TaylorSea4

Did y'all read the latest issue of Road & Track (with the oh-so-sexy Carrera GT on the cover)? They did a historical look at the 911's from (I believe) ALL the past 911 Project Managers' point of view.

Needless to say, they had an early 60's 911, and '89 911 Carrera (the last one without power steering), a 964 RS (VERY cool!), a 993, and a new Targa.

Maybe it's all stuff y'all know, but for MY growing obsession, it was very cool. But then, I dig on listening to historical slants not from the guys who were just there; but rather the guys who ARE the history. Very cool. It's not on R & T's website, but the issue is still on the stands.

I had no idea the then-boss had more or less conceded the 911 line to die (and be supplanted by the new 928). Thank God the project manager at the time got the budget to continue and uncorked the motors for more performance (I'm thinking this was right around '79- 80??). Cannot remember; but VERY cool, man.

Jay H

The 928 was definitely planned as the replacement for the 911 back in the mid 1970's. I think Porsche never dreamed the 911 would last as long as it did during those years.

Another 'gem' that I didn't know until reading the latest edition of "Excellence was Expected" by Karl L. is that the motor from the 964 series was to appear in the 1988 MY Carrera first. But, Porsche could not get the then new motor up to their hp and other expectations in time for the '88 MY and just waited to release it with the 964 series.

A factory 3.6 in the old, lighter, more simple body style would have been a hell of a 911...

MAS

One interesting little tidbit one of the Porsche engineers says in the R&T article is that it was the LAST incarnation of the SC (with 204 hp) that saved the 911, not the earlier SC, as often claimed.

(Incidently, this little factoid runs counter to what I've read in many other Porsche books)

-MAS

GrantG

The RS America made until 94 was the last US car without power steering

TaylorSea4

MAS, that's what I was referring to. He said it has to do with the friggin' heat evap thing-a-ma-bob that made the cars smog legal. They switched to Bosch (?) FI and the resulting 204hp saved the car. I figured this was closer to the early '80's, but maybe y'all can steer me straight. That guy was the Project Manger until the year 2000.

Grant, methinks they were referring to the last standard 911 without PS. The RS was a stripped model, no?? I think the article refers to the standard cars, but I could be WAY off base here.

Anyone?? Class?? Bueller?? Bueller??

GrantG

Yeah, the RSA was a stripped version (no AC, sunroof, power steering, or windows), yet it was a US legal car which is rare for these types of cars (the ROW RS was quite a bit more hard-edged and sporty though). We didn't get the Carrera RS 2.7, the 993RS, nor the first generation GT3 either...

TaylorSea4

Dude, there's a MORE sporty 964 RS? I hear tell that even the biggest enthusiast would get his/her spirits dampened if they drove an RS America as a daily ride. Still, WAY cool cars.

ROW; I know it's indicitive of European cars, but the hell does it stand for??

sschmerg

RoW = Rest of World

The Row 964 RS was much different than the RS America. See these sites:

http://www.performance2and4.co.uk/964rs_1_n.htm

http://www.rsamerica.net

-Sean

g-50cab

Rest of the World. As in - there's the North America market and the Rest of The World.

TaylorSea4

Yeah, I sorta figured that, but I didn't wanna look like a dumbass and misuse the term. Thanks, gents.