Over fifty years old with an impressive resume of movie appearances, awards, and recognitions for achievements spanning a decades-long career – no, it isn’t one of the Bond men, nor Harrison Ford, nor any of the classically handsome, talented actors who grace the big screen. It’s Porsche’s 911 model, which has been in production since 1963 (there are over a million Porsche 911’s in the world as of 2017), making it one of the oldest sports cars still in production.
The classic two door sports car from Germany has a rear-engine, rear-wheel/four-wheel drive, and until 1998, relied on an air-cooled engine like the Volkswagon Beetle (it now has a water-cooled engine). It has gone through several overhauls and upgrades over the years, and the current models (the 991 Series, which is the third platform since the original – called the Carrera and the Carrera S) include a 3.4 or 3.8 litre engine, producing 350 and 400 hp respectively.
They’re over two inches longer than their predecessors, and the wheelbase is almost four inches bigger. It’s almost all aluminum, which makes it over one hundred pounds lighter than previous Porsches. This makes for a more powerful, speedier ride, with the ability to go from 0-60 in less than five seconds.
With improved fuel economy (due in part to the electromechanical power steering, an engine stop/start system, and a coasting system that gives the Porsche the ability to idle on highways and while traveling downhill) by 16%, updated technology (which includes a torque vectoring system, hydraulic engine mounts, active suspension management, and the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control which allegedly helps corner flat and improves the high-speed directional stability as well as lateral body control), and the 2015 Best Premium Sports Car On The Market award from Car and Driver, the 911 is maintaining and even surpassing its previous popularity.
Part of its popularity comes from appearances on the racetrack, including races and rallies, such as the Targa Florio, the 24 Hours of Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and World Championship for Makes. It has also made many cameos in the film industry, including scenes from Gone in Sixty Seconds, Annie Hall, Cars, and Wolf of Wall Street.
It doesn’t look like the Porsche is going anywhere soon, and if the 50th anniversary special limited-edition is any indication (it was produced with retro touches as well as bumped up horsepower), we’ll be getting another cool classic to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
