared to its older sisters thanks to its ease of drive and comfort.
Revealed to the world in September 2011, the refreshed 911 is Porsche’s latest milestone.
Porsche summoned all the great things from their older generations, such as the 997’s practicality, the 996’s beastliness, the 993’s charm and implemented them in the 991. If “perfect” was a car, it would be the new 991.
What really makes a 911 so special besides unique looks, mind-boggling performance and practicality?
Its different variants.
Below are pictures of different 911 variants ranging from the base Carrera model to the top of the line GT2 RS.
- Porsche 964 Carrera 2 Cabriolet
- Porsche 911 2.7 RS
- Porsche 996 GT3
- Porsche 964 Turbo
- Porsche 996 Carrera Cabriolet
- Porsche 997 GT2 RS
- Porsche 996 Turbo
- Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0
- Porsche 993 Carrera RS
- Porsche 997 Targa
- Porsche 997 Carrera GTS Cabriolet
