Published in the March 2017 issue of “Die Porsche Kassette”

There are vey few that can keep up with the numerology and the acronyms that Porsche has used throughout its years of existence.

The first Porsche sports car was the 4-cylinder, mid-engined, 356 (1948). Eventually the engine got moved rearward and that’s how it went into production (and where the engine has stayed ever since, in the 911).

There were several versions of the 356. There was the “A”, the “B” and the “C”. There was a Speedster, a Cabriolet and a Coupe. There was even a Carrera (in honor of the Carrera Panamericana).

Then, the 356 was no more. It gave way to what has been the longest production of a single model by any automaker ever, the 911 (Nine-Eleven, or in German, Neunelf).

The first 911, which came in 1964, wasn’t one; It was a 901. Porsche was forced to change it’s designation due to a trademark infringement with Peugeot, so it became a 911. Its powerplant grew from 4 cylinders in the beginning, to 6 cylinders eventually.

The second 911 (1969) was a 912 but had a smaller, less powerful, 4 cylinder engine. Then Porsche started offering different versions of its flagship vehicle.

First the “S”, then, in ‘73 and ‘74 there was the “RS” (Rennsport) and even an “RSR IROC”.

In 1974 there was a Carrera RS and a racing version, the RSR. There was even a Carrera RSR Turbo.

Between 1967 and 1977 Porsche made the 911 A, B, C, D, E, F, and G Series cars.

In 1976, the second 911, the 912, was resurrected and was offered as the 912E.

One year later Porsche replaced it with the 924, which wasn’t a 911 anymore.

But back to the 911s.

Between 1975 and 1989 there was the 930, which was the 911 with a turbo. It was also just known as “The Turbo”.

In between those years, the 911 SC (Super Carrera) the 911 CS (Club Sport), the 3.2 Carrera Supersport (last of the original 911s), a Cabriolet and a Speedster had made their debut.

In 1989 the 911 was still a 911 but underwent drastic changes and became the 964. The next year, a 964 Turbo came to market. The RS was offered again, and an RSA (RS America).

In 1994 the 964 became the 993 although it was still a 911. These were to be the last of the air-cooled 911s.

The 993 was available as an S, an RS, a C2S, a C4S Turbo and Turbo S.

In 1997 a smaller water cooled flat-6 was produced and put into a 2-seater, mid-engined, entry-level Porsche, the Boxster. But that’s another story altogether.

Back to the 911.

Then, in 1999 the 911 got water-cooled and became the 996 (with larger version of the Boxster engine). It was offered as a Carrera 4 (AWD) and as a Carrera 4S (which looked like a Turbo, but wasn’t). The 996 GT3 appeared for track junkies as well as a Turbo (AWD) and a GT2 (RWD Turbo).

In 2005 the 911 was now the 997. This one was offered as a Carrera, Carrera S, Carrera 4, Carrera 4S, Turbo, Turbo S, GT3, GT3 RS, GT2, and GT2 RS.

In 2012 the 911 again changed and became the 991.

The 991 was offered as a Carrera and Carrera S, Carrera GTS, Targa 4 and 4S, GT3, GT3 RS, Turbo and Turbo S as well as the exclusive (unobtanium) 911 R.

In between many of the aforementioned 911 production years, other models were developed. Some were produced and sold quite well. Others were very limited and were produced as street cars just so that Porsche could homologate the model to go racing.

We can mention, in sequential, not chronological order:

914, 917, 918, 919, 924, 928, 929, 930, 934, 935, 944, 935, 951, 956, 959, 962, 968, 980, 986, 987, 981, 989 ......

These are just some of the other 9XX models that were produced and it is not a complete list.

Now, if you knew all those model numbers and their singularities you are a certified Porsche Numerologist!

For more information on Porsche Numerology and more, please visit my website:

www PedrosGarage.com.

Happy Porsche’ing,