12 September 1963: the week the 911 arrived, under another name
On 12 September 1963, at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Porsche showed the successor to its popular 356. The car wore a different name: the 901. The 911 badge came afterwards.
What it was
- A 2+2 with a six-cylinder engine in the back, 2.0 litres and 130 PS at first.
- A top speed of 210 km/h.
- Later versions of that first generation came with 110, 140 and 160 PS.
Why it still matters
Put a first-generation car next to a 1982 SC or a brand-new 911 and you'll see the same idea: the engine behind the rear axle, the sloping roof, the round headlights. Plenty changed underneath, and every generation has its own character, but the outline has stayed readable for more than sixty years.
That's part of why so many of these cars are still being driven. They were built to be used, and they can still be looked after by hand.