The first sports car to carry the Porsche name was the 356 which was built in Austria. Production was quickly moved to the suburbs of Stuttgart after the first fifty examples were manufactured, and over the next fifteen years, approximately 77,000 356 coupes and convertibles were delivered to customers around the globe.
The 356 was replaced in 1963 with the vehicle that defines the Porsche legend: the 911. Over 419,000 units of the 911 and its derivatives have been produced to date, and it remains one of the most desired of automotive conveyances. A desire by the racing department of Porsche to participate in Group 4 Special GT racing led to the development in 1971 of the Carrera RS. The word "Carrera" was used by the company to designate its sportiest cars, and comes from the Mexican Carrera Pan American road races of the 1950s, an event in which Porsche gained a class victory in 1953. "RS" stood for RennSport, signifying the racing department. The new car's engine was bored out to 2.7 litres, good for 210 horsepower, and lightweight aluminium pistons were used.
The Porsche mantle is primarily held by the 993, now known simply as the Carrrera. Its air cooled, 6 cylinder engine generates 282 horsepower; coupled with the six speed manual transmission the car can reach 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. Available as a coupe or cabriolet, the Carrera rides on cast aluminium suspension pieces, mounted to an aluminium sub frame with rubber bushings, creating a quite ride. Also available is the Targa which now has a sensational sliding glass panel roof. The Carrera coupe and cabriolet are also available as four wheel drive models under the Carrera 4 banner. The most obvious benefit from all wheel drive in a rear-drive Porsche is that the car's legendary tail-happiness is totally eradicated.
930 Carrera Turbo
The 930 Carrera Turbo, in its extreme performance capabilities, is perhaps the most unconventional Porsche currently offered. The 930's legacy dates back to 1976, when the first Turbo Carrera was offered. A very special 911, the new car had the 3 litre engine, wide wheel arch flares, trick suspension parts and its most recognizable characteristic: the whale tail. This Porsche developed 234 horsepower and 246 pound-feet of torque, could go from 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds, and could cruise at speeds in excess of 155 mph. It was Porsches fastest car to date and extremely tail happy.
This was merely the beginning. Within two years the first real 930 came out, boasting a 3.3 litre, intercooled engine that could propel the whale tail to 60 in just 4.9 seconds, up to a top speed of nearly 170 mph. The badge on the back of said tail now simply said "Turbo."
By 1989 several modifications had refined the beast; these included a five-speed transmission, an upgraded 285 horsepower engine, a better suspension, improved brakes and wider road rubber. Special order convertions of a slant-nose variant had been available since 1981 , but this only became an official option with 1987 models.
By 1993, the engine size had grown to 3.6 litres, providing more power (360 horsepower, to be exact) and greater speed, mandating further improvements in suspension and braking. The car was now called the 911 Turbo 3.6, but it was offered for only 2 years, to be replaced by the current 993 variant, the 930 Carrera Turbo.
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