Some cars are simply special - and the Porsche 911 is one such car. Most people around the world have fallen in love with the Porsche icon at some point in their lives. The 911 has been at the pinnacle of the global sports car industry for well over five decades. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that there aren’t many vehicles out there that can match the versatility, reliability, and outrageous speed of this Porsche classic. This best-selling Porsche has gone neck to neck with the likes of Ferraris and the Lamborghinis for many years. Whether you’re simply strolling about or driving to a posh event, the 911 makes quite the impression. It’s no secret that the Porsche 911 has dominated for more than half a century.

Here’s how the Porsche 911 built a sustainable global reputation that helps it retain its value impeccably well in the automobile market.

The Origin Of Porsche 911

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Via Porsche - Official Website

Porsche became a huge success in the early 1960s. The company had made its mark in motor racing, which in turn helped boost its sales massively. This was an era where several cars were named three number models. The Porsche 356 - a predecessor to the 911 - was the big gun for the German automobile manufacturer until its production ceased in 1965. It was quite a success story, having sold around 76,000 units. However, Porsche desired a new redesign to wow customers and renew their interest. This led to the making of the Porsche 901. Unveiled in September 1964 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, the 901 created quite the buzz in town. The beast was both powerful and fast.

Designed by Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche, the original 901 was nothing less than a stunning beauty. Marvelously crafted with carved finishes, the twin door sports car boasted a rear-mounted six-cylinder “boxer” engine, with a small trunk and all-around independent suspension. Ferdinand’s Volkswagen Beetle was an inspiration for the external look, although the design was very influenced by the Porsche 356. Things seemed to kick off fashionably for the 901, but after making only 82 units, they were slapped with a copyright infringement suit by the French car manufacturer, Peugeot. They had a copyright on all 3 digit car names with the number 0 in the middle - in France. This prompted Porsche to change the name of the car to Porsche 911.

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The Evolution Of 911

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Via Porsche - Official Website

The 911's selling price was set at a humongous $5000 back in 1964. If you see the latest models today, you’ll notice that the personality of the car remains very similar to the original version. The first 911s made an impressive 130 horsepower and could generate 128 pound-feet of torque. Although the Porsche 911 had a motto of sticking to its traditional recipes, the company wittily introduced an upgrade or two, whenever possible. These upgraded versions and models formed the future generations of the 911. For instance, the models of the 911 between 1964 and 1998 used air-cooled engines. However, from 1998 onwards, the company permanently switched to water-cooled engines. Over the years, the 911 was manufactured and sold as a coupe, a convertible, a Targa top, and a speedster variant.

In 1967, Porsche planned to release a Cabriolet version of the car. However, a change in traffic laws and regulations prompted them to make an altered and upgraded version called the “safety cabriolet”, which they called the “Targa”. This name was prompted by the fact that Porsche was a 7-time winner of the Targa Florio sports car road racing in Sicily. The company consequently replaced the plastic rear window with a fixed glass variant, which was a USP for the Targa version that remained in production till 1989. 1967 was also important to the company as it was the first time they upgraded the engine for the 911. The upgraded version of the car was called the Porsche 911S. It came with an extra 30 horsepower and showcased the all-new 5-leaf Fuchs alloy wheels. Other versions like the 911T, the 912, 911L, and the 911R went on to become massive hits among the audiences. However, the 1989 variant with an internal code name “964” was arguably the best variant the company ever made. It was sold as the “Porsche Carrera”.

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A Porsche Legend

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Via Porsche - Official Website

Whether it's worldwide sales or the racing track, the Porsche 911 has been an immense success. The 911 has won several sports car championships, rallies, and endurance championships during its reign. It is also among the few privileged cars that have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The prowess of the 911 was such that it was placed fifth at the 1999 Global Automotive Election Foundation’s “Car of the Century” competition. More recently, the 911 won the 2014 “World Performance Car of the Year” and the 2015 “Best Premium Sports Car on the market” by Car and Driver. With such rich history and success, it is a little too obvious that the 911 is a revered brand in the sports car market. It’s no surprise that the Porsche legend demands a hefty price tag, and rightly so.

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