Porsche has a long standing history of excellence in car design and engineering, and perhaps their most famous “trend” in the construction of their luxury cars is that of the rear-dwelling engine in the 911 models.
Porsche released the first model of the 911 at the Frankfurt, Germany auto show in 1963. Now, 50 years later, the history of car is not only a rich one, but also a history that will continue to grow and expand as Porsche is still enjoying the success they’ve felt for so many years.
Perhaps the most famous and hard-to-come-by edition of the 911 is the Carrera name. The first model was released in 1973 and the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Coupe has been idolized by car collectors since. Many Porsche collectors feel this was the best model the company ever designed, and if you can find one of these cars in excellent condition today, it would be worth over $200,000.
The six-cylinder rear-drive engine in the Carrera RS was significantly lighter than in previous models of the 911, and as such, this car was marketed as a “Racing Sport” (RS) – a racing car that could be driven on the road.
It is believed that by 1973, there were between 1560 and 1580 models of the Carrera RS on the road. Because of these small production numbers, the value of this car is even higher today as it is so hard to find one in a condition that is worth anything.
In the mid-seventies, Porsche followed on the tail of the RS, and manufactured around 60 of the RSR – an updated model that offered increased power in a 308-horsepower six-cylinder engine.
In 1975, Porsche redesigned yet again, and brought us the Porsche Turbo, a new Carrera model. The updates to this car were simple: luxury & speed. Although the speed may not have exceeded that of the RS or the RSR, the Turbo stayed on par with the speed of those vehicles and included all the luxury details that Porsche owners were looking for. This model easily competed with its contemporaries, the Lamborghini Countach LP500 and Ferrari 512BB, and even beat them out in most road tests.
In 1989, Porsche brought us the 964 Carrera 4, the most radically redesigned Carrera model to date. This model was engineered with a heavy focus on improving speed by reducing drag and lift created by the body. Updates were made to the spoilers, the suspension, and the engine, as well as modifications made to the electronic 4-wheel-drive system. This car is said to have experienced an 87% overhaul in design, while it managed to drive off the production line still looking like the classic Carrera we all know and love.
From 1993-1998, Porsche manufactured the 993 Carrera; a car with increased driver luxuries and handling capability, this is said to be the favorite of many Porsche collectors and enthusiasts because it was the most “driver friendly” of all the Carrera models. With a widened chassis and increased steering ratio, the handling of this car competed right alongside the Ferrari 9355.
The most recent addition to the Carrera name is the Carrera GT, the truly luxury edition of this long-standing historical icon. Still in production, many argue that this car takes the Carrera name past “luxury” and into “exotic”. The price tag on this model starts at *only* $440,000, carries a 5.7-liter V10 engine (in the rear, of course) and, according to Car and Driver, beats out the 650-horsepower Ferrari Enzo (price tag of $659,430) in overall performance.
Have you ever seen one of these classics in person? Right now, you can. Elite Auto’s currently has a Porsche Carrera GT SuperCar in stock; an extremely rare find in the exotic car world! Interested in taking a look? Contact Elite Auto’s today for more information on this classics, and once you get that figured out, don’t forget your exotic car insurance from Classic Auto!
Sources:
http://www.autozine.org/911/911_7.htm#993
http://www.danjedlicka.com/classic_cars/carrera_rs.html
http://www.edmunds.com/porsche/carrera-gt/history.html
About the Author
Drew Yagodnik is Vice President of Classic Automobile Insurance Agency, Inc. Classic Automobile Insurance Agency has been protecting collector, classic and exotics since 1992.
