From niche racer to almost every model, a pot ted history of boost.
1 Can-Am raises the bar
If Porsche filmed a 911 Turbo origins story, the 917 would dominate the first 15 minutes. The legendary racer’s flat-12 wasn’t turbocharged when it won Le Mans in ’70 and ’71, but then new rules capped capacity at 3.0 litres and the 917 upped sticks to the Can-Am championship – where almost anything went, so long as wheels were covered and cockpits were open. Cue 1500bhp turbo madness, two consecutive titles and one lightbulb moment…
2 911 goes turbo
Only four were made, but the Carrera RSR Turbo 2.1 is the first turbocharged 911, its huge KKK blower forcing recycled air from its exhaust manifold back into its air intake like junkies shotgunning crack. Never homologated, the RSR Turbo had to compete in the prototype class, but boy did Porsche let loose. Relatively sensible at the front, Top Fuel dragster meets seesaw at the back, 750kg and 500bhp… only the Matra-Simca could beat it at Le Mans ’74.
3 Appendix excites us
When Appendix J regs kicked in for sportscar racing in 1976, the 930 Turbo was homologated so Porsche could use it as the basis for the 934 and 935 racers. The 934 closely mirrors 930 Turbo specs, right down to its electric windows and gorgeously restrained body, but near-600bhp.
4 The superhero 911
The 935 is a 911 like Clark Kent is Superman. Initially 911-shaped, the 935 reached its zenith with the legendary 935/78 ‘Moby Dick’ (pictured), which left the passenger cell intact but stretched the car (and the rules) everywhere else, including a double rear window and entire front end masquerading as a ‘bumper’. The twin-turbo 3.2-litre flat six made 800bhp. How quick? Le Mans 1979 1-2-3 quick.
5 Done up to the 9s
The 959 teleported 911 fundamentals future-wards with electronically controlled all-wheel drive, a fusion of aluminium and Kevlar bodywork and a 2.85-litre flat-six loaded with twin-cam watercooled heads and sequential turbochargers – a tiddler for bottom-end response, a biggie to do 444bhp’s worth of hard hitting. Triple the cost of a 911
