Table of contents for No. 243 in Total 911

It might be a cliché as old as the hills, but buying a Porsche 911 is just the start – the start of a wonderful adventure of miles, memories and making friends. Whether you’re a track junkie, a concours connoisseur, or a champion of the road trip, all of this and much more can be accomplished alongside your friends, in your 911. That in itself is rare and, indeed, a unique selling point of our fabled Neunelfer. How many other sports cars can you think of that can feasibly accomplish all that, and with aplomb? Without ending on a drab note, my last point is something to ponder: what if these are the golden days and we don’t yet know it? It’s widely accepted that the peak era for purist…

With the hint of summer in the air we’ve been thinking about open cars here at Spotted, and specifically Speedsters. Not the older air-cooled models, but rather the 991 Speedster. Enough to ponder why this recent limited number (just 1,948 were built), open-topped GT product seems to be largely ignored in preference to other 911 derivatives. A look through the classifieds demonstrates exactly that. Search in price from high to low and you’ll find innumerable 992 GT3 RSs, a lot of 991 GT2 RSs, a good number of 992 Sport Classics as well as some investor-grade classics. You’ll be scrolling a while before you reach any 991 Speedsters, though. Part of that is down to the relatively low build numbers for it, but persevere to the price point of around…

1. Rear main seal (RMS) The RMS sits between the crankcase and the clutch housing. On most mass-production engines, where crankshaft and crankcase are cast and machined together, the RMS rarely causes problems. However, because its new water-cooled engine was very high power by 1997 standards (300bhp from 3.4 litres), Porsche employed a much higher-tech approach by basing the crankshaft in special alloy inserts to give the crankcase greater rigidity. This entailed machining the case and the crank individually, rather than together, which meant that alignment of the bolt threads was not always micron-perfect. Distortion of the rubber seal over time could then cause an oil leak. Experts such as Hartech’s Barry Hart have long emphasised that this isn’t serious and provided the leak doesn’t worsen, it can often be…

Hybrid 911 is officially confirmed An electrified 911 is on its way this summer, as part of extensive revisions that will form the basis of the Gen2 992 Porsche has finally confirmed what many already suspected: the 911 will receive its first hybrid powertrain in 2024. The electrified 911 will be part of mid-cycle revisions for the Gen2 992, reportedly set to be revealed in early summer and going on sale towards the end of this year. The hybrid unit will feature alongside revised six-cylinder petrol engines, updated exterior styling and a subtly refreshed interior – all part of the 992’s much-anticipated facelift. The news was shared by Porsche chairman, Oliver Blume, who in recent weeks has mapped out the arrival of four new models this year. The 992.2 will…

Total 911: Brian, you’ve won some of the most famous races in the world, driven with the best drivers and piloted some of the most iconic cars. Is there anything you haven’t done that you wish you had? Brian Redman: There are two things, one being Indianapolis. I was actually offered it twice in 1974 but that year, USAC [United States Auto Club] joined with the SCCA [Sports Car Club of America] and suddenly, into the series came these new USAC drivers: Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Johnny Rutherford and others, who were all Indy winners and they all struggled, except for Mario. Mario was brilliant from the start but even the Unsers, who were really good and learned really fast, didn’t actually get road racing. So when I…

In the 1980s one of Porsche’s wilder motorsport adventures was the Paris-Dakar rally. After several unsuccessful attempts to win the East African Safari rally, the ‘Dakar’, formerly the Nice-Abidjan event, appealed to pioneering spirits at Weissach. During its early years, the Dakar was usually won by lumbering 4x4s. René Metge’s victory in a Range Rover in 1981 and Jacky Ickx’s in a Mercedes-Benz G Wagen in 1983 were typical. However, the Belgian, at 38 and near the end of his career, had other ideas and approached Porsche where he’d long been a favourite. The company was working on a 4x4 super car, spurred by the success of Ferdinand Piëch’s Audi Quattros, and Helmuth Bott and Peter Falk saw an opportunity to launch the coming 959 in Group B competition. However,…

Carrera 3.0: the forgotten 911 The curiosities of the 911 are almost infinite. No other car is so obsessively detailed in its history, so loved by enthusiasts and praised by experts. Now in its 61st year of production, and with over a million constructed, Porsche’s rear-engined oddity is without doubt a motoring icon. It defines the company to this day, and remains the benchmark for any rival manufacturer intent on taking on Porsche’s sports car. Whole publications exist because of it. Communities thrive on it. The 911 really does transcend the mere definition of ‘car’. Naturally, within the 911’s history there are models that receive more acclaim than others. More often than not, these cars are defined by motorsport success, a seismic technical change, or shear proliferation and longevity. Others…

HISTORY & TECH With the advent of the 996, Porsche decided to make the new GT3 category its competition arena. Previously, it had campaigned in GT2 and although the 993 GT2 was moderately successful, as mid-engine opposition became stronger Porsche knew it was at an increasing disadvantage with the rear engine. The switch to GT3 was entirely logical. As a simpler formula, the Porsche GT3 was less expensive to build and could be sold to far more club racers. More racers meant greater exposure to the public and a virtuous circle was thus created. It was an inspired move and almost three decades later has spawned many more race series and competitors from other manufacturers. Whereas in air-cooled days the RS had served as the homologation basis, Porsche designed the…

Data file Full specs, ratings and market values of every Porsche 911 model from 1963 to 2024 can be found starting on page 84 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…