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- Wayback Wheels -
Vintage Car Talk
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- Porsche 911 - a fine vintage catch
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- By Aaron Neilly
- When someone says the word Porsche,” chances are the
first image that comes to your mind is the legendary Porsche
911. The 911 has been a highly sought after car since it first
began production in 1964. The 911 produced today still follows
the unmistakable design cues of the original models.
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- The 911 was first shown in 1963 at the Frankfurt auto show.
Porsche intended to replace the "aging" , VW Beetle-
influenced 356 model with a more modern, faster car. The car
followed the 356’s rear drive/rear engine layout, but instead
of the air-cooled pushrod four cylinder, it had an air cooled
six cylinder engine, with chain driven overhead camshafts, six
enormous carburetor throats, and a snarling exhaust note that
could give Ferrari owners goosebumps.
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- For those who wanted the look of a 911, but were on a budget
or weren't concerned about performance, Porsche also introduced
the 912, which was a 911 with the same four cylinder engine as
the 356. (The 912s are actually relatively rare these days, as
most were eventually converted to 911s.)
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- In 1966, the more powerful 911 "S" was introduced,
and featured an engine with 160 horsepower and mechanical fuel
injection. This would also be the first year the famous "Fuchs"
5 spoke alloy wheels were offered.
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- Porsche was working on a convertible version, which was to
be built by Karmann
of Austria, but in the mid 60s, there were rumours that convertibles
were going to be
outlawed on North American roads. As a somewhat preventative
measure, the convertible idea was scrapped and Porsche unveiled
the 911 "Targa". It was named after the Targa Florio
road race which Porsche had won on numerous occasions. The Targa
had a one-piece removable top, which spanned from the windshield
to the car's b-pillar. The b-pillar was reinforced and clad with
stainless steel trim to double as a roll bar. Early models also
featured a removable rear window.
-
 If you're looking
for a relatively reliable vintage sports car, a 911 is a great
option, provided it has been cared for. As with most cars of
its era, rust can be an issue, and in many cases, parts can be
expensive. This might have resulted in "quick fix"
repairs over the years; something to watch out for. Keep in mind
a replacement engine for a 911 can be close to $8500, so it's
best to purchase a Porsche from someone who has had all the required
work performed by a competent technician.
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- Not everyone will be a fan of the way the early 911s drive.
With all of the weight of the engine and transaxle behind the
back wheels, and a large amount of oversteer, these cars can
be fairly easy to spin out while driving in an "enthusiastic"
manner, but it can also be a highly entertaining trait on the
race track in the tight corners. I've actually heard the 911’s
handling characteristics compared to "throwing a hammer.”
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- The 911 engines can be a chore to keep tuned (having 6 carburetors,
points and condenser style ignition and valves that need manual
adjusting), and the transaxle is harsh to say the least. Gear
changes must be timed perfectly, and you definitely need to practice
heel-toe driving if you ever plan on downshifting as engine revs
need to be matched to the split second. The gearshift itself
can be a bit of a beast to tame as well … it's not exactly
precise and the shifter throws are a little like a mop handle
in a bucket. Loose and floppy.
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- Having said that, I still believe the 911 is still the greatest
sports car ever made. Apparently I'm not the only one; in the
international poll for "Car of the Century,” the Porsche
911 took 5th overall.
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- One day I'll be driving my own 911 with the radio turned
off so I can listen to the bark of the flat six coming from a
mere 3 feet behind the driver's seat while flying (errr …
driving) down some winding country road.
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- Aaron Neilly is a certified mechanic with a passion for
anything unique with four wheels and an engine. He spends a large
amount of time in cars, under cars and discussing cars. He can
be reached at bandicoot.rally@gmail.com
.
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