[suhaas307]

Every generation has an icon. But the 911 is an icon that has been around for decades now. And as these years have gone by, the 911 crawled its way up to the top of the food-chain. And over the years, there have been several 'noteworthy' 911s around the World.

The most noteworthy being the 2.7 and 2.8 (and even a 3.0) RS and RSRs from the early '70s. There are several other 911s that have shot to fame, either through movies or Motorsport. Several tuners have taken the 911 splashed their creativity all over them, instantly shooting the 911s desirability-quotient through the roof!

Now I've started this thread in order to avoid clutter and creation of several 911 threads. This will be the *DEFINITIVE* 911 thread. All Porsche 911 related information and pictures may be shared here. Be it spy-photos, photoshoots of noteworthy 911s, or even articles and news feeds.

Let me kick-start this thread with a 911 from the '70s. Here is the '73 911 Lightweight Classic by DP Motors.

[avishar]

I would love something like this

[suhaas307]

Movie Star Steve McQueen's '70s Porsche 911S is one of the most noteworthy Nine-Elevens around, and one of the most noteworthy and popular cars of its time.

Quote from The Telegraph dated 22nd August, 2011:

A 1970 Porsche 911 formerly owned by the 'King of Cool' Steve McQueen and featured in his film Le Mans was sold for $1,375,000 (£832,800) at an auction in Monterey, California – a new world record for a 911 sold at auction.

As well as a starring role in the opening sequence of the film, the slate grey Porsche 911S was used as McQueen's personal transport during the movie's production, later joining his own stable of extraordinary cars in California.
The sale of the 911S at RM's annual sale at Monterey marked the company's 200th million-dollar-plus automobile sold at auction.
Also entering the history books at Friday's sale was a Columbia Electric Landaulet made in approximately 1899, which more than doubled its pre-sale estimate, selling for $550,000 (£333,140) – a record price for an electric car sold at auction.
Some other cars sold on the first day of the auction include a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta which sold for $1,485,000 (£900,000) and a 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio, which fetched $693,000 (£420,000).

Porsche Model History covers some noteworthy 911s as well.

[suhaas307]

Singer Vehicle Design has reincarnated the 911 yet again. And this time, they have experimented with a few other colours. The Design House had unveiled an orange 911 based on a late '80s 911, some time ago. For more information and pictures on the same, here is a link.

[suhaas307]

Here are some more pictures of the same Singer 911s.The attention to detail is quite astonishing!

[suhaas307]

One of the most noteworthy 911s of its time is, ironically, not exactly a 911!



Yes, once Ruf gets hold of a 911, it isn't really a '911' anymore.



Ruf is a tuning company that takes Porsches and spices them up a great deal. Ruf is to Porsche, what Brabus is to Mercedes. And arguably, the most iconic sports car that Ruf ever built is the CTR Yellowbird.



The CTR Yellowbird was based on the '87 911 Carrera 3.2 instead of the 930 911 which would have been the default choice for Ruf as the 930 is factory fitted with a turbocharger. But the reason as to why they chose the 911 Carrera 3.2 over the 930 is that the Carrera 3.2 was noticeably lighter and more aerodynamic that the 930 Turbo. Factory body panels including the doors, hood and engine cover were replaced with aluminum pieces, helping to knock an additional 200 kg (441 lb) off the vehicle's factory curb weight. Shaved rain gutters to reduce drag, fiberglass front and rear bumpers and a pair of intake ducts on the rear flares to allow airflow to the intercoolers topped the list of body modifications.



Several modifications were undertaken to the normally aspirated Carrera 3.2 motor. The cylinders were re-bored in order to increase the displacement from 3.2 to 3.4 liters. An uprated Bosch fuel injection system, an ignition setup from the Porsche 962 race-car and a specifically designed turbo-system featuring two large turbochargers and twin-intercoolers helped bringing the total power output to a staggering 469 hp (350 kW) and 408 lb·ft (553 N·m) of torque at 5950 RPM.

Ruf also designed their own 5-speed gearbox as they weren't able to modify the existing 5-speed 'box in the Carrera 3.2. The 930's 4-speed 'box also proved to be inadequate for the project. Plus, this gave Ruf the freedom to customize the gear-ratios. 17" Ruf Speedline Alloys wearing Dunlop's Denloc systems performance tyres ensured that grip is a factor that one shouldn't worry about while driving the 'Bird. The CTR was also fitted with 330mm Brembo rotors that help haul the car quite effectively!

The performance that the 'Bird delivered was astonishing to say the least and that's largely due to the low curb-weight (1150 kgs).

0-96 km/h was achieved in 4 seconds flat which may not sound amazing until you get a load of the next figure. 0-160 km/h in 7.3 seconds, which is frankly stunning! Generally, an accelerating car would usually take double the time (0-96 km/h time) to reach 160 km/h. But the 'Bird managed to get to the 160 km/h mark in less than 8 seconds! And the next figure is even more astonishing! 0-201 km/h in just 11.4 seconds!

This sudden surge of power and amazing mid-range punch is largely due to the two turbochargers and its low curb-weight. This car could out accelerate the fastest and quickest production cars of those days (The Ferrari F40 and the Lamborghini Countach).

The 'bird also beat the F40, the Testarossa and the Countach by hitting a mind numbing top speed of 340 km/h (212 mph) making it the fastest production car for sometime! For several years the CTR held the lap record at the Nurburgring-Nordschleife track, generally considered the most difficult and demanding circuit in the world and the standard test course for all high-end performance vehicles.





The company debuted the vehicle at the end of 1987 with pricing set at $223,000 per unit, although that number could vary depending on whether a given customer ordered their car directly from Ruf or brought in a unit purchased via dealer for conversion. Ruf made only 29 CTRs from chassis bought from Porsche; most of the CTRs produced were converted from existing customers' Carreras.



Some interesting facts:

- The car received its nickname, "Yellowbird", during testing by Road & Track magazine, whose staffers noted the contrast created by its yellow paintwork against the overcast skies on the day of their photo shoot.

- Apart from the apparent fact that the car is yellow, the CTR also derived the nickname 'Yellowbird' as the sound from the blow-off-valve was similar to the chirp of a Canary!

- The CTR was succeeded in 1996 by the CTR2, a much more comprehensive vehicle based on Porsche's much newer 993 Generation 911.

[suhaas307]

Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, received the coveted trophy twice at this year’s award of the “Auto Trophy”. “Auto Zeitung” readers voted the new
911 Carrera the winner in the sports car category for the eighteenth time.
The Panamera Turbo S emerged the victor in the luxury class.




“To receive this prize for the new 911 even before its market launch is fantastic”, said Porsche Board of Management Member for Research and Development Wolfgang Hatz at the presentation of the “Auto Trophy” on Tuesday evening in Düsseldorf. “The seventh generation is, as ever, the best 911 of all time. We have taken it to the next level in every respect. 7 minutes and 40 seconds makes the newcomer all of 14 seconds faster around the Nordschleife. That’s a testimony to the competence of our engineers.”

With acceleration from 0 to 100 in 3.8 seconds, the Panamera Turbo S is the fastest production saloon. That was proof, said Hatz, that Porsche gave pride of place to performance and efficiency. The accolade was “a fantastic success for the car within the competitive context of established saloon providers”.

It was the 24th occasion that “Auto Zeitung” had invited its readers to choose the best cars in all categories – from the compact car to the super sports car. There was a choice of 393 cars in 29 categories.

Text from Official Porsche Website - Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

[Macfreak7]

Best. Thread. Evar!

I've always been a huge fan of the early to mid 90s styled 911s, but I must say this 2012 911 is an absolute beauty! The exterior design of lights and panels is just so incredibly simple and pure, i can't imagine it being any better. I'll take a white with blue or espresso interiors please!

Pics!
2012 911 Carrera and 2012 911 Targa.
Image source: edmunds.com

[suhaas307]

Thanks mate!

Originally Posted by Macfreak7

Pics!
2012 911 Carrera and 2012 911 Targa.
Image source: edmunds.com

I'm afraid the pictures you've posted are the ones of the face-lifted 997 (Mk: II) Carrera and Targa that was launched a few years ago. The new 2012 911 is based on an all new 991 platform and there is a picture of the same right above your post.

[Macfreak7]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Thanks mate!

I'm afraid the pictures you've posted are the ones of the face-lifted 997 (Mk: II) Carrera and Targa that was launched a few years ago. The new 2012 911 is based on an all new 991 platform and there is a picture of the same right above your post.

Thanks for the heads-up. Totally bungled up the pics. Let's just say I was blinded by the beauty of that white body paint.

Originally Posted by suhaas307

The new 2012 911 is based on an all new 991 platform and there is a picture of the same right above your post.

So I checked into this a little more and it turns out Porsche is going to be selling the new 991 as well as the previous 997 as 2012 models. The 991 will initially only be available as Carrera and Carrera S coupe models. The other models, such as the Targa and Turbo will be based on the 997, which will eventually be all replaced by the longer/wider 991.

Could seem pretty confusing for potential buyers!

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by Macfreak7

So I checked into this a little more and it turns out Porsche is going to be selling the new 991 as well as the previous 997 as 2012 models. The 991 will initially only be available as Carrera and Carrera S coupe models. The other models, such as the Targa and Turbo will be based on the 997, which will eventually be all replaced by the longer/wider 991.

Could seem pretty confusing for potential buyers!

That is true, and it's always been that way. I'd like to call it the transition period, when the new gen 911 first comes in only the Carrera variant, and sold simultaneously with the old gen 911 variants. Over a period of 3 years or so, Porsche introduces many new gen 911 variants - like the Cabriolet, the Targa, - and replaces them with the old gen, till finally they get to the GT2/GT2 RS.

[shamik.bose]

Originally Posted by Macfreak7

So I checked into this a little more and it turns out Porsche is going to be selling the new 991 as well as the previous 997 as 2012 models. The 991 will initially only be available as Carrera and Carrera S coupe models. The other models, such as the Targa and Turbo will be based on the 997, which will eventually be all replaced by the longer/wider 991.

Could seem pretty confusing for potential buyers!

That always has been a problem that prospective Porsche owners faced. The total number of permutations available with respect to model, trim level and other options runs into millions.

Originally Posted by suhaas307

That is true, and it's always been that way. I'd like to call it the transition period, when the new gen 911 first comes in only the Carrera variant, and sold simultaneously with the old gen 911 variants. Over a period of 3 years or so, Porsche introduces many new gen 911 variants - like the Cabriolet, the Targa, - and replaces them with the old gen, till finally they get to the GT2/GT2 RS.

They made a deviation to that rule with the 997. The final hurrah for the 997 was the GT3 RS 4.0, which also happens to be my second favorite modern-day Porsche, after the Sport Classic.

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by shamik.bose

They made a deviation to that rule with the 997. The final hurrah for the 997 was the GT3 RS 4.0, which also happens to be my second favorite modern-day Porsche, after the Sport Classic.

I personally love the GT3 RS 4.0. It's an absolute screamer. I like it more than the 'blown' variants of the 911 too. Even more than the GT2 RS. The SportClassic is another modern-day 911 that looks the part. It looks, and even sounds retro!

[shamik.bose]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

I personally love the GT3 RS 4.0. It's an absolute screamer. I like it more than the 'blown' variants of the 911 too. Even more than the GT2 RS. The SportClassic is another modern-day 911 that looks the part. It looks, and even sounds retro!

Me too. Normally aspirated is somehow better. And the engine sounds fantastic in the 4.0. If you have seen the latest TG DVD (TG at the Movies), you'll know what I am talking about. It manages to cut it even in hallowed engine noise company like the LP570-4 Performante and the Eagle Speedster

[stanjohn123]

Was never really a fan of Porsche's until I drove a carrera 4S few months back and totally fell in love with it ever since. Most of you guys here would have checked out my review .

Porsche's are really iconic and many under estimate it based on it's looks and 6 cylinder power plant like how I did . It's raw power , handling and on road behavior simply make it one of the most desired cars in the planet. I'm sure anyone who drives it will fall in love, even if it doesn't look spectacular and is short of 2 or 4 more cylinders.