RSA_27149

h2o cooling?







jk

I'll go with the rear engine layout...that has to be it!

GothingNC

The complicated ventiltion system control layout?

John

User 4221

I thought about that.... The floor controls give the car an "aviation" feel.

rusnak

I've often thought the same. Early 911s have hand throttle levers to further complicate things.

ivangene

at least we dont have hand "timing advance" levers

salukijac

12 Qts of Oil

Ed Hughes

I'd say the silhouette or the rear-engined config.

The wave used to be a flash of the lights.

rusnak

I still do the flash, and never stopped. But I get so many blank stares I end up doing the flash, then waving.

speednme

I would have to say the silhouette. Take almost any other car and paint it in prime with no tag(insignias) and ask someone to tell you what car it is and most non-car buffs could not even tell you. Take a 911 and paint it in prime with no tags(insignias) and most of your non-car buffs can easiliy point out that it is a 911 or Porsche. It is just that type of shape..TIMELESS.....A PURE CLASSIC...in every sense of the word...period

ivangene

I think Amar forgot and needs an idea for the last thread

whalebird

It's hard to come up with a "icon" that hasn't been touched upon, and a reply that doesn't sound like a reply to "you know you own a 911 when..." My thoughts get a little nebulous and I back away and look at the whole, instead of the singular.
I'm going to say that the pedigree, or better, the provenance of the 911 is iconic. Sure, the click and clack of the sunroof, the forward located door locks, the staggered Passenger side rearview mirror, those mysterious vents above the rear glass in a coupe, the hidden deck release/gas flap release/sunroof and clock-set switches are pretty "neat". However, the whole sordid mess started long ago. Study the iconic auto-union "silver arrow" and notice the (then) unconventional mid engine platform with torsion bar suspension. Then the "iconic" VW beetle with largely the same platform just with the flat boxer motor hanging out back for a very good reason: certainly to make room inside, but also for traction and a singular servicable drivetrain easily removed. All of these designs HAD to have another Porsche development - the hypoid final drive. The 356 "#1" was a long time in the making, just as the 914 and more importantly(in my opinion) the Boxster was true to the original form.
I remember as a BMW car club member that there was a prevailing distaste for the 911 - "fundementally flawed" was the buzzword they liked to throw around. When looking at chassis dynamics it's easy to see that the rear engine layout solves so many problems that, in fact, a front motor/rear drive chassis has many "fundemental flaws". I love this about the 911, and the VW beetle and Bus(the original minivan) and the host of other "Iconic" cars spawned from this automotive breakthrough. A rear engine, air cooled boxer engine is simply brilliant and I immediatly think about that Silver Arrow everytime I think of the 911. I have to admit that I get the same charge out of any aircooled VW.
My icon vote is the Dr. Porsche Pedigree.

race911

The chain tensioning/cam drive system. Truly unique to the 911, and truly German over-complexity. Took only a couple of years for the first fix after how many cars came to a screeching halt while being merely driven along? Then about 5 more for the second update, 6-7 for the third (some California aftermarket "help" stepped in about here), and another three for the final fix of the initial style engine. Finally on the redesigned 3.6L is it trustworthy.

w00tPORSCHE

"I think Amar forgot and needs an idea for the last thread"...

I haven't visited this thread for over 24 hours (since I first started it) as I was busy shooting for the last icon. I'll be tied up with work for the rest of the week and wanted to deliver by next Sunday as promised. I am glad I did not see all the responses....I sure would have second guessed myself on what should have been the final icon on this series.

Thank you for the active participation, transcending all 911 model years (993 guys ..kudos). 43 replies ...I am truly moved by the enthusiasm. Now some of my actual icon threads with 15 or 20 replies at the most are turning green.

I have 5 more days. I will give out one clue each day on the final icon.

Clue # 1: As much as it is about the great people (ie. the current and previous 911 owners) and not just their cars, I wanted this series to be a celebration of the car itself (and it's parts)....and I want to stick to that basic idea.

theiceman

.... the people ...

RS-America

The myth of the rear seats.

Understand that our RSA did not come with them, but our 86 Targa does.