Innehållsförteckning för No. 205 från Total 911

Is there a sports car out there that’s more special, and more revered than the iconic 959? Sure, there are other historically significant cars like the BMW 2002 or Audi Quattro, which gave high performance passenger vehicles turbocharging and 4WD respectively, the technologies of which are widespread across the automotive industry today. However, the 959 gave us everything, thereby underlining the 911 as the ultimate do-it-all super sports car. Much of its technology was groundbreaking at the time and, even more impressive, is still utilised on Porsche 911s today – 35 years later! It’s for this reason we’re paying homage to the 959 this issue, deep-diving into its history, assessing its relevance today, plus there’s a cool road trip report from an owner who drove across the continent for a…

Background & Technical Development All-wheel drive had existed for most of the twentieth century, but no company had made a commercial success of the four-by-four idea for strictly performance models until Ferdinand Piëch. Denied the opportunity to lead Porsche, he went to Audi-NSU where he produced his famous Quattro: this would prove one of the most influential cars of all time, and among those deeply impressed was his uncle Ferry. With effect from the 1982 season, the FIA had created a new competition category: Group B was aimed at rallying. It required closed two-seater cars of which at least 200 had to be built over a 12-month period to meet homologation rules. Led by Audi and then Ford and later Peugeot, manufacturers started to produce turbocharged 4x4 coupés to compete…

HISTORY AND TECH Once Peter Schutz had reinstated the 911, wise heads in Porsche knew it would need drastic updating. However, the steady rise in the US dollar enhancing both 911 profitability and sales removed some of the urgency as development efforts were diverted into high-tech projects, notably the 959 supercar. Major objectives were to use technologies developed for the 959 to make the 911 more advanced, notably offering four-wheel drive as developed by Audi for the Quattro, and improved aerodynamics: Porsche was embarrassed by the Carrera 3.2’s Cd of 0.40 (and 0.42 for the widebody) when Ford’s Scorpio and Ferdinand Piëch’s new Audi 100 could boast 0.30. But whereas both saloons looked vastly different from their angular predecessors, the Vorstand decreed that the 911 was not to change above…

or a while we thought this might F not happen. Global pandemics and travel bans have played havoc with car launches, and getting to the GT3 first drive in Bilster Berg, Germany, was going to be impossible. Porsche GB had a solution though, and it’s parked on the tarmac at Bedford Autodrome, UK. The German registration plate underlines that even in the panic to get the new 992 GT3 across the English Channel there was enough time to add a little bit of humour to this early right-hand-drive example. That plate’s not the only thing making us smile. Sure, we might be denied the rainbow of colour choice the German journalists got to pick from or, indeed, the rollercoaster-like crests and dips of the Bilster Berg circuit at the official…

Of all Porsche’s lightweight superstars to leave Weissach, none are as hardcore (or rare) as the 964 C4 Leichtbau. Meaning, quite literally, ‘light build’, the Leichtbau was the brainchild of Jürgen Barth, Porsche’s client racing manager. He recommended building it after an American customer suggested that Porsche construct a lightweight, competition-centric variant of the standard road-going 964. Barth secured fewer than 50 orders, with only 20 being built, making this one of the rarest 911s on the road. The Leichtbau takes its name seriously. It is essentially a stripped-out race car, featuring many motorsport bits from Porsche’s 953 Paris-Dakar rally car, including a manually adjustable four-wheel-drive system that allowed the driver to adjust torque front to rear and side to side. The gearbox itself was the low-ratio five-speed from 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’s used value compared to the previous financial quarter. The review for 2021 Q3 will be July. The review for 2021 Q2 was April. Ratings Each model is rated out of five in our half-star system according to their performance, handling, appearance and desirability.…

Porsche Classic unveils new Technical Certificate Raft of innovative developments adds to classic 911 appeal Porsche Classic has announced a host of innovative new components and initiatives for classic 911s, which seeks to enrich the experience of owning a classic Porsche. Chief among these new initiatives is the Technical Certificate. Available immediately for all classic 911s up to and including the 996, the Technical Certificate involves a ‘nut and bolt’ technical check of a vehicle, which can take up to two days, while information is provided on the technology and equipment of their classic vehicle upon delivery. The Technical Certificate will replace the Certificate of Authenticity, which Porsche ditched in 2019. Porsche Classic is also expanding its product range with new Performance Parts. Highlights here include preparation of a Performance…

Living the 911 legend Dear Sir, The day finally arrived! After more than 35 years in the making and a move to a different country, a different house, a different job and the support of my loving and understanding wife, the dream of Porsche ownership was only two weeks away. I’d spotted the car on the internet and was immediately drawn to the colour. Purchased from new with a one owner title, the 991.1 C4S was in excellent condition given it was eight years old. Packed with lots of factory extras, it was everything I was looking for. A quick phone call to Mark Sumpter from Paragon Porsche confirmed the car was in prep for sale. That evening the decision was made to purchase the car the following day. Two…

I grew up admiring Porsches, from the classic silhouette of the 911 to the exploits of the 917 – be it at Le Mans or on the silver screen with Steve McQueen. It was always about the design through engineering, and the people behind the cars, from Butzi Porsche to Hans Mezger. It is the passion they imparted that really flows through the DNA of the cars today. At launch the 959 was a technical marvel, with an impressive arsenal boasting active all-wheel drive, adaptable suspension, switchable driving modes, a tyre pressure monitoring system, sequential turbochargers and even heated seats. Little did we know at the time that so many of these innovative features would still be so relevant 35 years later. The first time my eyes feasted upon a…

A notional £40,000-£75,000 offers air- and water-cooled 911 possibilities. 993 The obvious alternative. More refined mechanically, its ride is improved, and quieter. The 993’s aesthetics alone – that rear three-quarter aspect – will be enough to persuade some buyers. But the more raucous, frog-eye 964 will appeal to purer traditionalists. G-body In this bracket, SCs and 3.2s will range from useable, but requiring continuing work, to well-restored examples needing little more expenditure. Unassisted steering and less-effective brakes combine with a cruder ride to make these 911s more suitable for weekend fun than longer journeys. 997.2 £40,000 buys a good, low-mileage 350bhp Carrera or a 385bhp S with more use, but still with a clear service history. Less challenging to drive, these 2010-11 cars are still depreciating. Chasiss corrosion and normal…

Perhaps more than any other car manufacturer, Porsche has an evangelical ethos of seeking to improve performance by creating lighter editions of its sports cars in the quest for purity in performance. Particularly evident throughout the 911’s entire lineage, the Porsche achievement of enhanced performance and durability with reduced weight stands alone. The 2.7 RS, introduced after ten years of 911 production and well documented in recent editions of this magazine, achieved motorsport fame before becoming the holy grail of car investment legend. Later, its Rennsport successors did the same, with the water-cooled GT3 RS creating a resurgence in Porsche Cup popularity and some giant-killing performances in GT racing. But there are other variants away from that RS moniker that can still claim that ‘lightweight’ 911 status. One of these…

We’ve dedicated numerous column inches to the topic of fuelling a traditional combustion-engined sports car in this magazine of late, for a number of reasons: there’s a clear goal at Porsche to significantly push consumers towards EVs when it comes to purchasing new cars, while also developing synthetic (or eFuels) to cater for enthusiasts who wish to enjoy older sports cars. While the latter is a welcome development, Porsche has stopped short of confirming that air-cooled 911s will not need any modification to run the eFuels successfully. Meanwhile, fuels across Europe are featuring more ethanol, which as previously reported, is notoriously bad for fuel systems on classic cars, accelerating rot. So with all this in mind, has enthusiasm among enthusiasts for classic Porsche 911s waned? Not so, according to Porsche…

Tyneham, Dorset, and the land that time forgot. Evacuated on 19 December 1943 to serve wartime military training, villagers were denied the right to return after the second world war had ended and the land was subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order by the British Ministry of Defence. Standing almost untouched from the final, frantic days of its civilian occupancy nearly 80 years ago, it is often referred to as Dorset’s ‘lost’ village. The Porsche 959 currently at rest in our hilltop carpark overlooking the village, meanwhile, most certainly hasn’t been forgotten. Revered right from launch in 1986, the 959 took its place at the top table of automotive splendour, and has remained there ever since – indeed our lofty meeting point might well pass as its metaphorical perch. A…

A ‘build your own’ project 5 If for you the desire driving a lightweight experience Porsche rather than 911 its investment potential, then why not build your own? There’s a wealth of information available, and if you’re able to find a good G-Series Porsche 911 as a baseline, you can create a lightweight, track-focused car like this SC we recently featured. With the heavy-impact bumpers, polycarbonate windows, lightweight seats and carpets removed, this car is under 1,000 kilograms. This simple 3.0-litre 911 punches above its weight, and with Boxster front brakes and a good chassis setup, it’s just the thing for a spot of giant-killing on the track. 964 RS 4 The moniker 964 to era the reintroduced road-going the 911 RS again, with an impressive 130 kilograms pared from…

Data file Full specs, ratings and market values of every Porsche 911 model, including the G-series cars, can be found beginning on page 76 Plus Showroom Looking for a new 911? The classifieds from our independent specialist partners are the first place you should start your search Servicing & tuning Get the very best from your Porsche 911 with the help of our selected performance and maintenance specialists Porsche lifestyle Helping you make the right lifestyle choices to complement you and your 911. Don’t just drive Porsche, live the brand Insurance & finance Get your Porsche covered with the best insurance deals for road and track to ensure happy, safe motoring…

As you’ll have seen this issue, the 959 really was a technological tour de force, with much of the science behind the car far advanced for its time. Another example of this futuristic approach to sports cars can be found in the 959’s suspension, as it was the first – and so far only – 911 derivative to have its ride height adjusted automatically. The 959 featured electrically adjustable double Bilstein dampers in each corner, providing a total of eight dampers. In one of the paired dampers in each corner, a hydraulic system raised or lowered the 959’s body according to the speed or terrain on which it was driving, in increments of 30mm. The 959’s default ride height setting had the body sitting 150mm off the ground. This could…

Tony Hatter had always wanted to work for Porsche, but had to take a post at Opel for five years from 1981 before realising his dream of working at the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer from 1986. Celebrating 35 years with Porsche in 2021, Hatter has left an indelible mark not just on the manufacturer, but specifically with its iconic 911 sports car. Hatter’s first jobs at Porsche included design work on the 964 Turbo’s rear bumper, plus the now legendary door pull straps on the 964 RS no less, before moving on to the 993 under the guidance of Harm Lagaaij. “We started [work on designing the 993] in early 1990. I was very pleased to be working on the new air-cooled 911,” he told Total 911 in 2019. Hatter…