Porsche 911 Generations Explained

The Porsche 911 is a two-door, 2+2 high performance rear-engined classic German sports car made since 1963 by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a rear-mounted six cylinder boxer engine and all round independent suspension. It has undergone continuous development, though the basic concept has remained unchanged. The engines were air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998, with Porsche's "993" series, produced in model years 1994-1998, being the last of the air-cooled Porsches.
The 911 has been modified by private teams and by the factory itself for racing, rallying, and other forms of automotive competition. It is among the most successful competition cars. In the mid-1970s, naturally aspirated 911 Carrera RSRs won major world championship sports car races, such as Targa Florio and 24 Hours of Daytona, even against prototypes. The 911-derived 935 turbo also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979 and Porsche won World Championship for Makes titles in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 with 911-derived models.
In the 1999 international poll to determine the Car of the Century, the 911 came fifth. It is one of two in the top five that had remained continuously in production (the original Beetle remained in production until 2003), and was until 1998 a successful surviving application of the air- (now water-) cooled opposed rear-engine layout pioneered by its ancestor, the Porsche 356. It is one of the oldest sports coupé nameplates still in production with one million manufactured as of May 2017.
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[@detonator2112]

964 and 993 were the absolutely pinnacle of Porsche. Cheers.

[@ClintonT.Biddle]

The 911 went to the crapper in 1998 with the EGGYOLK lights

[@Ilovesa22c]

993 is the holy grail

[@TheKasperlkopf]

The narration couldn't have been duller

[@MrWhite-yg6yk]

Although I learned a lot from this video, I'm certain my I.Q. dropped 9 points.

[@paulhead8832]

Currently have a 996, payed £6500 for it ,spent a further £2000 on it getting back up to standard ,3 year's ago and still have the car !! It is an amazing car well worthy of £8.5k😎

[@daniellindsay733]

The "901" went from the 2.0 liter 911 and grew to 2.2 liter in 1970, and then again to 2.4 in 1973, and then to 2.7 in 1974 when they introduced the shorter hood with the bumpers with the shock absorbers in them to deal with DOT regulations. Those engines were magnesium castings and a royal PITA. When the 911SC came out in 1978 they went back to the aluminum castings. The weight difference was so minor that I have no idea why they ever switched to magnesium--those were highly unreliable, with engine case bolts pulling constantly. The 911SC (Super Carrera) was supposed to be the end of the 911 (much like the 356 SC marked the end of the 356) but Peter Schutz arrived and put new life into the 911 which was highly appreciated by the factory's 911 fans like engineer Helmut Bott. In MY84 came the 3.2 liter Carrera. Early usage of Carrera was short in life--back in 1974 through the 1976 models. In 1977 the model line up (for the USA market) was the 911S and the Turbo, only. The name Carrera didn't really mean much in the 1974-76 MYs. There was a special European Carrera in 1977 ("Carrera 3.0) but it never made the trip to America. The 911SC of 1978 (with the 3.0 engine) survived until 1983 when in the MY84 year they grew the engine to 3.2, changed from the CIS injection system and produced the Carrera. Body design was very stable from roughly 1974 through to 1988, when the "G model" (internal to Porsche) was finally retired and they introduced the 964 model, their first ever 4-wheel drive system. It was largely based upon the 959 super car and overly complex. It was so complex that they dumped the 964's AWD system in favor of a much simpler system, based more upon VW's Synchro viscus clutch arrangement. The 964 cars were available as AWD or two wheel rear wheel drive--the traditional 911 arrangement. It weighed less and was certainly easier (read cheaper) to maintain. The body didn't really charge much with the G models but they largely looked like the 1974-1988 cars. The bumpers were significantly the visual difference, but there were many internal changes like ABS brakes, airbags, and the newer modern fuse boxes of today. The cockpit was cleaned up considerably but Porsche was in a constant battle with the limitations of air cooling. The next model arrived in 1995 as the 993 (factory designation) and it featured the 3.6 liter engine. The continuation of the Motronic engine fuel management system was a carryover from the 964 and the late G models. Generally, the rule of thumb with Porsche is to make constant changes to their cars, and they usually introduce a major engine change prior to any major body changes. I think that approach is sound because not everything gets changed at once with may overtax their engineering departments. The 993 was one of the shortest run of any 911 internal body style because, frankly, Porsche arrived finally at the conclusion that they could not longer build an air cooled engine. They were running into physics constraints. That, and noise pollution standards were impeding Porsche from competing with lesser manufacturers. The most violent change to Porsche arrived with the MY99 cars--the 996. It was an entirely new car, for the first time. A new body, interior, and WATER COOLED engine. Sadly, they had forgotten much of what they had learned over decades, and they listened a little too much to Toyota executives who taught them how to actually assemble a car in a thrifty manner. The bean counters were alive and well in Zuffenhausen (or many in Ludwigsburg) and so they shared some parts with other models, like the new Boxster. That was ultimately not well received by the 911 crowd as when you met a 996 head-on, it could be easily be comfused withe the "lowly" Boxster. They learned and improved the 996 over time, introducing facelifts and engine changes at a facelift, which has become their routine now. With every model, mid-way through it, they do a facelift. So the 996.2 as they called them, now had the 996 3.6 liter engine (from 3.4) and a better and more appreciated exhaust system as well as some minor exterior clues. In MY05 they changed the car again, fairly substantially (and that's why they have different internal numbers for these things). The MY05 cars were now called the 997 and were highly praised and with a global economy taking off, Porsche was running double shifts to keep up with demand. The 997 also featured a highly revised cockpit--a great departure from the 996 cockpit which were less than thrilling. For older prior Porsche owners, the interior was a visual reminder of the interior of the older G model cars. The 996 interior had gone ultra modern which was not well received. From a painted shell, it took Porsche AG 55 minutes to assemble a 997. It took 1 hour and 25 minutes to build the engines. In the MY05 line up they offered the normal 3.6 engines, and in the Carrera S cars they offered the 3.8 liter, one of the largest displacement engines that Porsche had ever produced for the 911. With about 355 HP, the S was the one to buy, but heavily taxed countries usually stuck to the 3.6 Their output was 325 HP. They cleaned up the drag coefficient of the 997 cars to the point that they were now 0.29 Cd cars. Quite clean. By the MY09 cars the engines changed again substantially. The "997.2" cars received direct injection engines, and got a bit of a horsepower boost for both the 3.6 and 3.8 S models. They were now featuring LED exterior lighting and did some additional cleanup to the car. But, as is typical with Porsche, it was again time for another change. By MY12 it was time for the 991 cars which retained the direct injection engines, but they did many things to mark it as a model change. The exteriors were vastly overhauled, cleaned up, but the car appeared to grow. No longer was there a manual handbrake. It was now a simple button. The popular PDK transmissions first seen in the 997.2 cars was carried over and becoming more reliable. The power steering system was no longer hydraulic, but electric to save on power robbing by the hydraulics, and to save weight. In time, the 991 was replaced with the 991.2 which began to see many changes in the engine department. All "Carreras" had gotten 3.0 liter twin turbos by 991.2. The addition of the turbo made the 991.2 engines much more complex, but seeing that Porsche has been working with turbo engines since MY76, it was becoming old hat for them. The 3.0 turbo engined cars are still called "Carrera" while their over the top 991 Turbos and Turbo S models had tremendous power production, out of 3.8 liter engines, and the two turbos--much larger than the run of the mill "Carrera" and "Carrera S" models. Constantly moving forward with the minor details, the MY20 cars were now called the 992. The PDK tranny is more popular than the manual 6-7 gear drivetrains today. (The 7 was a significant overdrive just for better mileage that they could report to the EPA). As with each generation, Porsche improved upon the cars. Sin some years the improvements are barely noticeable, and in others, it's more a quantum leap. The guidance for potential Porsche buyers is always this: "Buy the newest Porsche that you can afford.[" There is always something in them to justify the next newer model year. As you can see, this business can drag on and on, and I haven't even discussed the Targa models nor really touched on the Turbos. Perhaps you can find that on another You Tube video. (I have been driving Porsches since 1974 when I bought my first at age 19, so I have been around them a long time). I hope this answers some questions that always come up.

[@rodgraff1782]

Daniel Lindsay read your bible. No, the studs didn’t pull constantly on the mag case engines. I’ve owned ten, from 2 liter to 2.9 liter. Driven them thousands of miles and never experienced a pulled stud.

[@bokiNYC]

Thanks for all the info, it was a pleasure reading it.

[@pauloshea3741]

TLDR

[@Lipnoxy]

i aint reading allat

[@diegoc8904]

I just came here cause i had a dream about one of these in orange that I wanted so bad in my dream , im not even into cars like that lol

[@Patatigatti123]

Orange with "Carrera" wrote in black on the sides?

[@davidmadison5582]

They're beautiful. I don't even like Porsche and I love the older ones

[@Rod.Machado]

the porsche marketing team really stepped up their game

[@ryv2582]

964 is such a beauty. To all the gentlemen that owns one, you are the luckiest men in the world.

[@AutoAbsolute]

I’ll be buying a 997 as soon as lockdown ends

[@Chris-wb2gb]

Have u found one yet?

[@AutoAbsolute]

Chris found one locally in addition to a Panamera which is a curve ball. Decent mileage and kit for the same price.

[@prop69]

it’s gonna be a long wait

[@josephfriedling9190]

Did we skip from 1965 to 1984....or did I miss something?

[@DwainDwight]

exactly. I turned off after that

[@iainmorrison9048]

yup I also turned off at 8 minutes ish when I realised that 47 years of historic beautiful cars had been squashed into that time. Disappointing video and in my defence of this view I was number 357 (dammit!) member of the UK's PCGB and have owned a 1979 911SC, a 1998 993 Targa and now a 2010 997 Targa 4S. Wish I could still own all of them but each funded the next.

[@danozism]

@@iainmorrison9048 Being the slightly bemused owner of a 2002 Toyota Corolla, I'd be happy with just the one 911, to be honest! "-)

[@artemusifasuenshuffleman8535]

Aviator2492 your spot on..The trend followers are making things difficult on the real Porsche fans. If you don't love and appreciate a carrera then you should not get to buy a GT2 or GT3 and park/ flip.. In any 911 you never go for a ride.. You go for a drive!!! :) 100% 911

[@drivermobius]

I love how the colour Harding matches the decades the cars were released. Kinda felt like I was watching moving photos from magazines of that time.

[@christenrten]

*996 owner waiting for the obligatory headlight bashing comments*

[@calebm.5698]

Chris Iorio 996 cars don’t honestly look that bad- but compared to the 997 you can see why they get hate

[@paulomagalhaes9405]

@@calebm.5698 - When I saw a " 997 " for the first time back in 2004 , my spontaneous thought was : " oh , they ended up changing that headlights & tail lights to this car " ... Not for a second I thought that car was an all new 911 , even if in that move they switched bumpers & dashboard too , but leaving under the skin same chassis , same engine ( 3.6 at least ) , same both manual & tiptronic transmissions , exactly the same " Intermediate shaft bearing ( IMS ) " by the way ... So yes , until today ( 16 years on ) I still think they just facelifted the car and gave it " another name " !... P.S. Phase II 997 , with its DFI engine , PDK transmission & " IMS " fragility finally solved , obviously not included in my reasoning ...

[@calebm.5698]

paulo magalhaes that’s why the 996 is a great buy I think, it’s all the car of an early 997 but you don’t pay as much because the styling doesn’t appeal to people who don’t know anything about cars but want to flex.

[@paulomagalhaes9405]

Caleb M. - Great to see someone got my point . As much as in " Fashion world " , they try constantly introduce " suble changes " along with a bit of marketing , in order to creat the feeling in costumer's head they " no longer have the last/new model " of something , and sadly it works with many people , as they often subconsciously get the feeling they really need that " new " product ... without realizing behind all that , manufacturers just want to improve their sales !... Because as you well said , they ( marketing folks ) are also aware people like " to flex ". As for the 996 beeing a great buy , yes I can confirm from my own experience after have bought a 996 C 4 S last june and driven up to now about 10 k km on it , that a 996 is undoubtly a good buy !... 👌👍

[@MyBlueZed]

I looked at updating my 986 Boxster headlights but when I saw the price I decided to love my fried eggs. 🍳🍳

[@luminsfish7120]

Christ, I love 911's but was actually relieved when the Domino's Pizza ad came on.

[@MoskusMoskiferus1611]

"Old is Gold"

[@Lastboyscoutt]

The best for me is the 997.2. It is the perfect balance between all generations. The last With hydraulic steering, first entrance to DFI engines for more reliability and better performance, awesome modern classic look in all angles. It is a classic modern sports car. I own the 997.2 turbo manual transmission. I cannot be more happy!

[@AyushSingh-js3rf]

Am I the only one who Loves the rear of Porsche better than front?

[@ramzirondes387]

for me the glorious is the iconic 993 . and you won't disagree if you have known enough about it.

[@michaelbiegel6973]

I have a 996, the 964 and 993 are my overall faves with the 993 just edging the 964 overall. I would be smiling with either in my garage.

[@rohan-xc5mt]

@@michaelbiegel6973 Good luck to find one! 🍀❤️

[@sideu1330]

the 997 carrera with the Aerokit Cup Package😍😍😍😍

[@bigbird2523]

It's gonna be mine someday.

[@johnbacon4997]

Which one

[@bigbird2523]

@@johnbacon4997 Any 911

[@calbackk]

A somewhat boring video. But it nevertheless sorted out the generations for me. Thank you.

[@capybaravangogh7427]

911 is still 911 if it still retains its feature that the 1st 911 has.

[@CHICHI-ih5tf]

Great job man thanks!

[@konliner9286]

The 991 and 992 are too huge for my taste. The 911 is no longer a compact car.

[@johncarlofernandez2698]

It's still small if you see it in person. Only longer for better stability.

[@rohan-xc5mt]

Everything bigger than the 993 is too big in my opinion

[@scotts1354]

This video deserves a THUMBS UP! Imagine all those cars and history he had to go through. Don’t be stingy. ☺️

[@danozism]

I remember being mortified when I saw the new 1997 model, with the re-designed headlights. I thought it was outright sacrilege to mess with such an integral part of the Porsche core design- going right back to the 356 and the VW Beetle. I was pleased and relieved when Porsche reverted to the original headlight design in 2004/05.

[@seankelsey7097]

Hey guys ! I am starting to look for my 1st 911 and trading in my Vette. I figured my budget to be 45-50 grand. I am pretty new to these cars. Any ideas on what would be the best year model to get in this price range ?

[@armvndolio]

997 generation. I have a macadamia brown metallic for sale.

[@F430Gated]

Def get a 997 or 996

[@MegaKei1]

Would have been nice for the voice-over to not put you to sleep like it's being read from somewhere. Informative vid but could use a more gripping presentation

[@siddsakkik]

Aleks Kevin Tuscano he’s reading from Wikipedia

[@MarianoNoguera]

Thank you! 🕺✨

[@melgeorhanekom2932]

Check on 14 sec into the video how the right front rim Is buckled ... With Porsche Museum branding everywhere this is not a good impression for public..

[@exoduslnx]

Would be nice to see the cars from the back

[@rxhawk75]

Really weird not having exhaust sound at all while showing these cars on a track.

[@nurburgringbest8083]

And the Facelift 996?

[@gjohnson1926]

The narrator said Two Point O (Oh) instead of two-litre or Two point Zero. He is an American learning to speak English.

[@sensaras]

You missed out the 991 Turbo in your analysis

[@vantage789]

No 996 bashing?

[@manudelmarche]

People start to realize that the 996 is the bargain now and the classic then.

[@edwinremudaro7953]

Great synopsis of the 911 versions. Thanks!

[@coletrick8748]

I always wondered how the early 911’s were air cooled when the engine was in the rear.. doesn’t the front of the car block the air or are there cooling ducts?

[@zeke2095]

Think of the shape of the car, it slopes to engine bay in the rear the air will follow this path and come in, also the big fan in the engine keeps it cooled, also in pretty sure some air comes in from the bottom

[@dlg78]

The engine has big cooling fins all over it

[@royramdeen8864]

Very well done..😉

[@aviator-kn8zq]

911 those who don't get it, just stay away. Best daily driver, perfect dynamic sports car.

[@zarbon700]

If you believe 911 has great dynamics dynamics, you don't understand driving dynamics.

[@aviator-kn8zq]

@@zarbon700 i know what you're saying but it's winning for decades. It has a character not seen anywhere, only getting better in driving.

[@j-bagel]

zarbon700 can you name anything that can compare that is a direct competitor?

[@zarbon700]

@@aviator-kn8zq Winning doesn't mean something is good or better. The majority of Porsche buyers are casuals who don't really know much about driving dynamics and rely heavily on what media and fanboys said to determine what's a good car. Porsche and fanboys have done an excellent job brainwashing the uneducated public. Porsche is a luxury, easy to drive sports car brand for casuals.

[@zarbon700]

@@j-bagel Lotus Evora 400/Sport 410 /GT430 destroy the 911 in driving dynamics and experience while having similar performance stats. The only thing the 911 has that's better are finish and more useless luxury tech.

[@TheKnutselaar]

964 all day

[@123ddssw]

also i was waiting for the iconic 930 before the 993....

[@beartr2626]

997.2 is the best imho

[@dankbass6549]

996 is the best

[@henrylima6974]

Actually thats the least desireable

[@JSwan-bd1tc]

Dank Bass and has lost the most value, least desirable.

[@dlg78]

Worst, by far.

[@mikhaillionel6352]

Looks like they shot this on film.

[@mekkimaru2365]

When you do a video of an iconic car, at least feature ALL of its styling. The rear of many 911s look amazing, yet this boring video only shows them from the front and side (apart from the thumbnail) and it would also be nice to see the design evolution over the years. Such a wasted opportunity

[@alexibragimov918]

They show 991.2 when talking about 991.1.

[@brianlee4629]

*911E, L, S and T/930: Are we a joke to you?*

[@JSwan-bd1tc]

“ Porsch” in one breath “Porsche” in the next, be consistent. You skipped models from 1963 to 1983. The future of the 911 was not assured completely in 1983, almost though. Rollout of the water cooled 924, 928 in the late 1970’s and later the 944 was supposed to be the beginning of then end of the 911. CEO Peter Schutz who was the only American CEO of Porsche, he recognized the popularity of the 911 in America (the place that gave Porsche their most sales), he saved and put money into future development of the 911. “ MY 1983” is an abbreviation for “ model year” not the possessive “my”. Didn’t finish the video after that point.

[@Steve_MFr]

I quit at exactly the same point. Speaking of: wtf is the point of poorly made vids such as this?

[@RyanJZX]

What comes after the 992?

[@jesusdontlikethatimgaybuts9493]

its the newest one lol

[@RyanJZX]

Fully aware that the 992 is the latest model, thanks... I’m not convinced they’re going back to using 993 next, but I actually wouldn’t mind that!

[@pulaskicondoassociation6799]

944

[@brianlee4629]

@fabaum22 And then after the 993, the chassis codes get weirder, hopefully we won't get names like 994 or 995.

[@ibrahimbocoglu8608]

Yours Sincerely Yours

[@bimbettocavallo]

My 2nd grader nephew reads more enthusiastically than this.

[@matthewislas9364]

Hats off to all of you who have left comments, all are good and valid points. I had to chuckle at the 996 owners comment, the 996 headlight comments must get old. I hate to repeat the last guy's point but Jeeeeeeez, who is the narrator with the awful English language skills?? Dustin Hoffman's Rain Man character could have done a better job! What on earth were the makers of this video thinking? Btw, I also asked the same question (What on earth were the makers thinking) of Porsche, way back when they put those ( disgusting to this day) headlights on the 996! :D

[@CafeKobalt]

Dude! It was a Dutch designer!

[@macacovelho94]

Would be nice to see the fkin back of the car ....

[@85milesb]

Infuriating right? Making the effort to assemble all these cars and then only filming them from one angle. 😄😄😄 Wtf!? And that voice-over too! 🤣

[@TheEqualizer52]

Maybe you could put the camera behind you when you drive to see the inside dash and outside view instead of just your face.

[@goingkeep293]

Quite boring video hmm

[@123ddssw]

the videos are as slow as his voice

[@antar1485]

997 is perty

[@mohamadnasiralzaabi2752]

Guys tell me in the replies which 911 is your favourite mine is the 991 turbo s

[@rohan-xc5mt]

993 is awesome!

[@mohamadnasiralzaabi2752]

@@rohan-xc5mt yeah I love the 993 too my favourite is he gt2 it's such a good looking car am I right

[@raimovt2900]

Spanishn't moment...

[@khunnavi6981]

😷🇹🇭😷

[@RS265trophy]

try a better voice off

[@kchris7930]

Great video. The narration sucks. Wont ever subscribe to this channel

[@jesusdontlikethatimgaybuts9493]

no one asked

[@markremy4946]

More for your money when you buy USA. Here's proof: According to Car and Driver magazine: 2021 Corvette C8-$58,900; quarter mile-11.3; top speed 194 MPH 2021 Porsche Cayman- $61,200; quarter mile 12.4;top speed 180. What do you say to facts???

[@rohan-xc5mt]

Car interior of a corvette or American cars in general are always plastic garbage. Buy German high quality cars!

[@markremy4946]

@@rohan-xc5mt Wow! buy a German 'performance' car that can't perform-but has a walnut gear shifter!!! HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@tufluxed3293]

The new 911s rear bumper looks disgusting

[@tuppid2463]

Just buy the cheapest version, stick a private plate on it and no one will know the difference. VW in drag.

[@simmo2745]

Tuppi D VW rock too!

[@irepresentthe312reich8]

It's just a Volkswagen beetle with good advertisement..

[@harrisondavis9208]

U dont know what you are talking abt

[@pulaskicondoassociation6799]

HOW DARE YOU !!!