Happy birthday Porsche! The 10 most iconic models in 75 years of history

On June 8, 1948, the No. 1 Roadster was presented, the first car with the brand Porsche. In 75 years of history, the House has constantly evolved by churning out new icons and redefining the standards of sports cars or opening new segments.

In addition to the iconic 911, in fact, it is right to mention models such as the 959 or the Cayenne, which have contributed to broadening the horizons of the brand, increasing its exclusivity and refinement. So here are 10 of the most iconic (and important) Porsches ever.

Porsche 356 no. 1 (1948)

Let’s start right from No.1, the model that inaugurated the brand’s modern history. Born from the bodywork of the Volkswagen Beetle, the 356 was built in both roadster and coupe versions. The success was resounding, with over 75,000 units delivered worldwide until 1965, the year of his retirement.

Porsche 550 Spyder

Derived from the 356, the 550 Spyder it has been modified both in mechanics and in aerodynamics to transform itself into a pure racing car. Made in 90 examples between 1953 and 1957, it weighs just over 550 kg and boasts numerous successful participations in regularity races, including the 1956 Targa Florio.

However, bad memories are also associated with the 550 Spyder: James Dean he lost his life in a road accident while driving one of these Porsches.

Porsche 911 (since 1963)

The Porsche 911 generations

Counting the generations of 911s that have left the German plants has now been lost. The dynasty of this legendary acronym began in 1963 at the Frankfurt Motor Show with the 901 series and has come down to the present day, retaining the iconic lines and a unique driving experience in the panorama of sports cars of every era.

Porsche 917 (1969)

Created by Ferdinand Piech with the aim of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 917 has become a legend also thanks to the film starring Steve McQueen dedicated precisely to the most famous endurance race in the world.

The 917 dominated championships in the late 60s and early 70s and is still one of the most coveted cars by collectors, with quotations monstre that are close to 15-20 million euros.

Porsche 924 (1975)

Launched in the mid-70s to flesh out the range with a more accessible model to many enthusiasts, the 924 it has been seen for a long time as Porsche’s ugly duckling due to its not very “sexy” shapes and inferior performance to the 911.

And yet, this sports car – initially equipped with a four-cylinder engine from Volkswagen and Audi – was of considerable importance in terms of sales, with over 150,000 units produced between 1975 and 1988.

Porsche 928 (1977)

Initially designed to replace the 911, the 928 failed to match the success of this model despite being rewarded by critics becoming “Car of the Year” in 1978.

In any case, the numbers of the 928 are not bad, with a 4.5 V8 235 HP which was soon joined by more powerful 295 and 320 HP versions. Over the years, Porsche is constantly being developed until 1995. In total, over 61,000 have been sold.

Porsche 956/962 (1982-1991)

Few other cars have dominated endurance championships like the Porsche 956 and its heir, the 962. The 956 managed to conquer all the titles in the world sports prototype championship between 1982 and 1984, excelling in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ standings.

The 962, on the other hand, counts 54 overall victories and is the first Porsche ever to mount the PDK dual clutch gearboxnow inevitable on most of the production models of the House of Zuffenhausen.

Porsche 959 (1987)

The 959 was one of the first hypercar of history both in terms of performance and exclusivity.

Just 292 examples of the natural rival of the then Ferrari F40 were produced, all equipped with a very powerful 450 HP 2.85-litre boxer engine capable of propelling the Porsche from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds and to push it to a top speed of 317 km/h.

Porsche Boxster (since 1996)

The Boxster was a lifesaver for Porsche’s finances in the 1990s. In an increasingly competitive market, this new model built with numerous components derived from the 911 (but with less performing engines) allowed the House to attract new customers.

Initially sold at list prices around 39,000 euros, over time the Boxster has become increasingly important for the brand. Still, the 718 (the acronym that has included the Boxster and Cayman bodies for some years) is the brand’s second best-selling sports car.

Porsche Cayenne (dal 2002)

A five-door, stand-up Porsche? If at first the Cayenne seemed like a slap in the face to purists of the brand, it has actually turned out to be a great commercial success, with over one million units sold to date.

And the story will continue in the coming years, with a restyling just presented and an electric version already planned for the near future.