Porsche 911
The very first 911 (1963-1969) was fitted with an air-cooled 2.0-litre, flat-six engine that produced a peak power of 128hp. These particular models are extremely hard to come by nowadays, as most were snapped up by collectors. There are plenty of later 1970s 911s to be found on the market, however. In 1970 the C series 911 was introduced, sporting a flat-six cylinder engine yet again, but this time it was enlarged to 2.2 litres. As a result, power was increased to 155hp. The C series also received a longer chassis than its predecessor to correct some nervous-handling problems found on the first 911. This model only ran for two years before it was dropped and replaced by a 165hp, 2.4-litre 911 in 1972, which ran through until the end of 1973. Numerous other models, including the Targa, Carrera and ‘S’, were also introduced into the 911 lineup From a driving perspective, the Porsche 911 Turbo is the one to go for, however. It was launched in 1975, after Porsche started applying turbochargers to its racing cars. It is probably the most distinctive-looking 911 with a huge ‘whale tail’ spoiler mounted on the rear and enlarged wheel arches to accommodate wider racing-style wheels. The 911 Turbo was heavily modified under the bonnet, too, boasting a 3.0-litre, turbocharged powerplant that produced almost 260hp. Porsche initially intended to sell the 911 turbo in a limited-edition batch of 500 units – however, such was its success that over 1,000 were sold in the first year alone. The Turbo was revised in 1978, and its engine size was increased to 3.3 litres, and the power upped to 300hp. Even by present-day standards, the driving experience in the 300hp Turbo is hair-raising. From a handling perspective, all 911s offer a similar feel, despite differences in weight, chassis length and engine size. Most have four seats inside, although the rear bench is very small, meaning the 911 is best viewed as a 2+2, rather than a proper four-seater.