This year Porsche celebrates 50 years of Porsche Design, and to honor the momentous milestone the Porsche Design Group has come up with a fitting tribute - a limited 2022 911 Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition and a one-off 1972 911S 2.4 Targa that’s been fully restored by Porsche Classic.
The 911 Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition, limited to 750 vehicles, pays homage to Professor Ferdinand Alexander ‘Butzi’ Porsche, designer of the original 911 and founder of Porsche Design.
In creating Porsche Design in 1972, F.A. Porsche sought to extend the spirit of Porsche beyond the automobile itself. Thus, all Porsche Design products are synonymous with sophistication and function, precision, perfection, intelligent features, and impressive technological innovation.
The first product to leave Porsche Design, the Chronograph 1 timepiece, embraced all these aspects. Its all-black finish not only ticked all the design boxes, but being the first wristwatch with a black dial and body, it quickly set a trend for others to follow.
50 years later, Porsche’s 911 Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition confirms Porsche Design’s ethos while encompassing the spirit of the legendary Chronograph 1.
The 911 Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition Is Set To Become A Collector’s Classic
In reverence to F.A. Porsche’s minimalist design philosophy the 911 Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition is not based on the grand top-end variants, such as the GT2 or GT3, instead, the company chose the current 911 Targa 4 GTS (Gran Turismo Sport) as the basis for the soon-to-be classic.
Befittingly, the Anniversary Edition 911 is also only available in factory black or Jet Black Metallic. The black, harking back to the Chronograph 1 timepiece of 1972, is offset by platinum accents, such as the roof structure’s Targa bar and the rims on the 20- and 21-inch 911 Turbo S wheels (front and rear, respectively).
Inside, the Chronograph 1 theme continues with the standard Sport Chrono Package’s dashboard clock sporting a red second hand, and the 18-way electronically adjustable seats trimmed in black leather with inserts in the automaker’s checkered fabric known as Pepita.
There’s also embossed anniversary logos and distinct badging that further denote exclusivity, as does a facsimile of F.A. Porsche’s signature on the center console. The leather-bound GT sports steering wheel has the 12 o’clock marking in Slate Grey – the same color as the seat belts.
While the powertrain might not be the most powerful the company has on offer, it does showcase Porsche Design’s ethos of sophistication, function, precision, and perfection. When mated to Porsche’s eight-speed PDK automatic transmission (a seven-speed manual is also available for the same price), the 473 hp, 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine in the 50th Anniversary Edition propels the 911 from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds (with the Sport Chrono Package) and reach 190 mph.
Open for orders, the launch will be staggered across international sales markets, with the anniversary edition being available to European sales partners from April. US buyers will get their shot at the $195,850 50th Anniversary Edition 911 in the spring of this year.
Owners of the 911 Porsche Design 50Y Anniversary Edition will also receive a Chronograph 1 “911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design” timepiece that will only be available to owners of the limited-edition car. However, Porsche has also produced 500 examples of the “Chronograph 1 – 1972 Edition” that will be available to the public.
The 911 Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition’s Lineage Dates Back To This Classic
Complementing the commemorative Targa 4 GTS is a 1972 classic flashback, a 911S 2.4 Targa that took the professionals at Porsche Classic two years to restore.
Normally Porsche Classic would have restored the vehicle to original specifications, wherever possible. However, for this very special restoration project, the team chose a different path – one that has created a very special 911, blending tradition with the present day.
Also finished in the same obsidian-like hue throughout, the resurrection began with a donor 911T 2.4 Targa, the “T” denoting “touring” and the “Targa” moniker a nod to Italy’s infamous Targa Florio endurance race where Porsche finished first on four occasions. During the meticulous rebuild, the car was updated to “S” (sport) specification with a 187 hp, 2,341 cc, flat-six.
As with the 911 Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition, the retro Targa’s interior also honors Porsche Design’s first timepiece while draping the cabin with profuse amounts of Pepita.
The ’70s classic closely follows the trim direction of its modern commemorative sibling. This can be seen in the black-and-platinum contrasting trim, similar badging and embossing, as well as the same facsimile of F.A. Porsche’s moniker.
This one-of-a-kind historical classic will be made available through a yet-to-be-finalized stateside auction.
Considering that Porsches remain among the most sought-after collector cars, it’s a fair assumption that enthusiasts won’t waste a minute on placing an order for one of the 750 911 Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Editions and associated timepieces.