The first Porsche 911

2011 should start with a scandalous topic. Don’t you think so?

A lot of things have to be rebuilt, redesigned, rethought after this financial crisis … and what about rethinking the Porsche 911!

Yes, I know the eternal cutie from Stuttgart has never disappointed us, but we could ask us what she would look like if designers and engineers had made other decisions. Porsche enjoys the same loyalty to the 911 for almost 50 years now. 911 is maybe the most hallowed 3 numbers ever in motoring history. Even if its first name was 901, but the French manufacturer Peugeot protested on the grounds that in France it had exclusive rights to car names formed by three numbers with a zero in the middle. So, instead of selling the new model with another name in France, Porsche changed it to 911.

On September 12, 1963, Porsche unveiled it’s first new car since the 356s, a Yellow Type 901 (so it was to be named) at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The 911 actually started as a Type 695, also known as the T7 prototype (T6 being the last 356 internal name. The T7 was supposed to be a change in direction from the aging 356s. Designed in the late-Fifties, the 695 was intended to be a true four-seater sports car. It was with the 695 that Porsche decided upon the use of the flat-six powerplant (which has been the mainstay of the 911 range ever since). However, despite the 695 having entered the test-driving and development stage, Porsche management decided against the four-seater arrangement, and demanded that the car be redesigned in traditional two-plus-two arrangement, with smaller rear seats. The 695 has a wheelbase longer than the 356s by almost 100mm. Moreover this first architecture directly limited its power potential. The front half did make it to production, but there was no way the rear end would (thanks to Porsche’s founder), so it was given a makeover by Butzi Porsche, Ferdinand’s son.

911’s early years were not easy mostly because of its too short wheelbase (which evolved in 1964 to 2 211 mm, in 1969 to 2 268 mm, in 1971 to 2 271 mm, in 1978 to 2 272 mm and in 1997 to 2 350 mm). Fine tuning on an early 911 was highly complicated and some brutal solutions were necessary (like adding two 11 kg weights in the front bumper).

Some tv shows oftently presents the 911 as the “beetle” (for instance the great Mister Clarkson from Top Gear) which was right until the 996 series because many parts were shared between those two icons during 33 years.

In 1978, facing two  modern models (the 924 and 928), the 911 was supposed to disappear. Ernst Fuhrmann (former CEO) wanted to put an end to a car with such specifications (rear-mounted boxer configuration). He even decided to limit its power to 180 hp but customers and even the Porsche Family didn’t agree. Finally Fuhrmann left and development continued we the success we know!

Have a look at the video below and tell us if you think that the 911 would have had the same story starting from this design.

Olivier Pourchet

Our 911 article is coming soon

Yes we love Porsche and we went for a heritage trip to Germany especially for our dear visitors!

Our article about the 911 is coming soon!

Olivier Pourchet

Jaguar E-Type Roadster

If there was one brand new car, I’d buy right now (with a little bit of your generosity), it would be a Jaguar XK It would be like buying at the same the latest contemporary piece of art and a fresco of the Sistine Chapel!

Yes, because there are too few model who kept what made their glorious ancestor win.

Jaguar XK shape

But you  can obviously go for her ancestor from the sixties and seventees , the Jaguar E-Type … but please don’t purchase the wall covering from the picture below !

Jaguar E-Type Roadster

It was great success for Jaguar, over seventy thousand E-Types were sold during its lifespan. Another proofwas added (if needed) March 2008, when the Jaguar E-Type ranked first in Daily Telegraph list of the “100 most beautiful cars” of all time.

Jaguar E-Type Roadster

So, if you’re looking for an affordable and smooth ride in a convertible (yes Spring is coming soon), we highly recommand you a V12 E-Type from 1971 or 1975. It will cost you around 45 000 € for a european edition. For the price you’ll have a proper gearbox, a 272 hp V12 and this amazingly eternal bodyshape!

Photos © carwalls.com and Jaguar

Olivier Pourchet

Elvis Presley’s Cars – His Mercedes-Benz 600

He was also popularly known as the King of Rock and Roll and it is said that he had a special affinity for pink Cadillacs and Mercedes-Benz 600s. The car Mercedes-Benz 600 with monstrous engine 6.3-litre V8 goes under the hammer on December 6, at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey, and fetched $187,390.

The 600 featured many luxuries, including a complex hydraulic system which powered everything with a pressure of 150 bar, from the windows and seats to the automatically closing doors, sun-roof and trunk.

A couple of years ago an Englishman bought it, causing the Elvis fan club to holler that this “national treasure” couldn’t leave America (blithely overlooking every artefact that flows the other way).

The powder blue of the car is realy incredible !

Joël Lantz

Maybach Zeppelin, 1934 and 2010, luxury is common point

It was an enormous luxury vehicle. Thanks of the revival of Maybach by DaimlerChrysler, this opulent 8-litre Zeppelin, saw new popularity. Heritage of the original car company. Prices goes up since the Jet Set are more crazy of this vintagecar than the new Maybach of 2010.

The Lamborghini Miura, a revolution masterpiece

The 1960’s are often described as the social revolution decade but another one happened at the same time, mixing technology and design.

Public gave a first glance to a transverse, mid-mounted V12 engine chassis at 1965 Turin Salon. It wasn’t the work of a famous carmaker from Maranello, but from Lamborghini’s three top engineers, Gian Paolo Dallara, Paolo Stanzani, and Bob Wallace. The name of the development prototype was P400 (for Posteriore 4 litri) and the funny story was that the three men worked on the car’s design at night, hoping to sway Lamborghini from the opinion that such a vehicle would be too expensive and would distract from the company’s focus.

After 1966 Geneva motor show, there was no doubt left; with the Marcello Gandini design, a timeless masterpiece was born, the Lamborghini Miura. Its name comes from a former race of fighting bulls described by Ernest Hemingway. Lamborghini’s founder, Ferruccio Elio Arturo Lamborghini (1916-1993) was highly fascinated by bullfighting and the Miura was the first of an ongoing serie (Diablo, Murcielago…).

By the way, the stylist was only 28 when he released the prototype. His car was as enjoyable for technical as for styling reasons because fitting a 350 hp V12 between the back wheels was a first on a production vehicle. The journalist José Rosinski tested it in 1967 (for the famous French magazine Sport Auto) at 268 km/h and measured a standing start (0 to 1000 m) of 24.7 seconds when a Murcielago needs around 23 seconds.

Nobody expected such a result from Ferruccio Lamborghini, and his company before specialized in agricultural equipment and most recently grand tourer (such as the 350 GT). This car is the mother of all the supercar generation going from the Ferrari 288 GTO to the forthcoming Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4.

The most famous Miura was the 1971 SV (for Sprinto Veloce), featuring 385 hp for only 1300 kg. At that time, the best F1 engine had only 205 hp. This specific model was able to reach 285 km/h. Finally, 765 Miura were produced and only 150 were SV. These cars are also really profitable investment (constant rising quotation) with more than 75 000 € for a Miura and more than 120 000 € for an SV but we shouldn’t speak about reason in the Lamborghini world.

Photos © Automobili Lamborghini SpA, Sport-Prestige.com and JoeSackey.com

Olivier Pourchet

Coming soon: A taste of the 60’s revolution

Vintage cars are not about nostalgy or dust on rusty legends, it’s much more about huge innovation that made nowadays (super)cars.

I’m gonna soon discuss about the fantastic Lamborghini Miura. In order for you to have a first glance on this car, please enjoy this short video below!

Olivier Pourchet

The most famous and most recognized cinematic James Bond car…The Aston Martin DB5!

Now let’s see how this car made History and is at the Top of the News Today.

The legendary 1964 DB5 model was produced between 1963 and 1965 with a total of 983 units sold. David Brown, rich industrialist, owned Aston Martin from 1947 to 1972 and is the one who designed the DB5 (which hold his initials). It has been featured in several films, most notably Goldfinger, Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Casino Royale…With additional gadgets of course.

Three variants of the DB5 exist:

• The high-performance DB5 Vantage (65)

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The DB5 convertible (123 built)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The very unusual DB5 shooting brake (very few were built because of a design flaw on the rear suspensions)

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s drive back now to today’s time…

The specially modified 1964 Aston Martin DB5 model which was driven by super agent 007 (aka: “Bond…James Bond”) has been sold in auction for a majestic £2.6m (Roughly €3m)! In 1970 it was sold £5,000 and $2.09m in 2006.

Let’s just hope for the new owner, Harry Yeaggy, a Cincinnati banker, that the value of his James Bond’s gadget-packed 1964 Aston Martin DB5 will keep the same course.

Simon Yamaguchi

We have a dream. The Ferrari Daytona…

A Gran Turismo automobile produced from 1968 to 1973. Unlike Lamborghini’s then-new, mid-engined Miura, the Daytona was a traditional front-engined, rear-drive car.

I recommand you these beautiful pictures.

Joël Lantz

BMW E23, first 7 Series luxury car

Did you remember that The BMW E23 is the first BMW 7 Series luxury car, produced by the German automaker BMW ? Replacing the BMW E3 large sedan, the E23 was produced for ten years from 1977 to 1987 and was replaced by the BMW E32 7 Series in 1986.

In the US, 1984 saw the arrival of larger Michelin TRX radials with special wheels (later standard on all 735i/L7 models).

Joël Lantz

The PGO roadsters

Looks like vintage car, but mayble theirs cars don’t enough history ? PGO is generally regarded as being for enthusiasts looking for individuality and style. The company began by making replicas but soon moved onto producing their own design.

The whole car has been well engineered. I prefer the Cevennes model, his retro styling is a bit better than the Speedster II. The price (39 900 euros) is comparable to some german competitors.

Joël Lantz

Porsche 356. The first !

2-door sport car : Lightweight and a rear-engine. They started in 1948 at Gmünd, Austria with 50 cars. In 1950 the factory relocated to Zuffenhausen, Germany. A very rare car undoubtedly. From 1955 up to 1964 Porsche produced not more than 165 units of the 356 Carrera Cabriolet. The 356 Carrera Cabriolet was a special niche car, racers used Coupe).

Joël Lantz

Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder the “Grandmother”

Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder

Most of you could think that sports car manufacturers, in order to gain a reputation of quality, performance and reliability, engage racing teams in competition. Even if it’s most of the time the case, there are some exceptions, like for Porsche. The Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder was one of the first updates of the first Porsche sport cars dedicated for race tracks.

The Porsche 550 Spyder called the “Giant-Killer”. Why “Giant-Killer”? Because of its power, with its 110 PS! However, while the Porsche 550 Spyder won some races it was the “Grandmother”, the Porsche 718 W-RS, who did the company proud by winning so many races and competitions in just four years such as the 12 Hours of Sebring or the Targa Florio in 1961.One year later this model won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, French worldwide known endurance! According to this exceptionally long motorsport career from 1961 to 1964, the mecanics worldwide called this car the “Grandmother”. The development of this project car results to the introduction of the Porsche 911 few years later! Thank’s “Grand’mo”!

Old race picture

 

 

To give you few characteristics of this Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder we can say that its 8 cylinder Boxer engine developed 210 PS to reach the 280km/h

You can actually see one of the 4 Porsche 718 W-RS ever produced in Stuttgart at the Porsche Museum, a proof that this car is still very important for the Porsche History! It’s worth it!

Mael Trendel

NSU, the German manufacturer of cars!

Founded in 1873, NSU began as a knitting machine manufacturer in the town of Riedlingen (South Germany), and moved to Neckarsulm.
The NSU Prinz is a real opportunity for thus who which buy their first vintage car.

For thus who enjoy this car, we recommand their French Fan Club