5 Iconic Model Nameplates Porsche Should Consider Bringing Back

5. Porsche 912

Porsche might actually bring the 912 nameplate back and there are a few reasons why. The Porsche 992.2 ushered in an era of hybrid 911s, but it may not stop there. In a recent interview with theDRIVE, Porsche’s Chief Designer, Michael Mauer, expressed his desire for a smaller 911. There is no denying that the 992 has exponentially grown in size compared to its 991 predecessor, but on the other hand, drastically changing any aspect of the 911 could spell trouble for the iconic sports car with a rear engine.

In order to avoid diluting the 911 lineup, Porsche could create a smaller version of the 911, which would likely be electric, like the upcoming Porsche 718. It is only fitting to name such a car the 912, since the original, 1965 Porsche 912 was a more budget-friendly 911 with a four-cylinder engine.

4. Porsche 928

Back in 1977, Porsche brought out a very different sports car to its 911. After the Porsche 930 Turbo earned the grim nickname of "Widowmaker” for its violent driving characteristics, Porsche had considered going for a more conventional layout where the engine sat at the front. These efforts bore the Porsche 928, which despite popular belief was never meant to be a complete replacement for the 911.

The two cars were produced simultaneously for 18 years until 928 sales dropped to a point where Porsche had to cut its losses. Currently, Nardone is the only company that is working on reimagining the Porsche 928. There are plenty of Porsche enthusiasts who want something more usable than a 911, and if Porsche reinvents the 928 in its own way, many owners of the original 928 would be happy to start writing cheques.

3. Porsche 930

Despite earning a dark reputation, the original Porsche 911 Turbo remains one of the most iconic and significant variants of the rear-engine sports car. The Porsche 930 was always a part of the 911 G-body lineup, so it would be tricky for Porsche to bring it back as a stand-alone model. Porsche recently commemorated 50 years of the Turbo with a special-edition 992 Turbo, but the brand has a chance to do something even more epic with the 930 nameplate.

We know a more radical version of the 992.2 is coming out, which will, likely, be the GT2 RS model. Considering the original Turbo was rear-wheel-drive only, Porsche could take the GT2 RS, remove the track-optimized aero, and add a special appearance package that commemorates the "Widowmaker”. Should Porsche bring these iconic nameplates back?

2. Porsche 911 GT1

Technically, we got a new Porsche 911 GT1 in the form of an epic resto-mod done by Tuthill. It seems, Porsche has left the resurrection of iconic models to other companies, as the company focuses on electrifying its lineup, while finding new ways to keep the internal combustion engine around as seen by the latest patent for a Porsche six-stroke engine. The original Porsche 911 GT1 was meant purely for racing, but between 21 and 25 examples were made for homologation purposes.

Regardless, if Porsche brings back the 911 GT1 as a limited-production, mid-engine supercar that’s loosely based on the 911, people will buy it in an instant. A more powerful variant of the upcoming 992 GT2 engine, positioned behind the driver (possibly with hybrid assist) would make for the perfect powertrain for this new iteration of the only mid-engine Porsche 911 ever produced.

1. Porsche 917

Back in 2023 rumors of an upcoming Porsche hypercar started circulating. This, eventually, led to the Porsche Mission X, which aimed to be a successor to iconic Porsche supercars like the 959, Carrera GT, and 918 Spyder. We are yet to see a new production car of such magnitude from Porsche. That said, if we go back in time, Porsche developed another hypercar, for the sole purpose of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The 917 pushed the technological limits of its era, and its flat-12 engine produced anywhere from 551 to 1,580 horsepower in its later, turbocharged and twin-turbocharged variants. Depending on the spec of the car and the race class it competed in, the Porsche 917 weighed as little as 1,323 pounds. Even the heaviest 917 weighed 2,090 pounds. Making such a car, with a flat-12 engine no less, would require serious development, which is why it may be better if a modern-day Porsche 917 gets a hybrid powertrain similar to the 918 Spyder or the Porsche 919 LMP1-H race car. Seen above is a modern-day concept car of what a 917 could look like today.