Innehållsförteckning för No. 146 från Total 911

From 25-27 November, RM Sotheby’s will oversee the largest automotive-themed private collection sale ever to be held in Europe, after it was announced as the host for the “Duemila Ruote” auction. Translated into English, the name of the sale – “2,000 Wheels” – is particularly apt, with the auction comprising more than 750 lots (of which 430 are cars). Including a 959 ‘Komfort’ and a 912, the automobile lots also feature 61 Porsche 911s. While many of the cars are in various states of disrepair, among the Neunelfer contingent there are a number of standout lots, including two Porsche 993 Carrera RSs and a 993 GT2 (the latter in racing spec). There are also two 996 GT2s going under the hammer along with 996 and 997.1 versions of the GT3…

1 Hugs & Co driving loafer £138 Founded by brothers Hugo and Benjie, Hugs & Co have gone from strength to strength in just four years. With expertly made offerings such as this tasselled driving loafer, it’s not hard to see why. As stylish as it is understated, the suede upper (available in six different colours) is combined with a leather inner to provide a supremely comfortable shoe that more than holds its own against more expensive opposition. www.hugsandco.com 2 Dune Bermuda driving loafer £70 Sometimes you want your footwear to make a statement; Dune’s ‘Bermuda’ driving loafer does just that with a range of bold suede finishes and contrasting sole and stitching colours. The square toe shaping provides these lightweight shoes with a classic profile, letting the daring hues…

I will be the first to admit that my initial response to the Sport Classic was less than stellar. Introduced in 2010 at a time when the backdate 911 craze was in full frenzy, I rather casually viewed the Sport Classic press release as a spot of opportune mid-life badge engineering by Porsche. At a price point of £140,000, it was a healthy premium over even a well-specced 997, for what appeared to be simple cosmetic trinkets. I suspect many others thought the same. We were all wrong. Walking towards the Sport Classic, I begin to realise that, when you see one in the metal, any cynical dismissals of black-centred wheels and that ducktail were a mistake. All 250 Sport Classics are finished in this understated shade of ‘Sport Classic…

Launched exactly a quarter of a century after the original 901, the Porsche 964 was meant to be “the 911 for the next 25 years”. Printed in the press material at the 964’s unveiling, these were the words of then Porsche AG Chairman, Heinz Branitzki. As corporate claims go, it was simultaneously extravagant and conservative. Despite numerous small updates (and the continuous upsizing of the flat-six engine), the 911 had, technologically, seen few major changes between its Frankfurt unveiling in 1963 and the 3.2 Carrera’s exodus from the line-up in 1989. The lack of wholesale development had nearly been the undoing of the 911 – declining sales in the late 1970s led Ernst Fuhrmann to the brink of axing the 911 – so to expect similar endurance from the 964…

The 911 2.4S in front of me sits resplendent in the summer sun, its rare Gold metallic paintwork shimmering in the light. Our photographer, Dan, is laying on the concrete floor beside me, camera aimed upwards at the front of the car some ten yards away. Disturbed only by the intermittent clicking of his camera as Dan grabs a few variations of his shot, my thoughts are lost in sheer admiration of the Porsche. “That thing’s bloody gorgeous,” I eventually blurt, my mind won over by the purist 911 silhouette, black horn grilles – as per the 2.7 RS – and protruding front lip spoiler, all hallmarks of the 911S (at least in 1973 form) that make it a real Total 911 favourite. However, though original, this 2.4S isn’t totally…

Essential info LOCATION:Washington State, United States COORDINATES: 48.710677, -121.148477 TOTAL LENGTH OF DRIVE: 75 miles (No gas stations along the way) POINTS OF INTEREST: Winthrop town, Methow Valley; A number of viewing points; Ross Lake; Bald eagles on the Skagit River around Marblemount in autumn; Mount Baker, most northern volcano in Washington State Let’s be honest here: when it comes to all out, take-your-breath-away roads and scenery, few places on earth can compare to the western United States. While many areas, such as Yosemite and Yellowstone, are overrun with visitors and congested roads, there are some areas that are less travelled but equally spectacular. The North Cascades Highway, or State Route 20, is a breathtaking road that runs for 75 uninterrupted miles from Mazama to Marblemount in Washington State. Departing…

Porsche could be set to unveil 991.2 versions of the Sport Classic and the Speedster next year, according to a source close to Zuffenhausen. Rumours of the cars, which are said to be “in the pipeline” at this stage, sets the scene for an incredible year of 911 launches, with the Exclusive-built 911s joining the expected 991.2 Carrera GTS and GT3 in showrooms during 2017. Our sources have also learned that Porsche will reveal both a GT2 and a GT2 RS version of the current 911 platform next year, further corroborating the rumours that Weissach’s next GTE class race car will feature a new turbocharged flat six. As expected, there has been no official word from Porsche on the new additions and, as such, numbers are yet to be confirmed.…

Porsche 911s are all special, but some are more so than others. Porsche is a company that by definition makes special cars, though the nature of the business it’s in inevitably attracts a type of customer who is always keen to explore, to do something unique, and to own and drive something individual and different. Ever since the first 356s rolled out of Porsche’s doors, it’s been open to providing solutions for its most exacting clientele, the tradition for personalisation always possible, your imagination and your budget the only limitations. The Sonderwunsch-program, or ‘Special Wishes’ department has always existed, but it would only be formalised in 1986 when Zuffenhausen introduced the Porsche Exclusive department, with which Porsche aimed to fulfil every customer’s wish and desire. Of course, any requests had…

“Pay particular attention to the way the roof panel locates above the windscreen, as gaps here will lead to wind noise and leaks” Ask 911 aficionados which model best exemplifies Porsche’s ethos of design and handling purity, and the chances are they’ll tell you it’s the Coupe. And they’d probably have a point. Yet there’s always been a healthy slice of the Neunelfer market that wanted its flat-six fix to be accompanied by a dose of fresh air, and as you’d expect, Porsche had an answer. Despite the popularity of the 356 Convertible, the Zuffenhausen marque faced some problems, such as the rigidity challenges involved in lopping the roof off a 911 and the rumour of US legislation that threatened to outlaw the convertible on safety grounds. Porsche’s answer was…

Porsche 911 R no. 120 has only just completed the final leg of its journey from Weissach to Porsche Centre Portsmouth when I arrive at the OPC on the UK’s south coast. Unloaded off the transporter less than an hour ago, the car is still wrapped in its travel garments, designed to protect it from damage during transit from Porsche’s factory. Unzipping one of the side panels, new owner Zac Stephens opens the driver’s door and peers inside eagerly. Ever since placing the order last October, he’s been counting down the days; almost giddy with excitement, he’s like a young boy on Christmas morning. His fervour will have to carry him through the next few days however. While 911 R no. 120’s 600-mile trip may be over, the team at…

Parts hunting Dear Sir, I write this letter having picked up a copy of Total 911 for a bit of in-flight reading on my annual holidays. Though not a regular subscriber (though I soon will be) to your rather fine magazine, I was prompted to put pen to paper (or finger to iPad) to tell you of my recent 997 woes that, thankfully, have now been resolved. I am by no means a 911 virgin having owned a 1990 964 Cabriolet and a 996 Targa prior to my current 997 with Tiptronic, all of which I have thoroughly enjoyed. The 997 was a private purchase and was, to my reckoning, a fairly safe bet, with its bore scoring issues and IMS bearing worries taken care of by Hartech. I thoroughly…

It’s the sort of racing action you’d kill to see on television. The Zandvoort Historic Grand Prix meeting was a fabulous weekend for local 911 specialists TwinSpark Racing. One of their 3.0-litre RSRs, driven by Leonard Stolk, took an imperious flag-to-flag victory on the Saturday, and the other car, with Lex Proper at the wheel, won the race – from an incredible 48th on the grid – on the Sunday. They were both fabulous races, making it easy to see what it is about historic racing that so appeals. Historic racing grows more popular every season. Unlike contemporary race cars, classics are never out of date; they run in specific classes that are defined by eras when they would have been in current production or in active competition. Historic gives…

After the launch of the 991 GT3, everyone thought that the manual gearbox had been confined to Weissach’s history books. But now, with the 991.2 almost certainly set to come with the option of a clutch pedal, how will the new car affect the GT3 market? We ask the experts to lend their opinions. “It’s a really hard one to make a call on,” says Parr’s Lawrence Stockwell. The independent specialist’s customers fall into one of two camps according to the head of PR: those who want the latest and greatest (“as long as it’s faster and better”), and those who prefer raw mechanical feel (“the purists”). The former will prefer the 991.2 with a PDK transmission, while the manual gearbox may not be enough to appease the latter according…

IROC! DRIVEN: One of 15 RSRs built by Porsche for the 1973-74 International Race of Champions. Is this the ultimate classic Rennsport? BUYING A NEW PORSCHE 911 There’s plenty of ways to get into the seat of a new 911, as we reveal DRIVEN: CUSTOM TURBO RSR 911 Rennsport’s retro creation with Turbo and lightweight performance BIG INTERVIEW: OLIVER BLUME One year into the job, Porsche’s CEO talks about the future of the 911…