By Robert Emslie
Porsche’s 911 is one of history’s longest-running nameplates. This year happens to be the 50th anniversary of the marque, an amazing achievement considering all the pretenders to its throne that have come and gone while the 911 soldiered on.
Maybe its longevity is attributable to the car’s soul remaining intact while its corporeal form has taken on new – and ever more grandiose – iterations. Here’s a somewhat shocking comparison of the ass of the first-gen, against that of one of the latest cars. Is the family resemblance still apparent?
Image: [Imgur]
Jeff Glucker
This picture is depressing.
How about this?
<img src="http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b571/VTFestLLC/TheTimesTheyAreAChanging720.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
Thank you.
I don't give the Major Award often. That, my friend, deserved the Major Award.
<img src="http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv182/threespringsfruitfarm/MajorAward_BlueBackground.jpg" width="200/">
Aw, thanks man!
<img src="http://gs1.wac.edgecastcdn.net/8019B6/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lial1smy021qzud8eo1_1280.jpg" width="600">
and of course,
[youtube subj4WLPWYc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=subj4WLPWYc youtube]
I <3 transitive pictorgaph verbalizations!
Porsche: The Elizabeth Taylor of cars.
Looks like the cabin's still the same size, the hips just got wider…
Just like a typical American
All of a sudden, Twiggy is hotter than ever. OTOH, Kim Kardashian is still an overhyped hosebag.
Another observation… speed limits are about the same now as they were then.
IIRC Twiggy had a gold 2000GT. Might have had a 911 too, but she definitely had a 2000GT. Also i had too google hosebag.
I don't know Webster's definition. I just assumed it was a bag with a lot of hoses in it.
Wiktinoary tells me it's a "hoser", I assume it means a person is fond of hosing. Must be really into gardening.
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-slkoRr3az0o/Tvgn8WUkpCI/AAAAAAAAQKE/j9jfdv1JvpE/s400/Bob_Doug_Mackenzie.jpg" /img>
I must have missed the episode where they throw out tips on nurturing your hydrangea bushes.
Bob: Try not to wizz on 'em, eh?
Doug: Yeah, that's not good for 'em.
(I don't know which one's which. Also that St. Lawrence is terrible prop guy 30 years ago.)
So's the Hudson's Bay, and basically all of the Maritimes. Guess the prop guy had to Take Off, eh?
Yeah, the family resemblance is there. One is lithe and beautiful, seems simple on the surface but frightfully complex to handle and will stab you in the back in an instant. The other, over the top voluptuous, dreadfully complex when she goes to the doctor but much easier to get along with every day.
I married the former. So glad I did…
I'm not seeing a problem here.
<img src="http://blog.al.com/engine-block/2008/05/old_new_chlgrs.jpg" width="500"/>
Somehow I was excited about the new Challenger but a new 911… meh. This was about the same time Dodge was re-launched in Europe. My first thought was "Awesome!", then i experienced the actual models like the Caliber and thought "What the fuck is this shit?". Then Dodge and Chrysler were discontinued, then sold as Lancias, and discontinued again.
If you loved her when she was 17, you love her when she's 50.
Too much cushion is also bad.
Edit: that works too. +1 for the edit
If the new one was 7/8ths the size and had a proper coke-bottle waist, I'd have to buy one.
I'd have to win the lotto to buy one here..
I actually like the size of the new one… but, my other 2-door car is a '96 Thunderbird.
To me, there's still a growth problem. The new Challengers are too tall. Not just right height, but from the hood, window sill or trunk lid to the ground are all too far for me.
Great car to cruise in, though.
This just makes me realize how incredibly beautiful the '70 Challenger really was. Way too much junk in the '08 trunk, and where's the tumblehome? I want my tumblehome back.
Sigh.
In fairness, the greenhouse hasn't really changed a lot. It's just that Porsche keeps widening the rear track and that's really jacked up the proportions. You could almost fit the old car between the wheels of the new one.
The 993 was the last one I loved, but I've really warmed to the 997. The 991? Hate it. Owning an air cooled Porsche is on my bucket list, though.
Alright, we get it. Middle aged spread isn't attractive on anyone. Not even if she's stopped trying to kill you every time your attention wanders.
But aren't you confusing things a bit? The 911 'nameplate' has aged, but this model of it has almost no direct relation to it at this point. Seriously, is there even a single common part number between them? Also, Porsche AG is a good deal older than 1963 – and that would be the 'marque'.
So, in 50 years, the 911 has gained about 800lbs. But it's also twice as quick to 60mph, and more fuel efficient (to say nothing of safer and better equipped). Granted, it'd supposedly cost about 45 grand adjusted for inflation. Still, that's not too bad, especially comparing the bloat of the new and old Beetles (1600lbs up to 3100lbs).
What else can we do this with?
(I'm too lazy to GIS for actual results)
Corvette
Mustang
Jeep (assuming we can go CJ5–>Wrangler)
…and trucks.
All are more capable, efficient, safer faster and bigger than before.
Not to mention uglier…
The Corvette is one of those rare cases where it hasn't really gotten any bigger – a basic C6 is about two inches wider and and has two inches less length than a '62, and only ~150lbs heavier (it's up about 300 over a '53, but I suspect no one's too disappointed about that).
I am.
If I'm honest, I'd love to see an Atlas I6-powered Corvette, even if it'd likely be no lighter than a regular V8-powered car.
I'd be overjoyed to see someone open the hood on a new Corvette to show off the Blue Flame Six they installed, but perhaps that's just me. Bonus points for dropping in a Powerglide, too.
Slightly on topic: For a very few, legendary cars, every time a new model is released, enthusiasts say "I hope they haven't ruined it." Mainly the 911, Miata, Elise, and to a lesser extent the Seven and M3.
Yep. Golf GTi lives in this category. Got increasingly worse over the years, then came good in 2005. Currently pretty good, though inevitably absolutely enormous.
I can't wait for the next generation Miata – they're working to make it *lighter* ?!?! WOOO
And the Trabant. Don't forget the Trabant!
What's a "Jalopnik"?
Dead and
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6480445331_c355056987.jpg">
..sorry, couldn't find one that said "Gone", but to be honest, didn't look that hard.
I prefer the one on the left, but I'd be quite content with the one on the right as well.
A rear pic of a 911 is like a pic of a woman in a miniskirt.
Skinny or full figured… you have to enjoy the view.
I usually like to check out the headlights, too.
I was over at a porsche dealer today and noticed that the new boxster is bigger than a customer's 994 that was sitting near it.
May be the new one is just a little more…..Fit.
<img src="http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp308/rexjenney/P4233900.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo P4233900.jpg"/>
Just from looking at the picture, over the last fifty years all they've done is make it faster, give it more exhausts and fatter tires.
Pretty much everything a teenager does with their first car. Good Job Porsche in preserving your/our youth!
Now where's the bass bins?
I'm pretty sure you'll find that they upgraded the stereo too…