Automotive

Porsche's iconic 911 marks major milestone

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The one millionth 911, resplendent in Irish Green
The millionth 911 is bound for the Porsche museum 
The 911 badge debuted in 1963
That's a lot of Porsche 911 badges
The wood-trimmed wheel and chrome-ringed dials are both references to the interior of classic 911s
The Irish Green paint of the millionth 911 is a tribute to the original car
The millionth 911 is put together on the Porsche assembly line 
The 911 has remained stoutly rear-engined
The Irish Green paint of the 911 is a delightful throwback 
Porsche has trimmed the seats of the millionth 911 in houndstooth 
The Porsche badge has been synonymous with the 911 for more than 50 years 
The 911 has changed, but houndstooth buckets still look the goods 
The millionth 911 will be toured around, before it's stationed in the Porsche Museum 
The one millionth 911, resplendent in Irish Green
Behind the wheel of the millionth 911
Even the computer systems in the millionth 911 are bespoke for this car 
The face of the 911 is largely unchanged over 50 years 
The millionth 911 works its way down the production line 
Under the skin of the millionth Porsche 911
Porsche engineers get to work on the millionth 911
The millionth 911 works its way along the production line 
The 911 Carrera S chosen is miles more powerful than the original 911
The 911 is an icon of the motoring world 
Porsche dresses the millionth 911 up in Irish Green 
The Irish Green 911 is the millionth ever built 
View gallery - 24 images

Few sports cars have the pedigree of the Porsche 911. The nameplate debuted in 1963 and, although the details have changed, the basic rear-engined formula has stayed largely the same over 54 years. The one millionth 911 rolled off the production line last week, and Porsche celebrated by dressing it up as a tribute to the original.

Although it celebrates a significant milestone in Porsche history, the millionth 911 is very restrained. Mechanically, it's unchanged compared to the regular Carrera S. The only real changes are stylistic: the exterior is finished in the same Irish Green as the first car to roll off the production line, and the cabin is decked out in lovely houndstooth trim. There's also a part-wooden steering wheel and some chrome-rimmed dials to link the modern car to the original.

Speaking of the original, it's amazing to think how far the 911 has come in the model's 54 years. Back then, the base model made just 96 kW (128 hp) from its air-cooled engine, compared to 275 kW (370 hp) from the current base Carrera. The first 911 S, launched in 1966, made a more respectable 118 kW (158 hp), but that pales in comparison to the 312 kW (420 hp) you get from a current Carrera S.

Even the computer systems in the millionth 911 are bespoke for this car 

The thought of a 911 hitting 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds must have also been unthinkable back in 1963, but that's exactly what the current 911 Turbo S can do thanks to all-wheel drive and the sophisticated engine hanging out over the rear axle.

In spite of these differences, the basic formula of the modern Turbo S is largely the same as the formula in that original car. Both have their engines at the rear, and both maintain a modicum of practicality with their +2 rear seats. From the shape of the body to the layout of the dials, Porsche has done a remarkable job of maintaining the essence of the 911 through the years.

The millionth car won't actually be sold to collectors, and it won't be appearing in dealerships anytime soon. Instead, it'll be taken on a tour of significant motoring spots around the world, before being retired to the Porsche Museum as a monument to the longevity of iconic 911.

For a behind the scenes look at the production of the millionth 911, check out the video below.

Source: Porsche

View gallery - 24 images
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