Porsche 911 2.0

Frankfurt Automobile show: Porsche 901

In 1963 Porsche introduced the 911 (or 901 as it was then called) at the Frankfurt Automobile show. It featured a 2.0 liter six cylinder engine and was bit bigger then it's predecessor the 356. It would be the start of a the long evolution of the Porsche 911. In 1956 Porsche had decided to build a four-seater that would be larger then the 356. Porsche then had no intention of replacing the 356 with this car.

Two seater

During the project however Ferry Porsche changed his mind. Because if the new car would be a four-seater, Porsche would have to compete with large companies like Daimler-Benz, and that would be a tough competition for a small manufacturer like Porsche. To avoid that competion, Porsche decided the car would have to be a two-seater like the 356.

In 1963 when the design of the car was almost finished it was introduced to the public at the Frankfurt Automobile show. It was then called the 901. Peugeot however objected to the use of this name, so Porsche changed it to the now so magical '911'.

In the summer of 1964 the 911 went into production (as the A-series). A lot of people argued that this car couldn't be considered a 'real' Porsche, because it was supposed to be too luxurious and too heavy, but most soon grew to accept it and, inevitably, respect it. Press response was enthousiastic. Car and Driver called it '...worth the price of all the old Porsches put together.'

The 911 S

1966 featured another new 911, the 'S'. This car was more powerful and beter equipped then the base 911.

Engine modifications resulted in 30 extra bhp. Chassis and brakes were upgraded to handle this extra power. The S also featured Fuchs alloys that cut five pounds from unsprung weight at each hub. These early Fuchs wheels had very little black paint on them, and had the same skinny tires as the normal 911. All of these ingredients make the 911 S a very fast car, but it was difficult to drive at the limit, because it would suddenly spin without any prior warning. At least this made driving the S an exciting experience. 

An attempt to improve the roadholding of the 911 was made however: a 11 kg weight was placed in the front of the car -not a solution Porsche engineers were proud of.

In 1968 US Porsche enthousiast would have to do without the experience of driving a 911 S however. It was no longer exported to the US because of emission standards. A 911 L was available instead, basically an S with a normal tune engine. In 1969 the S was available again for the US. That year the S got six-inch-wide wheels and had 190 bhp in european spec, or 170, if you ordered the US version. Two other versions of the 911 were also available, the 125 bhp (or 110 for the US) 911 T, basically a 912 with the six-cylinder engine, and the 911 E, the 'normal' 911. The 911 E had 160 bhp for Europe, and 140 for the US.

B-series, longer wheelbase

In 1969 the B-series offered a better solution to improve the 911's behaviour. The rear wheels were moved 57 mm backwards, changing the fore /aft weight distribution from 41.5 / 58.5 to 43 / 57. This meant the 911 became more stable. The larger wheel base can be recognised by the position of the torsion bar cap. The short wheel base cars have these caps directly next to wheel arch. The LWB models have some room betweem the arch and the cap.

Interior

The interior of the 911 was quite spacious, when compared with the 356's. Because the luggage space of the 911 was (and still is) very limited the back seats can be folded down to make room for some more luggage. This feature is still seen on the new 911's.

The interior of the early 911 was trimmed in vinyl, although leather was optional. Later all sorts of fabrics were used in combination with vinyl, or leather.

The 911 was equipped with comfortable Recaro seats, but from 1965 optional sport seat could also be ordered. 

Another typical feature of the 911 is the characteristic 5-dial dashboard. And although the shape of the dashboard and the instruments never changed much, the dials were redesigned almost every year. Beneath the dials several controls were placed left and right of the steering wheel. Even the first 911 already had the ignition on the left side of the steering wheel (or on the right side for right-hand drive cars). Other controls appear to be placed randomly around the dashboard.

Wheels

A lot of different wheels have been available for the 911. The early 911's were delivered with simple steel wheels. (4.5Jx15).

These wheels could also be chromed, and be ordered with or without a coloured Porsche logo. These wheels were used with small 165HR tires.

When in 1967 The S was introduced, the car featured light-weight Fuchs alloys, strangely these were only 4.5 inch wide. These early wheels can be recognised by the moderate amount of black paint that was applied to them.
In 1968 the Fuchs wheels were widened to 5.5 inch width. The next year the wheel arches were modified to make room for the 6-inch wide Fuchs-alloys. 185HR tires could now be used.

Model designation

The first 911's had the Porsche-name writen above the number plate. The 911 designation was placed slightly higher on the right. The B-series (1969>) can be recognised by the wider spaced Porsche name, and the 911 logo placed in the center, beneath the grille.