When Porsches were Porsches, Early 911's had so much class Options

[thomasotten]

Check out this early 911 on Ebay. So sweet. F.A. Porsche needs to pull their current designers in by the ears and show them a car like this. They are so classy looking. The new 911's and Boxsters don't hold a candle to the styling of these old ones.

69 911 on Ebay

(IMG:http://www.applewoodmotorcar.com/camera/P1010690.JPG)

[McMark]

Wrong side mirror and wrong headlights, but I agree the early 911 chassis has a lot of class. That's why I got my girlfriend a 69 912. Classy 911 looks, 914 power!

[markb]

I wouldn't kick it out of my driveway for leakin' oil. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Cap'n Krusty]

'69's not early! It's a LWB "B" chassis car! Early is '65-'68. You got yhe classy part right, though...................... The Cap'n, soon to be back on the road in his '65

[Jeroen]

The current designers at Porsche wouldn't recognize the car if they were run over by it... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[thesey914]

Times have changed and so has Porsches' customer base....they don't seem to be race cars that you can use on the street anymore.
Less is more -the stripped out race versions with very little equipment are generally worth more., IE 356 speedster, 911RS (the non touring version is worth more)

[MattR]

I totally agree. I cant think of a car nowdays that has the character that an old porsche, chevy, fiat, tvr, austin, etc. has. Then again, the good 'ol days didnt have safety regulations... That changes a LOT about a car's look.

[Joe Bob]

Wrong side mirror and wrong headlights, but I agree the early 911 chassis has a lot of class. That's why I got my girlfriend a 69 912. Classy 911 looks, 914 power!

356 power....the 76 912E had the 914 motor....

[Howard]

Ok, so it's a slow day today waiting for some calls, so here goes.

We should all be as dumb as the Porsche design and marketing team. They are one of the few car companies to manage to be profitable every year. Their current offerings IMHO are over priced, over weight, over optioned, but they are selling pretty well.

I'm not in the market for one of their SUV's, but it is their most successful vehicle since the 914, another 'dog' that was ridiculed by Porsche purists. Sales numbers do the talking. So while a specialty manufacturer like Lotus sends us the Elise, Toyota announces they will discontinue Mister 2, the basis for the Elise. There are not enough 2 seaters sold to make a major manufacturer happy.

There are exceptions, most notably the Corvette and Viper. The image brings customers in for the Malibu's and minivans. But neither is a profit center. Porsche is doing the right thing with the Cayenne, so get over it.

The 997 is a better car in every way than the early 911 except one, fun. Safety/Smog requirements and consumers' desire for AC, power steering/windows/seats, CD, navigation, have pushed the weight from ~2000lbs to well over 3000. The sports car evolved into the GT. Great, but not my cup of tea.

That's why we drive teeners and lust for Elises and Lotus 7 replicas. Tossable and just plain fun to drive. Utility be damned, these are driver's cars. But sure glad we do own an SUV too.

[theol00]

The pre '74 911 were nice and light and fast - I love them - the SWB where a little squirly,especially in the rain - but I don't think there is much wrong with todays 911 either - they are faster, handle better (out of the box) and have increased reliablility - and they still win races... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[red914]

pre-74 911s and 914s have always, since those years, been my dream cars. i am lucky enough to drive the less expensive of them, and grateful for the privelage. while it is true that the newer cars have more power, more reliablilty, etc., it seems to me that all that technology insulates us, the drivers, from the experience of driving. i have heard the 914 called a driver's car. i have to agree. i feel what is going on under the front tires, including road roughness and bumps. direct transmission of feeling, without much filter. similiar, perhaps, to the experience of listening to al onld lp rather than a new cd; richness, but not digitally perfect. culturally we seem to be infatuated with the "perfect," meaning the unflawed. it is an impossible standard to attain, and the striving has a tendencey to breed discontentment. be it driving, music, the female image, whatever, maybe we should look at depth of experience rather than technologically altered "perfection." quite often it is the flaws that give something character and thereby make it the more individual, and beautiful.

sorry about that; forgive a neophyte his soapbox rant.

[Root_Werks]

I am partial to the early cars myself. This 69' is a great looking car for sure. They are simple and the design timeless. I had a customer call me yesterday for a house call. Seems his 356 sprung a leak. Very nice car, just would up being a valve cover gasket slipping a bit. They don't seem to make them thick enough? Actually I think his clips are worn out. ANYWAY, he has a 59 cab with the chrome windshield frame. Like a speedster look, but with roll up windows. I love this car, it looks great inside and out. I have updated many things over the years and he will take it on 2500 mile trips. It is a driver. What a classic timeless design the 356 is as well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[ArtechnikA]

I'm not in the market for one of their SUV's, but it is their most successful vehicle since the 914, another 'dog' that was ridiculed by Porsche purists....

There are exceptions, most notably the Corvette and Viper.

The Cayenne is not only ridiculed by Porsche purists like the 914 was, it is a joint venture with VW like the 914 was. Hmmm - a trend ? this is like those Lincoln / Kennedy parallels - all they have to do now is enter the Cayenne in the Monte Carlo Rallye and the lines will grow closer ...

in terms of notable 2-seater exceptions there is, of course - the Boxster, and the new Boxster Coupe. (i always thought the 911 was just an extended-cab Boxster Coupe...) Porsche's next big challenge is figuring out how to keep kneecapping the lighter, midengine Boxster (especially the Coupe...) so it won't outperform the 'flagship' "911" (996. 997. whatever...)

i love my long-hood, long-wheel-base 911...

[ArtechnikA]

...356 sprung a leak. Very nice car, just would up being a valve cover gasket slipping a bit. They don't seem to make them thick enough?

... 59 cab with the chrome windshield frame. Like a speedster look, but with roll up windows.

Vic Skirmants makes some wonderful metal-reinforced VC gaskets; check 'em out...

wazzat a cab or a Convertible D ?

[Howard]

in terms of notable 2-seater exceptions there is, of course - the Boxster, and the new Boxster Coupe
Still almost 3000lbs and over 40k. Could you ask them to make a '#2' special for me?

Ya know, 2000lbs, 200hp, $20,000? Ah ferget it, just by a 914 and throw $10k at it. Good investment? Hell no, but better than the 45k Boxster that sells for $28k 3 years later.


wazzat a cab or a Convertible D ?
And speaking of cars that fit the bill, the D, or even better the 60-63 S90 roadster is still cat's ass. $4200 new with only one option (blaupunkt).

[ArtechnikA]

Good investment? Hell no, but better than the 45k Boxster that sells for $28k 3 years later.

but that wasn't a discussion about good value - it was a discussion about profitable 2-seaters...

[anthony]

but it is their most successful vehicle since the 914, another 'dog' that was ridiculed by Porsche purists.

It's funny that most "Porsche purists" aren't even the target market for a new Porsche. Most of us can't afford one or at least wouldn't want to stretch our finances for one.

The early cars have their charm but I love the bigger engines. I took my SC to the GGR AX last weekend just to get a better feel for how it handles at its limits. It's not as fun as AXing a 914 but on the street a 3L engine is a blast. I need to put one in my 914!

[McMark]

Wrong side mirror and wrong headlights, but I agree the early 911 chassis has a lot of class.  That's why I got my girlfriend a 69 912.  Classy 911 looks, 914 power!

356 power....the 76 912E had the 914 motor....

Should have mentioned I did an engine swap to a 914 engine.

To recap:
Buy a '69 912 for the looks and put a 914 engine in it for the power and it's cheaper!

[Howard]

Good investment?  Hell no, but better than the 45k Boxster that sells for $28k 3 years later.

but that wasn't a discussion about good value - it was a discussion about profitable 2-seaters...

Guess I was just defending the justification for sinking $$$ into our little darlings. 2 seaters are rarely profitable to large scale manufacturers. Porsche, even with their cult following, needed more products to grow to the next level.

Back to fun cars. This Rotus is on eBay. Currently @ 9k with reserve met. 2 Seaters are all about fun, right? Buy that and a new Ford F150 for less than a Boxster. Sounds like fun to me...

[URY914]

This was my Dad's fav color.
I remember him wanting this car as we drove past the dealer when I was about 10 years old.

Look at those skinny ass tires...

Paul