When the first Porsche 911 was unveiled back in 1963, nobody expected it to achieve the cult status it now boasts! Its beginnings were quite humble, with the model arguably being a descendant of Volkswagen’s Beetle.
Fifty years later, though, the car became an icon of sports vehicles, with a rich legacy and a fascinating history. When the first example was unveiled at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show, it was actually dubbed Porsche 901, but because Peugeot claimed the rights to name its vehicles’ monikers with a 0 in the middle, the German company decided to simply change the problematic figure with the figure 1. Thus the 911 name was born.
What is truly fascinating about the 911 model is that even though five decades have passed over it, the core design elements are still there, and every new generation is instantly recognizable as a descendent of the first 901 car. We love the continuity that Porsche managed to keep throughout the years, while also bringing a fresh feel to every new generation.
Inspired by this remarkable piece of automotive history, photographer René Staud put together a book with all the most relevant and coveted versions of the 911 from its inception until today. The volume, published by teNeues, pays tribute to the car on its 50th anniversary, and passionate collectors will definitely appreciate the initiative.
