Learn More About the Porsche 911 and its History

With roots dating back to the early 1960s, the iconic Porsche 911 has a rich history and legacy, resonating with performance enthusiasts across the world. Originally debuting in 1963, the first edition of the Porsche 911 arrived at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. In September 1964, the Porsche 911 hit the market full time. F.A. Porsche is the designer behind the classic 911, the son of the original founder of our brand, Ferry Porsche. With its air-cooled flat six cylinder engine, the original Porsche 911 immediately set new standards for performance innovation.

Over the years, the Porsche 911 has seen eight generations since its introduction in 1963. From the original first-generation classic to the present-day 992 model line, the Porsche 911 has set new standards for capability, driving dynamics, style, and handling, resulting in a singular legacy in our lineup and for sports cars in general. Even with the model's innovations and updates over the years, the original groundwork set by F.A. Porsche in the 1960s shines through, making the 911 unmistakable in every iteration near Houston, TX, and Katy.

The first edition of the Porsche 911 is now known as the O Series. This original model line was followed in 1968 by the A Series, which was then replaced by the B Series in 1969. The 911's engine/performance was revamped for 1970 with the arrival of the C Series model line, highlighted by standard ventilated brake discs. In 1971, the D Series lineup arrived, followed by the E Series and F Series in 1972 and 1973.

Porsche 911 G Series Era

The G Series introduced impact bumpers for improved safety and ushered in a new era for the 911. Originating in 1974, the G Series era ran until the late 1980s, bringing in the high-octane 911 Turbo model along the way with a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine. G Series models included the classic coupe, the fixed roll bar style Targa model, a Cabriolet model which arrived in the early 1980s, and a two-passenger Speedster model. Like the original 911 lineup, the G Series used air-cooled engines.

Porsche 911 3rd Generation: 964

The Porsche 911 964 arrived in 1989, giving drivers the option of All-Wheel Drive performance for the first time. Semi-automatic transmission was introduced for 964 models, along with an updated suspension. The 964 era ran from 1989 until 1994, when the 993 generation arrived in the US.

Porsche 911 4th Generation: 993

The fourth generation of the iconic Porsche 911 was the last model line to feature the model's classic air-cooled engines. A new multi-link rear suspension was introduced for the fourth generation, along with a redesigned exterior, a new 6-speed manual transmission, and an updated available automatic transmission. The 993 generation of the Porsche 911 also offered 8 unique variants to choose from, giving drivers more room for customization than ever before.

Porsche 911 5th Generation: 996

With the introduction of water-cooled engines, the Porsche 911 996 edition, the model's fifth generation overall, truly ushered in a new era for the popular performer. Well known for its bold "fried egg" style headlights, the fifth-generation Porsche 911 remains a hot topic for Porsche fans to this day. The model line was notable for its updated suspension, wider track, and adjusted performance metrics.

Porsche 911 6th Generation: 997

Returning to a classic round headlight design and bringing in classic visual cues from the model's rich history, the Porsche 911 997 represents a back-to-basics approach from the ground up. From 2004 to 2008, the Porsche 911 997 used powerful 3.6 and 3.8-liter water-cooled engines, before switching to direct-injection fueling for improved efficiency in 2008, running until the end of the 911's 6th generation in 2012.

Porsche 911 7th Generation: 991

Running from 2012 until 2019, the seventh-generation Porsche 911 991 used a completely new platform, giving the 911 a fresh start and new approach. Sharp design lines added style, while an increased emphasis on aerodynamic design improved overall performance. Turbocharged engine capability was introduced across the lineup as standard in 2016, giving the 911 more power and performance than ever before.

Current Generation: Porsche 911 992

Also redesigned, the Porsche 911 992 is the eighth generation of the popular luxury sports car and is now available at our West Houston Porsche Center near Katy. The Porsche 911 992 model line offers a wider stance, a new front hood design, updated design lines, and a wide range of engine options to choose from in Houston. We encourage you to stop by Porsche West Houston today to see how the iconic Porsche 911 continues to set new standards over 60 years since its introduction!