70 Years of Porsche Celebrated at AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix

Porsche Classic takes over Nürburgring for annual AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix.

One of the biggest and most popular vintage car racing events in the world, this year’s AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix took place Aug. 10-12 in Germany and found Porsche celebrating two important landmarks in the automakers history. Not only was it the 70th anniversary of the Porsche, it also marked the 30th anniversary of the 964 generation of the 911. Porsche brought out beautiful cars and special guests for the event.

Racer Derek Bell, five-time overall winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was starting in a Porsche 911 from 1965 in the “Gentlemen Drivers” category. In addition, two races for the current Porsche Carrera Cup Germany were included as part of the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix for the first time.

Porsches were lined up and showcased on the famed race track, where a drivetrain from the 964-generation 911 relived one of the most important development steps in the history of the 911. The 911 Carrera 4, which made its debut 30 years ago, has now been extensively reworked with 85 per cent new parts and equipped for the first time with all-wheel drive. Back in 1988, the newly designed 3.6-liter engine with twin ignition was the most powerful naturally aspirated engine in the history of the 911, and it was the first passenger car engine in the world to have a controlled metal catalyst.

The suspension, with its light-alloy wishbones and coil springs instead of torsion bars, was also a new addition. With a fully panelled underbody and an automatically extending rear spoiler, the 911 achieved record aerodynamic values at the time.

As part of the anniversary exhibition, around 50 private 964 models featured alongside a 964 Turbo S and a 964 RS from the Porsche Museum collection. In 1990, it was also a type-964 911 that launched the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany; the races for this year’s series took place recently on the historic race track in the Eifel region.

70 Years of Porsche Celebrated at AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix continued…