Porsche 911

Born in Coventry, the heart of Britain's motor industry, Brian comes from a family with a proud heritage in the automotive and aviation fields. He trained as a mechanical engineer, and worked for a time at his father's garage. Brian became heavily involved in the classic car scene at 19, and says he turned to writing by accident. He has a long association with several major car manufacturers, is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians, and a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers. He now writes full-time and, since 1990, when his first book was released, he has had over 80 titles published. Brian currently lives with his family in Chiba, in Japan, where they can enjoy life with their Dobermann and Thoroughbred racehorse.

Introduction &
Acknowledgements4

Chapter 1 A brief history of
Porsche5
The legendary 3567
Porsche in competition10
356 developments13

Chapter 2 The early 911
models15
The Type 90116
One era ends, another
begins18
Racing news18
The Targa model19
The 911S21
Progress of the 911 series21
The B-Serie models21
A joint project with VW22
The 2.2-litre cars24
Porsche in competition24
The 2.4-litre range25Corporate matters25
914 developments26
A 911 update27
Stark reality28
A turbocharged future29
End of the 91429
The 92430
The 911 line matures31
The 1978 model year32
The evergreen 91132
Company politics32
The 94434
A new star in Frankfurt34
The Carrera name revived34
End of an era36
The 911 story continues36
The 959 project36
The 1987 model year37
The 1988 season38
Boardroom drama39
959 update & a new
4WD car39
Matters of the moment41
Competition news41
The 1989 season43
The 964 series43
A new RS43
The 96844
More 964 models44
Zuffenhausen blues44
End of the line45
A truly modern 91145
The GT2 & RS46
The 1996 model year46
Links with a Stuttgart
neighbour47
A final fling47

Chapter 3 The 996 series48
Importance of the 99650
The production body51
Engine & transmission
details59
The 996’s underpinnings63
Testing, testing ...63
Initial press reaction67
The home market68
The new car in America69
A new drophead71
The rhd markets77
The 1998 racing season80
The death of Ferry Porsche91

Chapter 4 Establishing the
new breed92
The 996 Carrera 493
American review106
Other major export
markets106
The 1999 Geneva Show113
1999 competition update116
The 2000 model year117
Stateside news122
The right hookers122

Chapter 5 A new turbocharged
era begins125
A new Turbo125
Turbo exports127
Racing in Y2K132
News from Zuffenhausen134
The GT2144
The US 2001 model year148
Rhd market review148
Competition update149

Chapter 6 Still a star
attraction at forty155
The new Carreras157
The new C4S & Targa
variants162
News from Germany163
America’s 2002 season165
The UK, Japan &
Australia165
2002 competition review175
The 2003 model year176
The 2003 911 range178
The new GT3178
American news182
The right hookers (rhd)184
Racing update184
The Carrera 4S & Turbo
Cabriolets190
The GT3RS190
Other 2004 MY news193
Export market review196
2004 racing … and
rallying200
A 2005 model year
preview201
New Porsche 911
revealed203
Swansong206
The export markets206
2005 racing review208

Appendix I Year-by-year
range details213
Appendix II Engine
specifications215
Appendix III Chassis numbers
& production figures217
Index223