Table of contents for No. 227 in Total 911

This year looks set to be a cracker in the world of Porsche. We’ve got some big milestones to celebrate, including 60 years of our iconic 911, 50 years of RSR, 30 years of 993 and 50 years of the G-series era. Porsche will also mark its 75th anniversary in June by holding events in dealerships worldwide. Then there’s the small matter of the 100th running of Le Mans, with Porsche of course returning to the top table in endurance racing in a bid to claim this most precious of crowns. Le Mans will also host its Classic festival later in the summer, while Rennsport Reunion returns for a seventh instalment, where thousands of enthusiasts will once more descend on Laguna Seca’s storied circuit from right around the globe. There…

Always with a frisson of danger, the endlessly thrilling turbocharged Porsche 930 – the fastest production model Porsche had produced to date – was launched at the Paris Motor Show in 1974. These cars were built for raw speed and it was the same with their manufacture: by 1975 the Porsche 930 Turbo was being made and available to buy. Much later, celebrity owners would include Soundgarden’s lead vocalist, the late Chris Cornell. Economically, 1974 had been a crunch time. October 1973’s international oil crisis instigated by the OPEC nations, led by Saudi Arabia – a consequence of the Yom Kippur war between Israel and the Arab states – meant that by January of 1974 the black gold had almost quadrupled in price, from $2.90 a barrel to $11.65. Interest…

After its surprise victory at Le Mans in 1981, Porsche returned to top-flight motor racing in the new Group C with its 956. Following its first season in 1982, the 956 would be made in relatively large numbers for sale to private teams. As it had with the 934 and particularly with the 935, Porsche retained its competitive advantage by selling off the previous year’s design. As Derek Bell later discovered, the private teams had nothing like the resources of the works teams. Always having the dominant car, Porsche knew this and was confident its hegemony wouldn’t be threatened. In 1984, Weissach developed the 962, which differed essentially from the 956 by having a longer wheelbase. This enabled the pedal box to be moved behind the front axle to conform…

Everrati unveils its electric 911 The UK-based EV specialist is targeting the US market with its first electric 964-generation 911, with more models in the pipeline Everrati Automotive has been in the business of restoring classic cars and converting them to electric power since its inception in 2019. Now the UK specialist has completed its first 964 generation Porsche 911 with US customers in mind. Everrati designs, develops and engineers its restorations from a bespoke workshop in Oxfordshire, and offers electrified Coupe, Targa and Cabriolet 964s in its Pure, Signature and Gulf Signature Editions. However, builds are also carried out by Everrati’s technical partner, Aria Group, a leading low-volume vehicle engineering and production specialist that’s based in California. The arrangement enables Everrati to manufacture on both sides of the Atlantic.…

A bloody conflict between foreign nations, rising inflation and a worldwide energy crisis. While this might all sound depressingly familiar, we aren’t talking about 2023, but rather some 50 years prior. The Arab-Israeli war of 1973 led to what historians now term the first oil crisis, and a time that called for change to global energy policies and fast-paced advances in automotive efficiency. With spiralling fuel, food and household bills in countries all around the world, the striking similarities between that period and the present day shouldn’t be lost on any of us. Then, as now, turbulent times demanded change – some of it radical, but for Porsche during this period, the oil crisis wasn’t the sole concern. Since the formation of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and…

Switzerland is interesting for many different reasons. But for us petrolheads it’s especially inviting because of the country’s plethora of mountain roads. With the sound of the engine and exhaust reverberating off the cliffs, it’s a utopia for those who revel in that feeling of the rear wheels on the edge of traction as we power out of a tight, second-gear corner. The Swiss are modest people and this is reflected in the cars they tend to like. Walk around in the cities or neighbourhoods and you’ll see that most cars are de-badged. There are exceptions, of course – Frank Rinderknecht, the founder of the Swiss concept car company Rinspeed, springs to mind. But generally this means that, when it comes to cars, you need to dig deep to uncover…

Andy Gaunt Melborne, Australia @andyg_73 Model 964 C4 Year 1990 Acquired MAY 2017 So, as I write this piece, 2022 is rapidly coming to a close. As always, the back end of the year feels like the end of a marathon. Thankfully, driving season is upon us and my 964 has undergone a recent change that has me eager to get into the hills. It also has me marvelling at the global community of independent specialists helping us get the most out of these cars. Allow me to explain… Mid-2021, after much investigation, I decided to install a MoTeC conversion. Multiple conversations with Colin at Ninemeister in the UK had me feeling positive about the gains I might achieve in terms of performance and drivability. With the help of my…

A 22-year old mechanic and aircraft technician, in 1951 Rolf Wütherich possessed the kinds of skills Ferry Porsche was seeking for his nascent business. Within weeks he was part of a small group developing a new transaxle for Porsche’s own gearbox, a component urgently needed because the stock VW item was failing under the increasing torque of Porsche’s flat fours. As the first full-time employee of the racing department, Rolf ’s enthusiasm stood out and in April 1955 he was despatched to the US to assist Herbert Linge. There, like Herbert, he was soon involved in not just servicing and demonstrating cars, but in teaching drivers how to get the most from Porsche’s synchromesh gearbox. He was in the Spyder with James Dean when the actor was killed in a…

The automotive world has been paying tribute to Ken Block, who died aged 55 following a snowmobile accident on his ranch in Utah on 2 January, 2023. Ken was perhaps best known for his breathtaking stunt driving in the Gymkhana series of YouTube films. The Californian was also a professional rally driver who competed in the World Rally (WRC) and World Rallycross championships. In addition, he became a modified car icon via a selection of notable creations, including the recent ‘Hoonipigasus’ – a build based on a Porsche 911. An adventure-seeker from an early age, Ken’s short-lived career as a draughtsman gave way to a love of skating and snowboarding. This led him to co-found the DC Shoes fashion brand in 1994. DC Shoes was sold a decade later and…

We’ve been on the hunt for an interesting RUF for sale to feature on these pages for a while, and that’s exactly what we can reveal this month. Not just one car, either, with three 993-based RUFs being offered for the forthcoming Gooding & Company Amelia Island auction in March 2023. Evidently, a collector is having a clear out… Any RUF is rare and special, but the pair of Turbo Rs are particularly interesting, one being a Coupe, the other a Cabriolet. The colour also grabbed our attention: Blood orange is an unusual colour on the 993. It suits it well, too, particularly in the sunshine in the USA. That pair of Blood orange Turbo Rs is joined by a similarly eye-catching RUF BTR2, finished in Speed yellow. Of the…

The molten orange sun hangs low in the winter sky, casting long shadows that will soon stretch into darkness. Photographers call this time between daytime and dusk the Golden Hour, but snapper Dan Pullen already has today’s shoot in the bag. For me, that means no more standing around shivering while I hold the wireless flash, and no more back-and-forth panning shots punctuated by five-point turns. All I need to think about now is the car and the road. Accelerating hard in second gear, the naturally aspirated flat six gulps down lungfuls of dense January air, its tone hardening to a fierce metallic snarl. I snick-snick the lever across into third as we crest a hill, then plunge downwards into a tunnel of trees. Shards of sunlight cut through the…

Data file Full specs, ratings and market values of every Porsche 911 model from 1963 to 2023, including all Rennsport models, can be found starting on page 76 Plus Showroom Looking for a new 911? The classifieds from our independent specialist partners are the first place where you should start your search Servicing & tuning Get the very best from your Porsche 911 with the help of our selected performance and maintenance specialists Porsche lifestyle Helping you make the right lifestyle choices to complement you and your 911. Don’t just drive Porsche, live the brand Insurance & finance Get your Porsche covered with the best insurance deals for road and track to ensure happy, safe motoring…