The best archive models of Porsche

April 25, 1931 German designer Ferdinand Porsche founded the Porsche company. Few people know the full name of the company: Joint-stock company of the honorary doctor of engineering sciences Ferdinand Porsche. Now Porsche is the most highly profitable car company in the world (in terms of profit from each car sold). The company has also been active for a long time in organizing sports clubs (there are Porsche clubs in many European and American countries) and competitions among various classes of their cars. We've dug into the company's archives to bring you a selection of now-discontinued Porsche models, from the first mass-produced car to well-known and street-famous models.

(Total 27 photos)

1. Porsche 356 (years of production 1948-1965). This is Porsche's first production car. The very first Porsches were assembled by hand at an old sawmill in the Austrian town of Gmünd, and each car was unique.

2. However, in 1950, production was moved to Stuttgart in Germany, where the company's headquarters are still located, and cars became more standardized.

3. Porsche 356 1500 America Roadster (1952-1953). This model was released in a limited edition exclusively for the US market. No one knows exactly how many cars were produced, estimates vary from 16 to 21 copies. The body was made from lightweight aluminum, and one of the cars was rumored to be made from steel.

4. Porsche 356 1500 Speedster (1955-1955). In 1955, Porsche used the Speedster name for the first time. The machine was intended primarily for the American market and was intended for use in warm, dry climates.

5. Porsche 597 Jagdwagen (1954-1958). This is the first and only SUV in the company's lineup before the advent of the Cayenne.

6. Porsche 911 (1964-1975). It was originally called the Porsche 901. But Peugeot had exclusive rights in France to the names of cars formed by three numbers with a zero in the middle. As a result, Porsche changed its name to 911.

7. Porsche 912 (1965-1969). Introduced in 1964, the 911 was faster, more complex, and much more expensive than its predecessor, the 356. Porsche didn't want to lose potential customers in the form of those who could not afford the 911, so in 1965 they introduced a cheaper model, the 912.

8. Porsche 911E (B Series) (1968-1969). In 1968, the 911 received its first significant upgrade. The B-series coupe was the first car to have an electrically heated rear window; earlier models simply directed warm air from fans onto it.

9. Porsche 914 (1969-1976). The most affordable Porsche since the end of the 912 series. Developed with Volkswagen.

10. Porsche 911 Carrera RS (1973-1973). Today, this model is the most rare 911 ever made. Among passionate Porsche fans, it has the status of a legend and prices for it are sky-high.

11. Porsche 924 (1976-1988). This is the entry-level Porsche that succeeded the 914 series. The company's first mass-produced car with a liquid-cooled engine. Only 121,289 copies were produced: 36,902 of them for the USA, 1,383 for Japan and 83,003 for the rest of the world.

12. Porsche 928 (1977-1995). In 1978, the 928 was named the best European car. This is the only time that a sports car has received such a high award.

13. Porsche 944 (1982-1991). Successor to the 924.

14. Porsche 959 (1986-1990). The car is rightfully the most technologically advanced and advanced car of the 1980s: Sports Car International magazine named it the best sports car of the 1980s, and Auto, Moto und Sport magazine considers it the best Porsche of all time.

15. Porsche 944 Turbo S (1988-1988). This is a limited edition 944 Turbo with a more powerful engine and about 10% more price. Initially, they planned to produce only 1,000 cars, but, according to some versions, 1,635 Turbo S were eventually sold.

16. Porsche Speedster (1989-1989). This model, inspired by the classic 1950s 356 Speedster, was produced in a very limited edition. Remarkably, its roof was not completely waterproof and windproof, so the car could only be used in good weather.

17. Porsche 911 Carrera 4 (964) (1989-1993). By the early 1980s, the Porsche 911 had already established itself as a classic sports car. Its expressive shape was instantly recognizable and revered by car enthusiasts the world over. However, competition, in particular from the Japanese auto industry, forced the company to update the model so as not to lose sales. The new 911 was the Carrera 4, known internally as the 964.

18. Porsche 968 (1991-1995). It represents a further evolution of the 924 and 944 models. The company's last car with a front engine. It remained the most affordable car in the lineup. A year after being discontinued, this status was given to the Boxster series.

19. Porsche 911 Carrera RS (993) (1995-1996). The RS concept meant the lightest possible version. Therefore, this model had to part with such "unnecessary" things as power windows, seats and mirrors, headlight washers, central locking, airbags, sound insulation, numerous speakers and even an intermittent wiper switch.

20. Porsche Boxster (1997-2004). The Boxster became the entry-level model that replaced the aging 968. The model featured a completely new design that did not borrow anything from previous Porsches.

21. After the first 2.5-liter Boxster was criticized for its lack of power, Porsche released a new 2.7-liter version and also launched the S modification in 1999 in parallel.

22. Porsche 911 Turbo (996) (2000-2005). After the resounding success of the 993 Turbo, Porsche had to work hard to make something even better. However, in September 1999 they succeeded and the 996 version appeared in the 2000 model range, with a maximum speed of 304 km / h.

23. Porsche Cayenne (2002-2010). The arrival of the Cayenne marked a big change for the company, which was the first company in a long time to create something other than a sports car.

24. Porsche Boxster S (2005-2007). The original Boxster S received a major facelift in 2005. The main goal was to make it look less like the 911, such as changing the headlights.

25. Porsche Cayman (2005-2009). Two-door coupe based on the Boxster. In fact, the Cayman was a Boxster with a fixed roof and a hatchback.

26. Porsche Boxster Spyder RS60 (987) (2008-2009). This limited edition Boxster was inspired by the Porsche 718 RS60 Spyder racing car from the 1960s. Visually, it was distinguished by a unique front spoiler, sports wheels, metallic silver and a red or black roof.

27. And finally - a little surprise. It turns out that in the 1950s, the company, from the moment of its foundation to this day, known primarily for its sports cars, produced ... tractors.