Porsche 968
Originally intended as a minor update of the 944, the 968 grew into its own model. The last of the four cylinder Porsches, its 3.0l four cylinder engine makes a respectable 240hp, while features like the VarioCam timing system and optional Tiptronic transmission make the car seem more modern than its early 90s production run would suggest. Only 4,665 968s reached North America, far fewer than the number of 911s sold during the 968‘s production run. Although not as flashy as the 911, the car has become a hit in the used market thanks to its practicality.
Porsche 914/6
The 914 is a joke in Porsche circles: Sold as a Volkswagen in Europe, the Beetle engine powering them was far from high performance. The 914/6 is a different story, replacing most of the VW components with parts sourced from the 911, including its engine. Although over 118,000 914′s were sold, just over 3,300 of these were 914/6 models.
Porsche 911 993 Turbo S
The 993 was both the first 911 to offer all wheel drive and the last of the air-cooled Porsches. 1997′s 424 hp Turbo S version was to be the model’s hurrah, with just 183 were produced. It would be without question the most desirable 911 if it wasn’t for the next car on this list.
Porsche 911 993 GT2
The Turbo S may have been intended to be the greatest air-cooled Porsche, but its AWD system prevented it from being used in many racing series. Porsche’s answer was the GT2, a rear wheel drive version originally intended to be used only for race use. Fortunately, homologation requirements pushed Porsche into building a few street versions. Instantly recognizable by the addition of wide plastic fenders, the GT2 reached a peak of 450 brake horsepower in road-going versions. Since then, the company has topped the 911 line with both RWD and AWD models.
Porsche 959
Originally designed as Porsche’s entry into the notoriously overpowered Group B rally class, this AWD monster was for a time the fastest street car on the market, covering a quarter mile in less than 12 seconds. Almost as legendary as its performance is the fight to bring the car into America: Bill Gates’ own 959 was stuck in customs for thirteen years, even after he’d offered to pay for additional cars to be used in federal crash tests. Although it was never legalized for on-road use, it did to the “show and display” law allowing vehicles like the 959 to be imported with very strict use limitations.
In 2003, Canepa Design found a way to modify these cars to meet federal requirements, finally making it possible to own and drive the most desirable road-legal Porsche ever built.
When he’s not reading about the latest auto news, Miles Walker looks at the best places to get a car insurance quote over at CarinsuranceComparison.Org. His latest article reviewed Nebraska car insurance.
