Without a doubt, the Porsche is one of the most exemplary automobiles in modern history. Going into its 60th anniversary this year, its cachet of sleek sports cars and famed SUVs is a testament to the early works of young Ferdinand Porsche. Starting exclusively as an engines manufacturer, Porsche branched out into automobiles, most notably the 550 and 718 in the early years. It wasn´t until the introduction of the 1963 356C and its legendary 6 cylinder boxer engine that Porsche really started to jump off the map.
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The 1963 Porsche 356 (above) was arguably the first car to turn Porsche´s fortunes into a superpower. It was loaded with a four cylinder rear wheel drive with a feel remarkably similar to the Volkswagen Beatle. It´s performance turned heads; enough heads to produce close to 80,000 vehicles in a 17 year span.
If you grew up in the 80´s, you may have picked up a Porsche 959 poster at the dollar store. Based on 911 specifications, it was originally designed as a rally car and had a formidable statline with a 450bhp twin turbo engine that almost hit 200 mpg; at that point one of the fastest cars in the world. The Porsche 959 was short lived, due to an outstanding sticker price ($225,000) compared to production costs and its limited use as an illegal street car. It wasn´t easy to import!
The 959.
The 90´s and 2000´s continued to be a formidable time for Porsche, with dominance of the 918 Spyder, the Carrera GT, the Boxster, and the 911. The Boxster was the perfect lead into the 2000´s, first entering the market in 1998 at an ultra-affordable price. It was a reminder of the earlier roadster classics like the 356 and the 550 Spyder. Plus, the Boxster was the first to experiment with water cooling and front-engines and represented a new concept with its topless design and two-person seating. Lastly, it shared the similar traditions as the earlier models with its hoodlines. Upon release, many publications ranked the Boxster than its competitors, the Mercedes Benz SLK and the BMW Z3.
The Carrera GT.
The Carrera GT, my personal favorite, arrived shortly after the Boxster and quickly established a reputation within the company as the most exotic car ever built. Priced at close to $500,000 in the mid 2000´s, its carbon fiber structure and outlandish speeds (0 to 100 mph in 5.8 seconds) were highly touted. Plus, it entered the market as a bargain compaired to the higher priced Ferrari Enzo with similar 0 to 80 mph run times.
As part of its 60th Anniversary celebration, Porsche is on a quest to find the oldest examples in each of 12 model ranges, including the Porsche 356, 911, 912, 914, 924, 928, 944, 968, Boxster, Cayenne, Carrera GT and Cayman. In addition, the search is on for the Grossvater of all Porsches on American soil, the oldest Porsche ever retailed in the United States. All owners who believe that their Porsche classic qualifies, either as the oldest example within a featured model line or as the oldest Porsche in America, are invited to participate in the My Porsche Classic Search by submitting entries at www.Porsche60Years.com.
All in all, much praise goes to one of the most accolade laden automobile manufacturers of our time. Happy 60th anniversary Porsche!
