Indholdsfortegnelse for No. 151 i Total 911

UK electrics company Classic Retrofit has announced it is to debut a highly efficient electrical air-conditioning system for vintage Porsche 911s. Set to be revealed at the LA Lit and Toy Show on 4 March, the company’s Electrocooler “takes full advantage of recent revolutions in air-conditioning technology,” bringing reliable, modern air-con to the existing fascia of a classic 911’s ventilation controls. The electric air-con unit means occupants can enjoy air conditioning through any vent, “including warm air for rapid windscreen defogging.” The system will put less strain on your flat six, while tidying up the engine bay thanks to the standard air-con compressor’s removal. Classic Retrofit claims its Electrocooler saves 18kg from cars with a factory air-con unit, adding just 7kg to cars without it.…

Porsche sets its sights on a Le Mans hat-trick in 2017 Weissach to field two reworked 919 Hybrids in LMP1 category At the ACO press conference on 2 February, it was announced Porsche will be entering two 919 Hybrids for the 2017 season as expected. These two cars will carry the starting numbers 1 and 2 as they look to defend their title in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the company’s sights set firmly on a hat-trick at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. In the no. 1 car, 33-year-old Neel Jani of Switzerland will be joined by German André Lotterer and 32-year-old British driver Nick Tandy. Lotterer claimed the title of World Champion in 2012 behind the wheel of an Audi and brings with him the experience…

Standing taller and wider than ever before, the 991 GT3 RS’s carbon fibre rear wing is the most outlandish of any 911 yet. Save for the 964 RS, the fixed rear wing has long been a mainstay of the Carrera RS and GT3 RS silhouette for more than 40 years, increasing in height and size as each generation pushes the science of aerodynamics yet further, it culminating in providing a substantial chunk of the latest Rennsport’s unprecedented 350kg downforce. However, over the course of the last six months, it appears the fixed rear wing has become decidedly unfixed for some deviant 991 GT3 RS owners, who have removed that imposing aerodynamic aid and accompanying uprights in their entirety. This unsubtle ‘de-winging’ of the RS appeared to coincide with the arrival…

Same dimensions as 991.1 Maximum width remains 1,852mm as per Carrera 4; tyre specs are identical too. Reduced ground clearance New GT3 rides 5mm lower to the floor than the first-generation 991. Upgraded design ‘3D effect’ rear lights and more discreet DRLs mimic the styling of the rest of the Gen2 range. 4.0-litre NA engine Biggest capacity engine ever fitted to a GT3 means the 991.2 reaches the magical 500hp mark without the need for turbochargers. No lightweight flywheel For the first time, a GT3 will not feature a lightweight flywheel, as the 991.2’s crankshaft design doesn’t support it. Manual transmission a no-cost option Weissach’s six-speed ‘Sport’ gearbox is now an alternative to seven-speed PDK. Tyre options 991.2 GT3 will again come with either Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 or…

Protos is Greek for first, so prototype evidently means first of a type. In the automotive industry this is a blanket term for a variety of preproduction vehicle types. The common definition is a car that visually and mechanically is close, even in some instances indistinguishable, from the subsequent series production model. Prototypes are what the makers build when final designs have been agreed and theoretical bench testing completed, so prototypes in this context are usually the immediate precursors of the production model. Concerns about competitive advantage and industrial espionage mean that initial road testing is carried out in secret – in manufacturers’ own proving grounds such as Porsche’s at Weissach and Nardo or VW’s at Ehra Lessien. When an entirely new model finally hits the public road before it…

By 1969, Porsche wanted its middle-range 911E, designated the comfort model, to have more sophisticated ride qualities than the T and the handling-biased S. For this, Porsche decided to offer a self-levelling suspension option, which would replace the front torsion bars and dampers with gas/hydraulic struts. Hydropneumatic suspension systems were not new: Citroën had gone down this route in 1955 with its groundbreaking DS, famed for its ‘magic carpet’ ride. As only the 911’s front wheels were involved, two independent Boge struts would suffice to achieve a front suspension firm enough to resist understeer, yet compensate itself for changes in attitude induced by acceleration, braking and passenger/luggage loading, and which would also enhance general comfort. Automotive springing is inevitably a compromise between control, ride and comfort. Today, PASM micro-manages suspension…

Thanks to a combination of the GT3 RS’s naturally aspirated 4.0-litre motor and a six-speed manual rather than PDK transmission, the 991 R generated huge interest among enthusiasts and the motoring press alike. But that drivetrain, combined with limited production, has seen values soar. With the forthcoming second-generation GT3 likely to get the same engine/gearbox combo, will it affect 991 R values? Specialist Lee Maxted-Page predicts the GT3 will have little impact: “Values for the 991 R are currently around £400,000 but whether they will come down once the GT3 is launched is hard to say. My gut feeling is that they probably won’t as the R badge and limited numbers is certain to maintain desirability. What I would say, though, is that I think the prices for the R…

Legendary Leonberg-based tuning outfit, Gemballa, has revealed its staggering new Avalanche model at the Geneva Motor Show. Based on Porsche’s 911 Turbo (for the third time), the Avalanche has always sought to provide an extreme-styled, high-powered example of what Gemballa believes is the ultimate expression of a supercar. The latest model certainly looks to continue that trend: headline figures of 820hp, with a scarcely quantifiable 950Nm torque, provide approximate gains of 25 per cent more than any factory Porsche 911, ever. Some 32 years on from its first Avalanche, Gemballa’s latest iteration takes Porsche’s 991 Turbo and, according to the company itself, “has once again set standards with its uncompromising design, its interior opulence and its vehicle dynamic properties.” A hallmark of the Avalanche has always been its ostentatious styling,…

The elusive Sports Purpose Manual Dear Sir, I really enjoyed the write-up on the 911 T/R in issue 149, as the car hails from an inspired period of Porsche history for me, though I must confess to having no prior knowledge as to the existence of the Sports Purpose Manual. I have a 1971 911T and would relish the idea of injecting some Sports Purpose Manual influence on my car, however, my question therefore is where can I get hold of this hallowed manual? I don’t really have much of an idea where to start my search! Eric Chalmers You’re in the same boat as many others, Eric. Porsche originally made these manuals available to prospective buyers of their race cars, though of course, those days are long since gone.…

Allow me to begin on a personal note: I like the 993 Carrera RS. A lot. I was chauffeured to church on my wedding day in a Clubsport version, before my wife-to-be arrived in an Audi R8 Spyder driven by my father-in-law. The 993 is a shape that tickled my fancy when I was still at school and in the years that followed, I realised (and have come to further appreciate) how special these cars are. Having said that, the first modern Porsche I experienced, albeit from the passenger seat, was a Gen1 996 GT3, and therefore, to my mind, the 996 GT3 RS is just as alluring personally as the 993 RS. The 993 Carrera RS, to give it its full name, was unveiled at the 1995 Amsterdam Auto…

Rob Dickinson’s daily driver is a 300,000-mile 1969 911E with a tuned 3.0-litre SC engine, a car that has affectionately been coined the ‘Brown Bomber’ for its unabashed cafe racer looks. Although the car’s appeal to Los Angeles’ rich and famous eventually prompted the manifestation of Singer Vehicle Design, it is perhaps the antithesis of the lavish, re-imagined 911s Dickinson’s renowned company produces for its clients today. An array of charismatic anecdotes exhibited in war wounds can be found all over his Porsche 911’s body, but as Dickinson told Total 911 back in issue 95: “It’s a car that brings me from ‘A’ to ‘B’ in a quick and fun way, with the emphasis firmly on the latter.” Rob’s sentiment is something another proprietor of a specialist Porsche business, this…

Lee Sibley Bournemouth, UK @lee_sibs Model 996.2 Carrera 4 Year 2004 Acquired February 2016 Wheels. They make or break the entire look of a car, don’t they? Fortunately, Porsche has provided us with a glittering array of wheel designs sitting beneath its 911 sports cars for decades now. My favourites all hail from the 997 generation (‘RS Spyder’ centre-locks, ‘Lobster Claws’ and ‘Carrera Sports’) but undoubtedly the most iconic of all is the famous Fuchsfelge. As a result, many aftermarket replicas have been made to varying degrees of quality, and even Porsche itself has had a go at modern evocations: the wheels fitted to the ‘50 Jahre’ Anniversary car are an obvious case in point. Look closely at the centre-locking wheels on the 991 GT3, GT3 RS and R and…

RISE OF THE 911 SC It’s been the forgotten Neunelfer for too long… now Total 911 investigates why the fortunes of the SC could be about to change RSR TURBO… ON THE ROAD Yes, that’s right. We’re dodging Hondas in South Africa with a Le Mans great GRANT LARSON INTERVIEW The man who designed the new 991 RSR speaks ahead of its WEC debut DRIVEN: A PROPER BARN FIND! A true Japanese barn find re-introduced to the road by Canford Classics…

Save the date, for Sunday 2 April sees the second instalment of Total 911’s cars and coffee return to Official Porsche Centre Portsmouth. Reserved exclusively for variants of the Porsche 911, the event follows Total 911’s inaugural event held in the autumn sunshine last year. Once again, Porsche Centre Portsmouth’s service bay will be open for complimentary health checks (these will be available on a first come, first served basis), while the showroom will showcase the very latest of Zuffenhausen’s stunning flat-six machinery. Intended as a relaxed occasion for 911 owners to share their own Porsche stories with the editorial team and other 911 enthusiasts, various prizes will also be awarded for different categories including car of the day, the furthest travelled, and the ‘Spirit of Butzi’ for the Porsche…

Porsche has joined the innovative Startup Autobahn platform, working with newly established partners from around the world to establish and nurture ideas for future mobility. Porsche will supply an experienced team of mentors for the project, which will develop technologies right up to project maturity. The Startup Autobahn platform marks Porsche’s latest step towards greater immersion with digital technology, meanwhile positioning the company’s home of Stuttgart as Germany’s leading technology hub. Oliver Blume, chairman of the Executive Board, says: “Digitalisation, electrification and connectivity are revolutionising the automotive industry. We see this as an opportunity, and we want to make the most of it. These top talents from the international startup scene provide us with inspiration that accelerates progress. To make this happen, we provide the startups with an environment in…

1983 Rolf Stommelen killed The most successful Porsche racer of his era, Stommelen began his career with a 904, graduating to a works 906 at Le Mans in 1966 where he finished seventh. At 23 he became the youngest member of the Porsche team, but despite wins at the Targa Florio and Daytona, he was dropped after 1969, ironically even though he and Vic Elford were the only drivers brave enough to go flat out on Mulsanne in the 917. He stayed several seasons with Alfa Romeo before returning in 1976 to Porsche to drive the 936. He won at Watkins Glen and in Sicily, but it was with privately entered 935s that he really showed his mettle. German champion in 1977 with seven wins and four seconds for Gelo…

“The new GT3 is able to retain its redline of a heady 9,000rpm” Precisely four years ago, then-Chairman of the Executive Board, Matthias Müller, took to the stage on Porsche’s stand at the Geneva Motor Show to reveal the 991.1 GT3. Heralding a vast change from old in favour of greater technological integration, trailblazing this avant-garde approach to track driving was compulsory PDK transmission. In the wake of Müller’s presentation, journalists and enthusiasts alike were left stunned. The manual GT3 we’d all loved dearly since 1999 was dead. We were told afterwards, and in no uncertain terms, “There will never be anything other than a PDK 991 GT3,” Weissach’s engineering team deemed so small and focused that the diversions of engineering a manual weren’t allowed. Alas, there was no chance…

History of the 959 If, back in 1987, you’d had £150,000 – or thereabouts – burning a hole in your expensively-tailored pocket, then it would have bought you entry to a very exclusive club. A club that tempted the great and the good from Bill Gates to moustachioed former decathlete, Daley Thompson, among others, and that allowed you to experience one of the most technologically advanced cars of its time: the Porsche 959. Fast forward 30 years and according to John Hawkins of respected Porsche experts, Specialist Cars of Malton, you’ll need closer to six times that sum to get behind the wheel, values having jumped markedly in recent years. So just what makes this car so special? Well, for one thing it was born out of Porsche’s desire to…

“We all need to be a little bit OCD in this business,” says Alan Drayson, owner of Canford Classics. That much is evident if you’ve ever visited the firm’s premises in Winterborne Kingston, Dorset, the level of pride that goes into every build being clear. The latest demonstration of that is sitting idle outside in the late winter sun, an RSR build just completed for a customer. “It’s only got about 80 miles on its rebuilt engine,” adds Drayson, as we walk around the beautiful Signal orange 911 RSR. Drayson admits Canford has never built an RSR before and that it’s a bit different from the projects it would usually undertake. Over the year it’s taken to complete though, they’ve really enjoyed it. “I wouldn’t want to count up the…

911s in the data file are organised in rows according to release date, beginning with the very first model in 1964. Many models were available in Coupe, Targa and Cabriolet forms, with the option of automatic transmission. Here, data has been provided from the Coupe variants unless stated. All data here has been compiled, where possible, from Porsche’s own figures. General valuations This reflects the general market trend for a model’susedvaluecompared to the previous financial quarter. The review for Q2 will be April 2017. The review for 2017 Q1 was December 2016. Ratings Each model is rated out of five in ourhalf-starsystemaccording totheirperformance,handling, appearanceanddesirability.…

Unlike many of our favourite roads, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is far from a hidden secret. This windy strip of tarmac, between Heiligenblut and Zeller Fusch, is as famous as the Stelvio Pass, Route 66 or the Nürburgring. Conceived in the 1920s as a toll road to cater for alpine tourism, it was a state project designed to battle Austrian unemployment after World War I. Today, it serves as a top tourist attraction. Officially designated the B107, this succession of 36 hairpins cascades for 28 miles in the shadow of The Grossglockner, Austria’s tallest mountain. It’s also a road synonymous with Porsche, used as an unofficial development site by test drivers in the 1940s. Separating the original factory in Gmünd and the family estate in Zell am See, the…