Naming of 911

[LamedonM]

New to Porsche but a lifelong BMW fanboy. I am taking interest in Porsche sport cars. I can understand the numbering system for Cayman/Boxter series clearly denoting different eras of the car I.e. 987 2004-2012), 981 (2012-2016), 718 (from 2017).

However for 911, it just seems there is no system: 992, 996 etc. However, there must be a system I believe. Searching online did not improve my knowledge. Is there a system in place?

[whj]

Wikipedia

[LamedonM]

whj said:

Wikipedia

How come I never checked Wikipedia

This

911 (1964–1975)
930 (1975–1989) a turbocharged version and the 2nd generation of the original 911.
964 (1989–1994)
993 (1995–1998) the last air-cooled 911
996 (1999–2004) all-new body and water-cooled engines
997 (2005–2012)
991 (2012–2019) all-new body
992 (2019–)

[anonymous-user]

And there's more,

"By the early 1960s, Porsche project design numbers had reached into the 800s. For instance, Porsche's 1962 F1 model was called Porsche 804. At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, Porsche presented its successor to the Porsche 356 as the 901. Then 82 cars were built and the 901 was shown at the 1964 Paris Auto Salon. There, French car maker Peugeot objected to Porsche using any three digit number where the middle number was 0, asserting ownership of the naming rights in key markets, and having already sold many models with that scheme.

"Porsche simply replaced the middle 0 with a 1, and called the car Porsche 911. Officially the 901s already constructed were used for testing and for exhibitions, and Porsche sold none to private customers. Nevertheless, several of the cars retained by Porsche at that time appear to have made it to private ownership. In 1988 number 20 was discovered and completely restored. Then in 2010 it was reported that car number 37 was owned by Porsche specialist Alois Ruf." - Wikipedia

One of Lotus' engines for the Esprit was its 911 engine (a development of the original 907) but nobody seems to have got upset about that!

[LamedonM]

So which project design number is most reliable so far. Thinking (not yet ready and may take another 2 years) of GTS of either Cayman or 911

Thanks

[supersport]

LamedonM said:

How come I never checked Wikipedia

This

911 (1964–1975)
930 (1975–1989) a turbocharged version and the 2nd generation of the original 911.
964 (1989–1994)
993 (1995–1998) the last air-cooled 911
996 (1999–2004) all-new body and water-cooled engines
997 (2005–2012)
991 (2012–2019) all-new body
992 (2019–)

The 930 is only the turbo.

There were many models between 64 and 89 some known by there engine size e.g 3.0 or 3.2 others had names like SC.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

supersport said:

LamedonM said:

How come I never checked Wikipedia

This

911 (1964–1975)
930 (1975–1989) a turbocharged version and the 2nd generation of the original 911.
964 (1989–1994)
993 (1995–1998) the last air-cooled 911
996 (1999–2004) all-new body and water-cooled engines
997 (2005–2012)
991 (2012–2019) all-new body
992 (2019–)

The 930 is only the turbo.

There were many models between 64 and 89 some known by there engine size e.g 3.0 or 3.2 others had names like SC.

I still use (rightly or wrongly) "G-Series" to cover everything N/A with impact bumpers-'74 to '88 basically. The of course you have the differing gearboxes

[Chemical Ali]

LamedonM said:

So which project design number is most reliable so far. Thinking (not yet ready and may take another 2 years) of GTS of either Cayman or 911

Thanks

Whats your budget and what are you driving now?

[LamedonM]

Budget = 40,000.00
What I drive now are in my profile: BMW M6 GCComp, m240i and peugeot 208gti bps. The Porsche would probably replace the m240i

[Scrump]

In case you hadn’t noticed there is a link between the naming of some later 911 and the same era boxsters:
986/996
987/997
981/991

[Grantstown]

Scrump said:

In case you hadn’t noticed there is a link between the naming of some later 911 and the same era boxsters:
986/996
987/997
981/991

Good point. It’d be 982/992 were it not for the need to justify the use of a 4 cylinder engine. Luckily Porsche could hark back to some historical flat 4 racing success with the original 718.

[Monch]

it is 982/992

718 is the model name, 982 is the internal name

[Grantstown]

Monch said:

it is 982/992

718 is the model name, 982 is the internal name

Every days a School day I see!

[Cheib]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

supersport said:

LamedonM said:

How come I never checked Wikipedia

This

911 (1964–1975)
930 (1975–1989) a turbocharged version and the 2nd generation of the original 911.
964 (1989–1994)
993 (1995–1998) the last air-cooled 911
996 (1999–2004) all-new body and water-cooled engines
997 (2005–2012)
991 (2012–2019) all-new body
992 (2019–)

The 930 is only the turbo.

There were many models between 64 and 89 some known by there engine size e.g 3.0 or 3.2 others had names like SC.

I still use (rightly or wrongly) "G-Series" to cover everything N/A with impact bumpers-'74 to '88 basically. The of course you have the differing gearboxes

Then you have 64 production is the 901 and isn’t a 911, followed by the 911 in ‘65 (known as SWB), then you have the LWB cars from ‘69 to ‘73 also known as Longhood cars.

It’s the 356 that gets really confusing....

[JohnnyUK]

LamedonM said:

How come I never checked Wikipedia

This

911 (1964–1975)
930 (1975–1989) a turbocharged version and the 2nd generation of the original 911.
964 (1989–1994)
993 (1995–1998) the last air-cooled 911
996 (1999–2004) all-new body and water-cooled engines
997 (2005–2012)
991 (2012–2019) all-new body
992 (2019–)

And the 991 is split into 991.1 and 991.2

[BorkBorkBork]

JohnnyUK said:

LamedonM said:

How come I never checked Wikipedia

This

911 (1964–1975)
930 (1975–1989) a turbocharged version and the 2nd generation of the original 911.
964 (1989–1994)
993 (1995–1998) the last air-cooled 911
996 (1999–2004) all-new body and water-cooled engines
997 (2005–2012)
991 (2012–2019) all-new body
992 (2019–)

And the 991 is split into 991.1 and 991.2

That applies to the 996 and 997 too.

[Midasman17]

Mine is called Roger

[David W.]

I’m waiting for the 992.2 replacement .....
Still doubt I’ll be able to afford one!

[F6C]

Monch said:

it is 982/992

718 is the model name, 982 is the internal name

Except, really, the 982 is the 981.2. It's not linked to the 992, but to the 991.2.

986/996, 987/997 and 981/991 are each case mid and rear engine variants on a shared platform. Regarding the 992, there is no Boxster / Cayman on that platform. The 718-982 is on the 981/991 platform.