The iconic Porsche 911 sports car. It’s been the longest running success story in sports car history since introduced in Europe in 1963 and in America in 1965. It’s always had the same basic shape and rear-engine design.
The pre-1974 Porsche six-cylinder 911 (and similar four-cylinder 1965-69 912) models are among the most desirable 9-Series models for collectors because they aren’t saddled with safety bumpers and excessive anti-pollution controls. Porsche buffs consider these the only “real” Porsches.
The 1948-65 “356” models were the first-generation Porsches. All had rear-mounted, air-cooled engines. So did 911 and 912 models. That’s why Porschephiles won’t consider 911s with liquid-cooled engines, which arrived in 1998.
The last 911 that strongly resembled the 1963 911 was the 1995-97 911 Carrera, which had the last air-cooled rear six-cylinder engine. Known internally as the “993, ” the Carrera had revolutionary styling changes (for a 911) and major engineering improvements.
The 1998 911 had Porsche’s first liquid-cooled six-cylinder because the air-cooled version’s technological limits had been reached. For one thing, increasingly stringent U. S. emissions requirements no longer could be efficiently met with an air-cooled engine.
Real Porsche fans were devastated by the demise of the air-cooled engine because it had a great history. Gone forever was its unmistakable exhaust sound—replaced by a quieter, more refined tone.
The 1995 Carrera was given major styling changes without altering the 911’s basic shape. The 911 had retained essentially the same styling for more than three decades. The wheelbase (distance between axles) had been stretched a bit for 1969 and the bumpers and lower valances were restyled for 1974—and again in 1989.
But that was about all that was cosmetically done to the car, although some 911 versions had spoilers and fender flares to accommodate larger tires.
The 1995 911 Carrera underwent as many changes in one model year as the 911 had in more than 30 years.
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