In this Article, I offer a nostalgic look at the Porsche Sports Car, one of an elite group of classic cars, which was manufactured during the period 1948 to 1995.
Ferdinand Porsche would have to wait until after WW2 to fulfil his dream of creating a sports car from the Volkswagen Beetle.
1949
In 1949, the 356 was the first Porsche sports car, and was debuted at the Geneva Motor Show where it created immediate interest.
Owners of the 356 were keen to race the car as well as drive it on the streets. As a result, orders reached some 10,000 units by 1964. When production of the Porsche 356 ended in 1965, 76,313 cars had been built.
1964
In 1964, the 911 Porsche sports car made it debut. It was a 2+2, with an air cooled, rear mounted, 2 litre, 6-cylinder, 130 bhp engine.
1966
In 1966, the more powerful Porsche 911S was launched with a 160 bhp engine.
1969
In 1969, fuel injection was added to the 911S, and the 911E became the new middle of the range model.
1970
In 1970, the engine capacity of all 911's was increased to 2195 cc.
1972
In 1972, all models received a larger 2341 cc engine. This was known as the "2.4L" engine. The 911S was the top of the range.
1973
In 1973, the next car to be introduced was the 911 Carrera 2.7 RS. It had stiffened suspension and a distinctive rear spoiler.
Carrera was Spanish for "race", and the RS meant "racing sports".
1974
In 1974, the 911 Carrera 3.0 RS appeared, with Bosch fuel injection and a 230 bhp engine.
It was designed with racing in mind, and had a number of successes.
In 1974, the 911 Turbo was introduced. The engine was a turbocharged 3 litre, 260 bhp unit.
Known as the Type 930, it had distinctive wide wheel arches and a large rear spoiler.
1976
In 1976, the Carrera 3.0 was introduced. It used the 930, 3 litre, Turbo engine with Bosch fuel injection, but without the turbocharger.
1978
By 1978, the engine of the 930 Turbo had increased to 3.3 litres.
In that year, the latest Porsche sports car to be introduced was the 3 litre, 911SC. In essence, this was a Carrera 3.0 with a detuned engine.
1980
In 1980, the power of the 911SC was increased to 188 bhp which, by 1983, was further increased to 204 bhp in non US models.
1982
In 1982, Porsche introduced the first 911 Cabriolet, the last such model being seen on the 356 in the 60's.
Its success meant that a Cabriolet would be offered in the future.
1984
In 1984, the 911SC was replaced by the 911 3.2 Carrera Porsche sports car. The higher compression engine developed 231 bhp in non US markets.
All Carrera models were offered as a fixed head coupe, cabriolet and targa (with removable hard top) versions.
This was, in effect, the last version of the original 911 series.
Also, that year, Porsche introduced the Supersport, which had a striking resemblance to the 930 Turbo, with wide wheel arches and the distinctive rear spoiler.
1989
In 1989, the 911 Speedster was launched, which was a low roof version of the Cabriolet. It was available as a narrow bodied version, or in the style of the Supersport.
Also that year, the 911 Type 964 series made it debut.
It was introduced as the 911 Carrera, 4 Porsche sports car, with a 3.6 litre engine. A rear spoiler was activated at high speed. The "4" signified four wheel drive.
1990
In 1990, the Carrera 2 was launched, with drive on the rear wheels only.
The 930 Turbo experienced unprecedented demand in the late 1980's.
In 1990, the Type 930 was replaced by the Type 964 Turbo, Porsche sports car, with a 3.3 litre, turbocharged engine.
1992
In 1992, the 3.3 litre 964 Turbo S was launched, with lowered suspension, and designed for performance.
In 1992, the 964 3.8 Carrera RS, Porsche sports car, was launched.
It had the Turbo Style body, similar to the Supersport, a 3.8 litre engine, and a large fixed rear spoiler in place of the moveable one from the Carrera 2 and 4.
1993
In 1993, the 3.6 litre 964 Turbo, Porsche sports car, producing 360 bhp, was introduced to complement other 964 models.
A year later, a limited edition 964 3.6 Turbo S appeared, available with the classic Porsche body style, or with the exclusive Slant nose option.
1994
In 1994, the Type 993 was introduced, and represented the final series of air cooled 911's, originally appearing in 1964.
The revised body styling was smoother, with a more aerodynamic front end, and a new rear.
The engine remained at 3.6 litres, but power increaseed to 272 bhp. In 1996, it was further increased to 286 bhp.
The Carrera 4 and 2 versions were available, the latter being simply called Carrera.
A rear wheel drive 993 3.8 RS, Porsche sports car, was introduced, with a 3.8 litre engine, developing 300 bhp.
1995
In 1995, the 993 3.6 Turbo, Porsche sports car, was launched.
It was the first of the Porsche cars to be fitted with twin turbochargers, which produced 408 bhp from the 3.6 litre engine.
1997
In 1997, the 993 3.6 Turbo S was launched, developing 424 bhp.
This represented the last air cooled 911 Turbo.
1998
In 1998, the Type 996 was introduced, in which the air cooled 911 was replaced with a water cooled version.
The body styling of all previous 911's was based on the original 1963 version. However, the 996 incorporated a redesigned body shell.
The 996 911 formed the basis of a whole series of variants, such as the Carrera 4 and "Turbo Look" Carrera 4S, the racing orientated GT3, and the 996 Turbo.
This marked the end of the classic Porsche sports car.
Beyond 2000, Porsche produced a number of exciting sports cars which, sadly, falls beyond the time frame of this review.
Perhaps this stroll down memory lane might have answered, or at least shed light on, a possible question:
"Which Porsche Sports Car Is Your Favourite?"
However, should this question still remain unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some detail, in future articles within this website, the entire range of Porsche sports cars which were featured in the memorable era spanning 1948 to 1995.
I hope you join me in my nostalgic travels "down sports car memory lane".
If you would care to view my Original article, containing Photographs, Videos, Technical Data, and Charts not shown in this Article, then please click the following link:
http://www.sportscar2.com/sports-car-porsche.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Radford
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