Porsche 911 930

Porsche makes some of the best sports cars in the world. Over the years, the brand has given us some capable machines, many of which are also suitable for daily use on public roads. That said, throughout Porsche’s history, many models have required drivers to be at the top of their game. Getting even near the car’s full potential demands the absolute best of the driver. While you might be quick to think of the original Porsche 911 Turbo (930), it is by far, not the only Porsche sports car to ask a lot from its drivers. Below, I have listed Porsche models, some more known than others, which wouldn’t hesitate to hurt you if you are not awake behind the wheel. There are classic race cars, supercars, and a few 911s, some of which are more recent. Without further ado, here are the seven most dangerous Porsche models that can be labeled as Widowmakers.

The 1980s was a truly crazy time. On the one hand, we’d just experienced the oil crisis, which had led to some horrendous cars and ruined previously great ones. On the other – it was a time of innovation, futuristic styling, and some very radical design decisions. Pronounced fender flares, side gills, and pop-up headlights were the norm in those crazy days. When it comes to the Porsche 911, one design stands out as the definitive 1980s styling element – the Flachbau which translates to Slant Nose or flat nose in German.

Porsche as a brand has existed since April 1931. After a successful stint with Daimler and the consulting business that included the design and engineering of models like the VW Beetle and the 16-cylinder Auto Union Type 52, things finally started to fall into place, with Ferdinand Porsche’s dream of making the perfect sports car which came out in 1939. That said, the first mass-produced Porsche performance car – the 356 – did not arrive until well after WWII ended, debuting in 1948. Since then, the German marque has developed a stalwart image as one of the most prominent performance car manufacturers in the world. With a history spanning 93 years and counting, there are many iconic models, many of which were significant to Porsche’s development as a brand. Given Porsche’s storied history and rich motorsport heritage, the list of truly noteworthy Porsche models is impressively long. However, I managed to narrow it down to seven Porsche models, with each one being historically significant through the decades, and paving the way for future Porsches.

Although Porsche has given us a staggering number of all-time great sports cars going back several decades, the German automaker has diversified its lineup over the past 20 years, by adding SUVs and sedans to its model lineup. This leaves the 911 and 718 as the only two Porsche sports car offerings, presenting Porsche with the opportunity to bring back iconic nameplates from its glorious past.

Not a lot of automakers have as many iconic engines as Porsche does. The German company is responsible for one of the most iconic sports cars ever made – the 911. The boxer engine is a staple across several Porsche models, but this is far from the only engine configuration Porsche knows. What makes an engine iconic? Is it the sheer power or is it the groundbreaking engineering? Perhaps the reliability or soundtrack? As it turns out, it is all of the above, and Porsche has more than a few engines that fit the bill.

The Porsche 911 is one of the most iconic sports cars in the world. The first-ever Porsche 911 was launched in September 1963. It was originally known as the Porsche 901, but the name was changed to 911 after the French government objected to the use of the number "0". The 911 has undergone many changes over the years. In this article, we’ve listed out the launch month and year for every generation of the Porsche 911, including air-cooled and water-cooled models with .1 and .2 models.

Something special caught my eye as I was browsing Bring-A-Trailer the other day, a special 911 Speedster with an interesting ownership story. The 1989 911 Speedster is a pretty rare car by itself, with only 823 examples produced. But the interesting thing that drew my attention was who the ex-owner of the car was - Walter Röhrl. That name is instantly familiar to those of us who are enamored with motorsports and the Porsche brand. The man is a two-time former WRC Champion and Porsche factory driver/brand ambassador.

Only one car can give you the feel of a Porsche 911 and that’s a 911. Altering any aspect of this iconic sports car can dramatically change the driving experience, but that hasn’t stopped people from taking out the boxer engine and replacing it with something that at first glance, doesn’t belong there. The rear-engine Porsche sports car is considered one of the most refined and usable high-performance cars, that you can daily-drive. At least, in most of its iterations. Despite much praise, however, the 911 is not a perfect car, and certain generations are known to suffer from a few major issues.

Porsche has a long tradition of participating in the annual Monterey Car Week. One of the biggest car events on the automotive calendar. It dates back to 1950 when it was held for the first time, as a supplementary event to the Pebble Beach Road Race. Like other automakers, Porsche’s iconic sports cars were an expected sight at the Monterey Car Week, and this year, we got to see a great number of highly original, reimagined, and downright crazy builds, based on Porsche’s greatest sports cars ever made.

While the Monterey Car Week has already witnessed its fair share of automotive showstoppers, few have dared to redefine the custom aftermarket genre quite like the Kalmar 9X9 and the Tuthill GT1 this year. While the 911 restomod scene is quite mature, this trend is now extending to other iconic models from the Porsche stable. Kalmar Automotive based out of Denmark, is calling their latest creation, the "world’s first retro hypercar," a bold statement that perfectly captures the essence of this beast. Inspired by legendary cars of the past like the over-engineered 959 owing to that distinctive fixed rear wing, the 9X9 blends classic aesthetics and cutting-edge performance.

When Porsche slaps the RSR (Renn Sport Rennen) designation on a 911, you know it means business. These are the most hardcore, racing variants of the rear-engine sports car and their sole purpose is to race at the highest level of competition possible. The original Porsche 911 RSR was an evolution of the already-iconic, Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS. Lighter, faster, and more aerodynamically busy, the Porsche 911 RSR was developed for the 1973, but actually, saw racing in late 1972. In February, 1973, the original 911 RSR won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Magnus Walker is one of the most renowned figures in the Porsche collector’s world. His obsession with the German brand began at a very young age when he went to the 1977 Earl’s Court Motor Show with his dad. His first love was a white Porsche 930 with the iconic red, white, and blue Martini livery. He still considers the silhouette of the Porsche 930 to be one of the most iconic in history. Over the years, his passion for the brand has manifested in a sizeable collection of vintage and some modern Porsches. His collection, which is 30 - 40 cars strong at any given time, is housed in his 20,000 square feet warehouse in L.A.’s Art district.

In the world of custom Porsches, everyone has heard of RWB and Akira Nakai. The renowned Japanese tuner has been modifying 911 with dramatic fender flares, exposed rivets, and double wings, since the late 90s. Before he established RWB he was the leader of a wild drift crew, aptly named Rough World. Rough World drifters mainly altered and raced with the legendary Toyota AE86, making changes inspired by widebody endurance racecars. However, Akira always had an eye for Porsches and got to work on several while working at a body shop during the ’90s. One day as luck would have it a very damaged Porsche 930 came into the shop, and Akira was able to strike a deal with the owner. This midnight blue Porsche became his first muse, which he cut up extensively to reduce weight, upgraded the engine, and installed the first version of his iconic wide-body kit. He named his first car after his favorite beer- Stella Artois.

Unlocking aggressive performance benefits from the iconic air-cooled flat-six engine, the original 911 Turbo, codenamed 930, is the world’s first turbocharged 911. Unveiled in 1975, the 930 Turbo was the fastest production car in Germany. A snarling beast with a "whale-tail" spoiler that dared you to push it to its limits. Until today, driving the 930 Turbo isn’t child’s play. However, the 930 Turbo isn’t just about speed. It took the idea of turbocharging and intercooling mainstream.