Icons that make up a 911 icon: Part 10
08-28-2010, 04:40 AM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Icons that make up a 911 icon: Part 10
“ In human terms, the 911 might have been likened to Richard Burton, Amelia Earheart or Donald Campbell, dedicated and pioneering in their respective fields. In the movie world it could easily be compared to a Dr. Zhivago or Lawrence of Arabia “ …writes Glen Smale of total 911.
Porsche 911 over the years has evolved from its pioneering and pedigreed beginnings into a very desirable and respected automobile. There are certain attributes that became synonymous with a 911: High quality, high performance, highly intoxicating sound and then….. Our final icon in this series. THE PURE LINES of a 911: It’s teardrop shape. The ultimate expression of a 911 DNA. The classic profile that landed it in art museums and design school lecture halls. Intoxicating, sublime, harmonious and timeless sophistication. I could go on and on. Each time I walk towards it there is a look of lust in my eyes as I visually caress the silhouette, the tear drop shape that boomerang rear quarter glass and reminisce those lines that I read somewhere: shape of the wind, heart of the lion… what sex appeal.
Ferry Porsche was very particular that the successor to the 356 should be a fastback shape. Erwin Komenda’s 911 styling was commonly referred as an “organic flow design”. For Porsche the 911 shape was always a double-edged sword. Leave the shape alone and it might be perceived as outdated, repetitive and predictable. Change it too drastic, then it may alienate hard-core loyalists. The pure lines of the 911 were interrupted only three times during it’s history: The rear ducktail in ’73, impact bumpers in ’74 and the wide-body of the turbo in ’75. Kudos to those designers who have maintained the value of the 911 greatest asset; it’s shape.
Wow factor: Synergy of art and craft. Perfection realized in a car’s body…original and still the best. Will we ever see another cars like ours ?
Porsche 911 over the years has evolved from its pioneering and pedigreed beginnings into a very desirable and respected automobile. There are certain attributes that became synonymous with a 911: High quality, high performance, highly intoxicating sound and then….. Our final icon in this series. THE PURE LINES of a 911: It’s teardrop shape. The ultimate expression of a 911 DNA. The classic profile that landed it in art museums and design school lecture halls. Intoxicating, sublime, harmonious and timeless sophistication. I could go on and on. Each time I walk towards it there is a look of lust in my eyes as I visually caress the silhouette, the tear drop shape that boomerang rear quarter glass and reminisce those lines that I read somewhere: shape of the wind, heart of the lion… what sex appeal.
Ferry Porsche was very particular that the successor to the 356 should be a fastback shape. Erwin Komenda’s 911 styling was commonly referred as an “organic flow design”. For Porsche the 911 shape was always a double-edged sword. Leave the shape alone and it might be perceived as outdated, repetitive and predictable. Change it too drastic, then it may alienate hard-core loyalists. The pure lines of the 911 were interrupted only three times during it’s history: The rear ducktail in ’73, impact bumpers in ’74 and the wide-body of the turbo in ’75. Kudos to those designers who have maintained the value of the 911 greatest asset; it’s shape.
Wow factor: Synergy of art and craft. Perfection realized in a car’s body…original and still the best. Will we ever see another cars like ours ?
08-28-2010, 05:00 AM
#2
Drifting
Thread Starter
I would like to thank Randy Leffingwell, Tony Corlett, Peter Morgan, Pete Z, and most importantly the authors of total 911 magazine articles for some great information, insight and inspiration provided with their books/guides without which this series would have been impossible. Ed (ivangene) you let me (a total stranger to you) test drive your '86 coupe without which I would have never gotten into my '86 coupe.. The superstar of this series. How can I forget that day. Thank you once again. Above and beyond everyone..my loving wife and kids who were patient throughout this 5 month period of my 911 illness. There were days where I would be having dinner with them only to suddenly drop the fork, grab the camera from the shelf and head out for a quick drive just to capture a particular formation of a cloud as a backdrop to the car's picture or highlight a shade of sunlight on a specific time of the day to visually enhance the lines on my '86 coupe. Thank you...i dedicate this series to you. Balancing this with my professional life was difficult but at the end of the day was worth all the effort as all my fellow Rennlisters enjoyed this series as much as I did bringing it to them. Thank you for all the interest and active participation. Several members, Paul (3.2carrera G50), Ray(helios) Iceman, John (GothingNC) to name a few were even kind enough to take time to shoot pics of their car and email them to me for some of the threads where I could not use my car. Without all the members follow-up posts, comments, pics this series would have been meaningless and my efforts,futile.
Amar R.
Amar R.
Last edited by w00tPORSCHE; 08-28-2010 at 05:57 AM.
08-28-2010, 05:25 AM
#3
I haddah Google dat
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Very well written. Very classy job! I never forgot one nice old-timer in Morro Bay who was admiring my '84. He said "whoever designed that car sure knew what he was doing".
I couldn't put it any better myself.
A lot of comments are made by strangers to Porsche that they like the look and styling of the older 911 more than the new ones. I don't like the interpretation of Pinky Lai either. I think it's ironic that a German company like Porsche could let it all hang out stylistically with bold fender flares, truly wide wheels, tea tray wings, and be so unapologetic about the sound the car makes and how much the 911 cost to buy, let alone manufacture. The engine type, hand made manufacturing processes, and the priorities givem at the design stage, even the real glass used in the mirrors and headlight lenses define a car that will never be made ever again.
It's as if they had as much passion and desire making the car as we do driving and owning them. For me the 911 fits my intense personality and occupies the outer boundary of everyday expression of excitement and boldness that I enjoy going back to. It's like a guilty pleasure that is a little bit defiant and indulgent. It's like smoking a cigar in public, lol! Ok maybe not that last one... I just thank heaven that the 911 was created and that I am a fortunate owner.
Woot, I just love your photography. I mean no joke, I was wondering at first which book you got those from.
I couldn't put it any better myself.
A lot of comments are made by strangers to Porsche that they like the look and styling of the older 911 more than the new ones. I don't like the interpretation of Pinky Lai either. I think it's ironic that a German company like Porsche could let it all hang out stylistically with bold fender flares, truly wide wheels, tea tray wings, and be so unapologetic about the sound the car makes and how much the 911 cost to buy, let alone manufacture. The engine type, hand made manufacturing processes, and the priorities givem at the design stage, even the real glass used in the mirrors and headlight lenses define a car that will never be made ever again.
It's as if they had as much passion and desire making the car as we do driving and owning them. For me the 911 fits my intense personality and occupies the outer boundary of everyday expression of excitement and boldness that I enjoy going back to. It's like a guilty pleasure that is a little bit defiant and indulgent. It's like smoking a cigar in public, lol! Ok maybe not that last one... I just thank heaven that the 911 was created and that I am a fortunate owner.
Woot, I just love your photography. I mean no joke, I was wondering at first which book you got those from.
08-28-2010, 10:13 AM
#5
Rennlist Member
Perfect ending to a fantastic series of posts w00t.
You are right on the money.
The classic lines of these cars are like no other.
The 911 to me has always been the sexiest looking car in the world.
It's the perfect balance of masculine muscle and feminine lines.
+1 on the photography.
I recognized your car in all but the top pic.
I seriously thought the top pic was possibly a scan from an artsy coffee table book.
I love the one with the old truck "winking".
Thanks for taking the time to do this series.
cheers
You are right on the money.
The classic lines of these cars are like no other.
The 911 to me has always been the sexiest looking car in the world.
It's the perfect balance of masculine muscle and feminine lines.
+1 on the photography.
I recognized your car in all but the top pic.
I seriously thought the top pic was possibly a scan from an artsy coffee table book.
I love the one with the old truck "winking".
Thanks for taking the time to do this series.
cheers
08-28-2010, 10:17 AM
#6
Team Owner
I think if you took black silouettes of cars around the world and held them up on front of people .. the two most internationally recognized shaper would be .....
the VW bug .. and the 911 .... no coincidence it was from the same family...
the VW bug .. and the 911 .... no coincidence it was from the same family...
08-28-2010, 11:14 AM
#7
Race Car
Superb. This has been a sterling series with contributions from some of the most engaging folks. I have difficulty identifying one singular element of "911-dom" that stands proud. The cars themselves are inanimate expressions of function and form; the community around them add spirit.
I've grown up in eclectic company, I have met various people from all walks and one group that seems to stand out is musicians - specifically drummers. The rhythm-discipline yeilds a delightfully peculiar personality. The understanding of a 911 forges(or reliefs) a similar peculiarity. The fellowship of Porsche (911) owners gets my neurons firing and I would love to sit with anyone here for an evening.
Thanks to you w00t, Rusnak, Ed and the rest of the gang, these abstracts have been a delight.
I've grown up in eclectic company, I have met various people from all walks and one group that seems to stand out is musicians - specifically drummers. The rhythm-discipline yeilds a delightfully peculiar personality. The understanding of a 911 forges(or reliefs) a similar peculiarity. The fellowship of Porsche (911) owners gets my neurons firing and I would love to sit with anyone here for an evening.
Thanks to you w00t, Rusnak, Ed and the rest of the gang, these abstracts have been a delight.
Trending Topics
08-28-2010, 11:38 AM
#8
Amar, great photography!
I think you have the makings of a book here...
Thanks for all the time and effort you put into this series.
I think you have the makings of a book here...
Thanks for all the time and effort you put into this series.
)
08-28-2010, 02:24 PM
#11
Drifting
Thread Starter
Ian, I loved your comment on that old truck winking at our beloved 911. Gives that picture a very new meaning. The apple orchard owner was wondering what I was doing there ...I could see him staring at me from a distance. In fact by now many in this small town would recognize me as that "Indian guy" ..a nut case who drives his car around, stops it at odd places only to get down to the ground on his knees or back ...click some pics and drive off.
Oh yes that first picture was indeed shot by me. This was shot after midnight in the parking lot of a restaurant on my way back from the hospital after attending to an emergency. Here is another close up shot on that same night. It was 60 F and I did not even have a jacket. I have several pics shot for this thread but did not want to bore you all with just my car..hence picked just a few.
Great, all the stalwarts agree with my choice of the final icon. The most iconic thing about the 911 (which is what drew many of us I m sure to this car) is indeed it's shape. As Iceman mentioned draw the lines of all cars in a piece of paper to even a non-petrolhead and I betcha 9 out of 10 times the one car that they would get the answer right would be a 911.
Ed Hughes, thank you for all the advice during my search: I still remember those lines; to look at the earlier cars when I was fixated (like many out there) on getting a '87 thru '89 3.2. To ignore the earlier 915 equipped cars would be the biggest folly. I drove my '86 coupe...as Ian says the car spoke to me in many ways, did not even drive a G-50 to this date. May be one day with the help of my fellow-RL'ers I will...I should just for the experience.
Ray, thank you for reassuring me about the WGM color. I was initially hesistant to even check out my coupe but decided to do so after your reply to my PM.
Whalebird, what can I say. The threads would be soooo incomplete without your color commentary. Thank you. I hope I get to meet you someday. I still remember your words when I first posted pics of my car. " You are lightyears ahead of the budget shopper"...that comment coming from someone with your epertise made that whole purchase that much more special. As you know, I spent north of $ 20 K when everyone where getting cars for much less than that. I am truly sad that this series has come to an end...but all good things do come to an end.
$ 20 Ksomeone with your
Oh yes that first picture was indeed shot by me. This was shot after midnight in the parking lot of a restaurant on my way back from the hospital after attending to an emergency. Here is another close up shot on that same night. It was 60 F and I did not even have a jacket. I have several pics shot for this thread but did not want to bore you all with just my car..hence picked just a few.
Great, all the stalwarts agree with my choice of the final icon. The most iconic thing about the 911 (which is what drew many of us I m sure to this car) is indeed it's shape. As Iceman mentioned draw the lines of all cars in a piece of paper to even a non-petrolhead and I betcha 9 out of 10 times the one car that they would get the answer right would be a 911.
Ed Hughes, thank you for all the advice during my search: I still remember those lines; to look at the earlier cars when I was fixated (like many out there) on getting a '87 thru '89 3.2. To ignore the earlier 915 equipped cars would be the biggest folly. I drove my '86 coupe...as Ian says the car spoke to me in many ways, did not even drive a G-50 to this date. May be one day with the help of my fellow-RL'ers I will...I should just for the experience.
Ray, thank you for reassuring me about the WGM color. I was initially hesistant to even check out my coupe but decided to do so after your reply to my PM.
Whalebird, what can I say. The threads would be soooo incomplete without your color commentary. Thank you. I hope I get to meet you someday. I still remember your words when I first posted pics of my car. " You are lightyears ahead of the budget shopper"...that comment coming from someone with your epertise made that whole purchase that much more special. As you know, I spent north of $ 20 K when everyone where getting cars for much less than that. I am truly sad that this series has come to an end...but all good things do come to an end.
$ 20 Ksomeone with your
