Posrche models and names?

[pmpnuss]

I am new to porsche and was wondering how porsche has ther cars labeled. Like how do you distinguish the cars from one another. Ex.. 996, 964 ...... I know there are big differances but how do you know the suttle differances like in what year did they change num bering.

[EZ Aire]

Quick Reference. By no means Complete. And under no circumstances definitive.

924,924S,944,968 - Front engined water cooled all based off of the original 924 (first of the water cooled Porsches).

911 - turned into the 997, 997 amongst others.

986, 987 - Boxsters. Styling nuances changed along with HP and trans to 6 speed.

Good luck with the differences and the years that they were introduced. I've been hanging around these cars for 10 years or so and still couldn't tell you by looking at any of them what year they are. But, I can tell the models apart.

[70Sixter]

Actually 911 went 901, 911, 964, 993, 996, 997 (and GT-2/3, Turbo variants)

912 had basically an upgraded 356C engine from 65 - 69

912E had VW engine in 1976

356, 356A, 356B, 356C, 356SC - 4 cyl rear, aircooled = some overhead cam variants and the Speedster

914 (70-76) VW 411/412 2 seat mid-engine 4 cyl and brakes, switches etc

914-6 (70-72) 2 seat mid-engine, -6 has basically a 1969 911T engine, brakes, steering etc

I won't touch the rarer models like 904, but someone might.

Edited May 13, 2008 by 70Sixter

[Delusionary]

With the "911", there's no actual external numbering that indicates what generation of car is underneath. Wikipedia provides a pretty good reference to telling them apart, so do those Porsche or 911 coffee table books you see on the bargain shelves at the book store. :)

The differences can be a little subtle sometimes, and for any particular car, they can be more than that. (Is that a 930, or a 911 with a factory whale-tail? etc., etc.)

The 924/944/968 have labels on the rear of the car, as do the 914 and the 928.

The 986 and 987 are both just labeled Boxster/Boxster S. The 986 has the "egg yolk" style headlights and the 987 has the newer lights that look more like the older lights.

If you don't know how to tell the cars apart, Wikipedia is more your friend than Porsche. :D

[pmpnuss]

Thanks for the help I was really lost when it came to porsches.