This is the one I wish I could have kept. The left hand drive Porsche 964 Anniversary in beautiful Viola. With the California turbocharger engineered by Ninemeister. Yes, that's right. A turbocharged 964 Anniversary. And a bit of a mean one too. Sadly, back then I was working as a car dealer. And it was a car. So it was for sale and indeed sold, like all the other interesting cars I have been fortunate enough to be trusted with the keys to through that period. However I have the happiest of … [Read more...] about Porsche 964 Anniversary – With added turbo
#Porsche
The Porsche 911 is a truly remarkable car. Despite the factory’s own attempts to kill the 911 at one point, it has survived and evolved in a truly Darwin-like way.
Not everyone loves the Porsche 911. But if you do, you will be forever a loyal supporter.
I've written about the fascinating development and evolution of the Porsche 911 for various Porsche titles over the years. Here you will find a collection of my thoughts, some of the features and also my views on the phenomenon of the collectable Porsche marketplace.
The state of the collectable Porsche marketplace in 2020
Back in 2011 I wrote a blog post about the Porsche 996 Turbo, how I thought it was undervalued at the time and also how I figured that it would never really be collectable. A lot has changed in the Porsche 911 marketplace since then and indeed that article has been updated twice now. It has attracted much interest, so in response to various direct contacts and comments on that blog post, I've been asked for my views in the current state of the Porsche 911 marketplace. This could get messy, so … [Read more...] about The state of the collectable Porsche marketplace in 2020
Air Cooled 911 On Track – To Drive Every Day
This pretty Stone Grey air cooled Porsche 911 belongs to Steve Schofield. Having owned twelve Porsches across the years, the car is the result of a casual chat with his favourite technicians. The result is his perfectly driveable air cooled Porsche 911, build for the track but useable on the road. Every day. Steve dropped into a conversation about how he fancied something lightweight for track days, with the Lotus Elise on his mind. "They soon talked me out of that and pointed me towards a … [Read more...] about Air Cooled 911 On Track – To Drive Every Day
UPDATED – The Porsche 996 Turbo – Why They’re Good Value and Why They’ll Never Be Truly Collectable
In Porsche collecting circles, right now even a few months seems like an eternity. I originally wrote this article in 2011. In March 2016, I updated it to reflect the changes in attitudes towards the Porsche 996 Turbo. Buyers had realised that the engine was indeed pretty bulletproof and the cars were rising. I wrote with confidence, as you will see, that I thought the 996 Turbo was too numerous to become collectable...... Today, we're seeing Porsche 996 Turbo for sale that were previously … [Read more...] about UPDATED – The Porsche 996 Turbo – Why They’re Good Value and Why They’ll Never Be Truly Collectable
Behind The Scenes . -Twin Porsche Turbo Magazine Feature Production
This recent cover story for Total 911 started out as a straight forward report on the latest Porsche 991 Turbo S Exclusive Edition. The initial plan was to drive the car and report on it, probably somewhere in the North Wales area. Then we found out that a classic 930 Turbo 3.0 in the period gold shade was also potentially available. That’s when it got really interesting. Editor Lee’s brief expanded from simply featuring the 991 Turbo S Exclusive when we discovered that the 930 Turbo was … [Read more...] about Behind The Scenes . -Twin Porsche Turbo Magazine Feature Production
Driving Tips – Why Learning to Drive a Porsche 911 Takes a Little Time
Some people look at me in a very strange manner when the subject of Porsche 911 driving techniques are mentioned. There’s actually a very large slice of people out there who just don’t ‘get it’. I know good drivers, experienced people, who’ve driven Porsche 911′s and simply don’t like them, cannot see what all the fuss is about. “Engine’s in the wrong bloody place, I prefer my Ferrari any day…” I sympathise and try and explain, reminded of my own first Porsche 911 experience. Then right after … [Read more...] about Driving Tips – Why Learning to Drive a Porsche 911 Takes a Little Time
Top Five Lightweight Porsches and the GT3 RS that is ‘Almost’ Lightweight
This great YouTube video is one of a series of Top Fives from Porsche. Anyone with even a passing interest in Porsche will be aware that Rennsport Porsches are minimalist and light weight. The 2.7RS is considered the Holy Grail of collectable, lightweight Porsches. However this video highlights the fact that there are at least four other Porsches that are significantly lighter in weight. The cars are, of course all historic racing Porsches with the emphasis on hillcliming. So what better place … [Read more...] about Top Five Lightweight Porsches and the GT3 RS that is ‘Almost’ Lightweight
Will The Porsche Cayman R Ever Be a Collectable Porsche?
A random thought occurred to me this week. Coming across a Porsche Cayman R in a car park, the subtle differences in stance of the R was more apparent than normal. As parked a short distance away, there was a plain, vanilla flavoured 2.7. The lower ride height, the fixed blade type rear spoiler and the carbon ceramic brakes in this example were more apparent than normal. So my thought was. "Will the Cayman R ever become a collectable Porsche?" The Cayman was, of course, a great seller for … [Read more...] about Will The Porsche Cayman R Ever Be a Collectable Porsche?
Three Porsche Drive Videos non-Porsche Owners Must Watch
If you are one of those drivers who doesn’t really ‘get’ the whole Porsche thing, then you must watch these three videos. People who are addicted to the Porsche 911 feel will know exactly what Richard Meaden is talking about. For those who are unconverted, we've written elsewhere about how it takes time to get to know a Porsche 911, so perhaps you simply haven’t spent enough time behind the wheel of them. There’s no doubt that Porsche 911’s aren’t for everyone. And I wouldn’t like it if they … [Read more...] about Three Porsche Drive Videos non-Porsche Owners Must Watch
For The Love of Analogue
Air cooled Porsches, black and white analogue photography and a Leica rangefinder. What’s not to like? Bart Kuykens’ project A Flat Six Love Affair is quite probably heaven on so many levels. Watching him in the film opening another roll of Kodak 35mm brings back many happy memories for me. Memories of a time when photography wasn’t quite as urgent, as instant as it has to be today. When photo shoots were more leisurely affairs, the moments of changing over film rolls were punctuation marks to … [Read more...] about For The Love of Analogue
Three Porsche Features, three utterly different 911 genres, one Porsche magazine
“How can you find so much to say about just one car?” It’s a question I’m frequently asked with regard to the Porsche 911, generally by people who are perhaps not the most diehard of Porsche enthusiasts. It is indeed a reasonable question to ask as, to the casual observer, Porsche 911s are all the same. Rather Germanic, still with the engine in the wrong place and for those with a love of curvaceous Italian cars, not particularly attractive with engines that have a gruff exhaust note and none … [Read more...] about Three Porsche Features, three utterly different 911 genres, one Porsche magazine
The New Porsche 911R – There’s Life in The Heel Toe Gearshift Yet.
Just when I thought that the 997 GT3 4.0RS was quite probably the last definitive, cerebral Porsche 911, Andreas Peuninger’s team introduce the 911R. In an interview with Evo’s Henry Catchpole, Andreas sets the record straight on his ethos as design head. His passion for driving is clearly evident as he talks about the process that went into developing the 911R. Throughout the chat, he talks far more about the engineering that goes into the feel and pleasure of driving the 911R that the bare … [Read more...] about The New Porsche 911R – There’s Life in The Heel Toe Gearshift Yet.
Porsche Cayman GT4 Road Trip
We know several Porsche Cayman GT4 owners. Without exception,, they are of the traditional Porsche owning breed. While they have an eye for investment and they care for their cars, they are first and foremost drivers, not polishers. Their GT4’s will be for driving, not posing. We talk to driver coach Mike Marot about his yellow Cayman GT4 and why he decided a Spanish road trip was a good way to run it in. This is the first on a series of Cayman GT4 opinions from people who’ve bought the car to … [Read more...] about Porsche Cayman GT4 Road Trip
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
It can sometimes be difficult creating fresh locations when writing about and photographing cars, especially the more collectable ones. Unlike Press Cars, who’s objective in life is ideally to be driven far and wide, written about and photographed as often as possible, all too frequently, owners of the rarer, collectable cars don’t want to travel too far away for photography. And that's perfectly understandable. As while they’re eager to have you drive the car to convey an accurate impression … [Read more...] about I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Brumos Porsche B59 – The Full Story of the Exclusive Porsche 911
Brumos have been in the Porsche business since 1959, both as certified dealers and one time South Eastern USA Porsche distributor in Jacksonville, Florida and also in motorsport as Brumos Racing. Their heritage is almost as impressive as the factory itself and the Brumos Porsche YouTube channel is a great one to subscribe to. Their recent ‘catch up’ video by filmmaker Frazer Spowart shows what has happened to the five Porsche B59 GTS cars from 2011. But Google the term and you don’t get much … [Read more...] about Brumos Porsche B59 – The Full Story of the Exclusive Porsche 911
Racing in The Street
It's been a while. A while since I drove an early, well sorted, lightweight 911. I seem to have spent to much of my time recently in 996 and 997 Turbos. Brutal power of course, with the thrill of the on-boost whoosh throwing you at the horizon as if you'd just left the deck of an aircraft carrier. You learn to drive them not on throttle response, but on boost sensitivity, feeling for the onset of the boost building and driving accordingly. Sometimes even as your foot is lifting the boost is … [Read more...] about Racing in The Street