5 Ways the Porsche 911 Has Changed Over 60 Years

Passing of Time

As most car enthusiasts are well aware at this point, the Porsche 911 has been around for a long time now - 60 years, in fact, which is an impressive feat in the world of sports cars, where lifespans tend to run a bit short. As one might imagine, much has changed over the past six decades in general, and yet, the 911 continues to evolve without undergoing too many radical changes along the way. It's a unique story for sure, and it's also interesting to take a closer look at how the Porsche 911 has changed over the past 60 years. 

Photos: Porsche

Size

The first thing that folks like to lament is the fact that the 911 has grown in terms of size over the past six decades, and they certainly aren't wrong. In 1964, the 911 was 164 inches long, 63.4 inches wide, and 52 inches tall, tipping the scales at a mere 2,300 pounds. As for the 2024 911 Carrera, it's 180 inches long, 75 inches wide, and 53 inches tall, weighing in at around 3,500 pounds - some stark differences, indeed. 

Photos: Porsche

Performance

In spite of its growth, the 911 has improved substantially in terms of performance, however. The 1964 model's flat-six engine produced a mere 130 horsepower, in fact, giving it leisurely acceleration by today's standards, as well as a 130 mph top speed. In today's 911 lineup, customers can choose from a massive array of models, ranging from the 388 horsepower base Carrera up to the 640 horsepower Turbo, not to mention the GT3 RS and other ultra-fast examples. 

Photos: Porsche

Creature Comforts

Then there's the matter of creature comforts, which - as one might imagine - there weren't many of in any car from the '60s. Outside of things like leather and a radio, the original 911 didn't have much to offer, but the modern 911 can be quite bespoke, depending on how much one wishes to spend. In fact, it's easy to spend hours in the 911 configurator playing around with options, and there are many more available via Porsche's unique customization programs, to boot. 

Photos: Porsche

Technology

The same goes for technology, as aside from some clever engineering that made it a lot of fun to drive, the 1964 911 was a very analog machine in every way. Today, the 911 is a rolling technological masterpiece, sporting things like infotainment, turbochargers, an array of sensors, and more engineering than perhaps ever before. 

Photos: Porsche

Pricing

Of course, all of this extra stuff comes at a rather steep price. In 1964, the 911 started out at around $6,500, which - when factoring in inflation - is around $65,875 in today's money. Today, the base Carrera starts out at a rather shocking $120,000, making the original seem like a heck of a bargain by comparison. 

Photos: Porsche

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