Porsche Looks Back at Their Most Exemplary Cars
Daily Slideshow: Tradition is a commitment.
70 years of Success in Motorsports
Porsche is celebrating its 70th anniversary of being in motorsports this year. The German automotive brand has been the highlight of motorsports for a long time now, having taken part in many racing competitions throughout the years and won many of them. The German brand completely dominated the 1970s with their unparalleled race cars, winning one competition after another. Their first win in the 24 Hour Le Mans actually accelerated their claim to fame and since then Porsche has grown to become the largest race car manufacturer of the world. With such a rich history, it is only fair to look back at the great cars that once were the greatest of their time. And so, as part of their celebrations for their 70 years in racing, Porsche has highlighted some of its most decorated race cars of all time. In a video released by the 9:11 video magazine 7 cars have been highlighted.
The Porsche 356 SL
The Porsche 356 SL is fondly referred to as the grand-daddy of all Porsche racing cars. The Porsche 356 was Porsche's 1st production car. Porsche was in the processing of building several production models of this car in Stuttgart, Germany and in Gmünd, Austria when the 24 Hours of Le Mans organizers invited Ferdinand Porsche to field a race car in the 1951 race. Ferdinand consented and took two all-aluminum versions of the Porsche 356 and fashioned them into race cars in preparation for the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their aluminum bodies made them ‘super light’, hence the ‘SL’ suffix. One of these race cars would end up crashing during practice for the race; the other would go on to give Porsche its first victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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The 911 2.0 Coupe
The 911 2.0 Coupe that started production in the 1960s hasn’t stopped still. The nameplate is still used today and it is perhaps the most popular among all the Porsches. Ask a kid about a Porsche and he will definitely mention the 911. It is interesting to know that the name was supposed to be 901 but the manufacturer later changed it to 911 to avoid copyright issues and since then the name has become a brand in itself. The 911 of yesterday was no joke at all. The car could smoke any sports car in its prime when it could use its inline-6 engine to make 130 hp and leave everyone behind.
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The Le Mans Wonder
Among the cars that are shown in the short video, the Porsche 917 K is perhaps the most iconic. After all, the car got Porsche its first-ever win in big-league racing. The 917 K took pole position in the 1970 24 Hour Le Mans race and that too very shortly after entering the racing scene. If that wasn’t impressive, the 917 K went on to win the Le Mans event next year as well, as it crossed the finish line first in 1971. Why wouldn’t it? The car was capable of rushing from 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds going on to a top speed of 240 mph on the track. That is highly impressive for a car manufactured in the 1970s. Not only that, the car got featured in a movie called Le Mans, from where it sky-rocketed to fame.
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A Step Into The Future
Next up in Porsche’s list is the Porsche 959 supercar. The car was one of the greatest sports cars of its time. Built in 1986, the 959 was a street legal supercar that could muster 197 mph of speed like it was nothing. The car became a legend for Porsche and showed the brand a way forward. With its all-wheel drive and customizable suspension, the car was the dream of every petrol head at the time. It was not very easy to buy them, since only 292 units were built, so it is natural that it is not very easy to find in this age and time. Bill Gates has one if you are interested in placing a bid to the billionaire.
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Then Comes The Boxster
Porsche introduced the Boxster in the 1990s as an answer to the huge number of roadsters being sold in the automotive market. The car became an instant success thanks to its highly powerful engine and compact design. The Porsche Boxster was the most sold car for the brand until new models came later. It’s mid-placed 2.5-liter inline-6 engine really made a difference in the lives of those who were looking for performance in a small car. Porsche which was losing its edge gained it back once again.
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Millennial Vehicle
Up until the year 2000, Porsche was dealing in sports cars of various body types and styles. But after the turn of the century, the German company shifted its focus towards a new demand in the market - SUVs. The Porsche Cayenne was introduced in 2002, as a result. This SUV was initially powered by a V8 engine that Porsche hadn’t used since 1995. The Cayenne raised eyebrows when it came out, being the first ever Porsche vehicle to have four doors and being the first off-road vehicle produced by Porsche. However, it soon became so popular among the masses that it was introduced in different variants over the years. Thus, a diesel, turbo GT and even a hybrid edition came through.
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Nürburgring Champion
The Porsche 918 Spyder of the 2010s was an instant hit as well. The supercar was able to accelerate from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of over 200 mph thanks to its hybrid technology infused V8 engine. The car is so famous because of its record-breaking track run on the famous German race track, Nürburgring. The 21-km track was completed in 6 minutes 57 seconds. Being a hybrid sports car also gives the 918 Spyder a special place in the hearts of many, especially since we live in a world where hybrid cars are considered to be slow and weak.
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New Future of The Sports Car
Porsche is a company which is proud of its heritage. They created a sports car that was so good and so fast that they were termed as being well before their time. That’s a compliment not many auto manufacturers get. The brand has proven to use revolutionary methods to achieve their goals. That is evident from the hybrid 918 Spyder supercar. That could mean racing could become more efficient and cost-friendly in the future, and it is all thanks to Porsche.
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