Why I think an old Porsche 911 is one of the best oldtimer supercars out there.

So this is it then. The Porsche 911. For me, the pinnacle of passion, sound and driving experience. But because I don’t want to sound like an idiotic fanboy who’s prayings end with “GT3 RS”, I will put some meat on these bones and explain to you why I think that this car is one of the greats, if not the greatest of all time.

First off, the looks

I know this is all personal preference but there is no question that this car has stunning visuals to offer. Its iconic shape is instantly recognisable and one that even people who have absolutely no knowlege of cars can go, “Oh that’s a Porsche!” when they see one. The design and architecture of the 911 has been around for more than half a decade now and it hasn’t really changed that much since its launch in 1963. You still get the round headlamps, the extremely aerodynamic shape and the engine at the back. With this arrangement the Porsche brand has enjoyed great success over the years which only few other car manufacturers have been able to achieve. And because Porsches were also very sophisticated and well-engineered the visual appearance of the 911 became a symbol for impeccable driving experience and reliability.
I think that especially on the 1976 930 turbo the designers have done an amazing job. Everything just falls into place. The horizontal brake lights with the company’s name written on it in combination with that massive rear spoiler really do excite me when one does pass me by. I also do like this car because it is relatively small and compact. Nowdays cars are getting bigger and heavier due to countless safety regulations, so it is pleasantly refreshing to go back in time to the simpler days when it was more about looks and performance than safety.

The feel

One thing the 911 is probably most famous for is its handling abilities. And that seems to be the understatement of the century as many owners of the 70s or 80s 911s state. In fact, there’s way more to it and you are able to tell that because of the passion, heart and honesty that lies behind those words.
So the steering wheel seems to be a translator between the driver and the tarmac, communicating the information of the road surface in a constant dialouge with the recipient giving him a feel for every crust and bump underneath. I imagine if you were driving on the road, going over the white lines you could probably tell not only where the road workers did a lousy job but the humidity of the day they were painted.
One particular asset of Porsches most famous model is the flat six-cylinder engine which has stuck with the generations since Genesis, and also the lovely, crusty smyphony of exploding petrol that buzzes out of the exhaust and elevates the joy of the experience to new hights.
In terms of power you have many options, you can have an engine from around two to three liters and a power output anywhere between 200 to 300 horsepower, depending on the model. It also will do up to 155 mph like for example the 80s 911 Carrera 3.2. So there’s no doubt that the car is still fast and can handle well. Hell, that sounds better than most of today’s cars.

Character is everything

No other sports car embodies more character than the Porsche 911. Many car maufacturers tend to forget about it unfortunately, because they are too busy with setting lap times and fixing double-clutch gearboxes. For us as true petrolheads it is the way you interact with your machine that make the moments so special. And while others may think a car is only about travelling from A to B, actually the opposite is true. It is the travel in between that is the real selling point to people like us.
The 911 does all of this perfectly as it not only has the looks and the performance, but is also well engineered, which allows you to enjoy going round corners and not have to fear death at every tilt of the steering wheel. And the fact alone that you drove around a beautiful bend quickly, without pooping your pants as you came out on the other side, will instantly make you smile.
That is why I do think that is the beauty of these cars. In a 911, especially in an old one all of these figures about torque and engine capacity really do not matter. Because isn’t about that 0-60mph time, it isn’t about the engine being as big as a bathtub and making your trousers wet everytime you go near the accelerator pedal. It is more about the sensation of driving, the way they make you feel while cruising on the twisty backroads on a beatiful sunday evening enjoying the view whilst the sun slowly begins touching the horizon. And for that task it is almost unbeatable.