911 (1989-2002)
Alex Sharp gives us a potted history of all those model codes
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However from the early 1980s and the introduction of the 3.2 Carrera model things started to get confusing. The reason for this is Porsche insisted on naming and badging every base model non Turbo 911, Carrera. Whereas previously Porsche had saved the Carrera name for use on only its highest performance normally aspirated models. When in 1989 an entirely new model 3.6 litre 911 was launched also simply badgd as a Carrera, followed in 1993 by another 3.6 litre 911 also known simply as Carrera, people began to use model codes to avoid the obvious mix up.
964
While other car manufacturers were introducing more modern sports cars, the 911 of the late 1980s was essentially merely a refinement of the original 1963 car and was starting to look and feel dated. Introduced in 1989 the 964 model 911 brought the 911 into the 1990s and was quite a radical car for Porsche, as despite still having the classic 911 shape, a mere 15% of parts were shared with the preceding 3.2 Carrera.
From the outside despite the strengthened and revised chassis, only the new wraparound bumpers, tail lights, wheels and the pop-up tail spoiler appeared new, however the main differences were under the skin. The 250bhp 3.6 litre engine was the largest capacity engine yet fitted to a 911, while ABS, four speed Tiptronic gearboxes and power steering were also 911 firsts. Another big change was the change from torsion bar suspension, which had been a 911 feature for 26 years, to conventional coil springs. However the biggest change involved the running gear, as for the first time a 911 was available with four wheel drive. Infact the four wheel drive Carrera 4 was initially the first 964 on sale, but the rear wheel drive Carrera 2 followed in 1990.
Also in 1990 Targa and Cabriolet body styles were available in both Carrera 2 and 4 forms. From 1991 the ‘Turbo look’ wide body style was available on the Carrera 2 & 4 for both Cabriolet & coupe, while in the same year the first production RS model available since the 1970s joined the line up. With 260bhp and considerably lighter and stiffer than the regular Carrera models it appealed to the enthusiast and was available in Sport, Touring and Clubsport forms. 1993 saw the introduction of the Speedster model along with a limited edition wide body style Carrera 4 Celebration, which celebrated 30 years of 911 production.
965/Turbo 2
The 911 Turbo also found a new home in the 964 model and is often known by its model number 965 and also as the Turbo 2 model. Unlike the Carrera models however the Turbo cars were only available in two wheel drive and two different engine sizes were available during its production run.
The 1991/92 Turbos used broadly the same 3.3 litre Turbocharged engine as on the previous model, although minor changes gave a useful power boost to 320bhp. In 1993 a 3.6 litre engine replaced the 3.3 and the power rose to 360bhp. The rarest and most powerful 965 Turbo, the racetrack ready 380bhp Turbo S of 1992 was based on the 3.3 engine and only produced in very limited numbers
964 production officially ended in late 1993 but production continued until 1994 for the US market
993
A further evolution of the 964, the 993 introduced in late 1993 finally took the first step away from the classic 911 shape and the design shared certain design cues of the 959. Although instantly identifiable as a 911 the only body panel shared with the earlier car is the roof. Changes under the skin mainly were concerned with more power and better handling, with 272bhp from a re-worked 3.6 litre engine coupled to a new six speed manual gearbox or four speed Tiptronic unit. While a different rear suspension package featuring an aluminium double wishbone arrangement vastly improved the handling.
Initially in 1993 only the Carrera 2 model was available but in 1994 the Cabriolet joined the line up. The Carrera 4 was also introduced this time featuring a four wheel drive system that was over 50% lighter than the system fitted to the 964.
1995 was a busy year for new 993s with five new models introduced, arguably the most significant being the Turbo. After a two year wait enthusiasts welcomed the new model which now had twin turbo chargers, four wheel drive and 408bhp. An RS model also appeared, this time with a 300bhp 3.8 litre engine. The Carrera 4S appeared featuring the Turbo wide body style, running gear and brakes but was equipped with the standard Carrera engine. A Targa model also appeared this time featuring a totally new style of sliding glass roof. The road version of the race GT2 appeared in very limited numbers, featuring a 430bhp version of the Turbo’s engine, two wheel drive and very little in the way of creature comforts, it remains the most extreme production 911 sold to date.
1996 saw the power of the Carrera engine uprated to 285bhp with the addition of larger valves and the ‘Varioram’ inlet system. Also the wide-bodied Carrera 2S appeared.
The 993 was replaced by the 996 model in late 1997 although demand for the Turbo and the Carrera 4 saw production continue until mid 1998. The final incarnation of the 993 in its most potent form also appeared in 1998 with the launch in very limited numbers of the Turbo S. Based on the standard Turbo but modified to produce up to 450bhp the Turbo S closed the book on air cooled 911s in style.
996
The 993 had been the last air cooled 911 but noise and emissions legislation world-wide had forced Porsche to re-think its engine designs and the 996 was the first production water cooled 911. The all new design shared many components and indeed basically the entire front end and dashboard with the Boxster that was launched the previous year and practically nothing with the previous generation of air cooled 911s. The engine although of a new design and now water cooled, was still in the familiar flat six layout. The new engine was a 300bhp 3.4 litre unit coupled to a six speed manual gearbox or five speed Tiptronic item.
Initially in 1998 only the Carrera 2 version was available, followed shortly by the Cabriolet model, with the Carrera 4 joining the range from the end of the year.
In 1999 the GT3 appeared, with just over 1,800 cars sold in 1999 & 2000 it was designed as the sporting & track day drivers choice. The (non turbo charged) 360bhp 3.6 litre engine was not the same at the regular Carrera but derived from the Le Mans GT1 while the gear box was sourced from the GT2 race car.
2000 saw the introduction of the Turbo model, this model like the preceding 993 Turbo was equipped with twin turbos, four wheel drive and even more power. The 3.6 litre 420bhp powerplant was also GT1 derived.
In 2001 fans of very rapid 911s welcomed the introduction of the GT2. With the 3.6 litre engine from the Turbo uprated to produce 462bhp and available only in two wheel drive without the option of traction or stability control.
In 2002 the 996 got its first major update. The new front end at last was different to the Boxster and included Turbo style headlights, while the rest of the body also received some subtle aerodynamic modifications. The interior also received updates including revised dashboard and importantly (for the USA market anyway) a pair of cup holders! The engine increased in capacity to 3.6 litres and the power rose to 320bhp.
The Targa also arrived in 2002 featuring all the ‘02 updates and a Targa roof very similar to the 993s item. However one big difference is that the design features a 911 first, in the shape of a hinged glass tailgate. In effect this makes the Targa the first ever 911 hatchback! The Targa was joined in 2002 by the Carrera 4S, which like its 993 predecessor joined the running gear and bodywork of the Turbo, to the engine of the regular Carrera model.
So there in a large nutshell is what all those numbers mean. Porsche are still at it, so keep reading to stay up to date!
perhaps you should bring along a cheeky bottle of something vintage & bubbly from the cellar of chez derestrictor to wash it down 
I have a 1991 964 cab tip and have logged up 162,000
miles not bad for old 911 banger whilst the service costs are high its never let down in the nine yaers ive had it.any of you guys going to le mans if so see you there im taking my 911 baby if you see a blue carrera 2 blue cab C2 WFS bib your horn have a good time.
regards
peter
Please feel free to call me a sad, anorak wearing w**ker, but the turbo S was not the most powerful, or rarest turbo II, output was also 381bhp. The turbo S was quicker because of it's weight though.
The rarest and most powerful car (apart from race specials) was the turbo II 3.6 S which sported 385 bhp out of the factory and was produced in very small numbers.
The widebody/turbo look was not available until 1993
The 30th Anniversary Widebody was introduced in 1993 and 150 were made in a special blue and have 911 in italics on the rear hood instead of the normal carrera badge. It was a C4 under the skin.
The Widebody was introduced in late 1993 as a 1994 model to boost U.S. sales before the introduction of the 993. This was similar to the 30th anniversay although unlike the anniversay model it does not have the Turbo brakes. The widebodies were never offered in either a targa or cabriolet.
The widebodied 964 is one of the most beatiful cars ever built, retaining the lines of the original 911, but with a little more muscle in the fenders.
perly1977 said:
The 30th Anniversary Widebody was introduced in 1993 and 150 were made in a special blue and have 911 in italics on the rear hood instead of the normal carrera badge. It was a C4 under the skin.
Sorry but that's wrong.
The 911 (964) Anniversary was a widebody 964 C4, yes, but they made nine hundred and eleven of them, each and every one of them has a numbered plaque to tell you which it is (1 of 911, 2 of 911, etc.)
As well as having the italicised 911 script on the back, the vast majority were painted Viola metallic (a dark purple colour) with matching interior, though they were also available in other colours (including silver and black).
That was to celebrate 30 years of the 911.
When the 911 turned forty, they made the 996 Anniversary which was painted GT silver and came with polished Carrera '02 wheels. They made one thousand nine hundred and sixty three of them (1963) for obvious reasons...
They knew they could sell more of them...
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