The First Porsche 911

Petersen Automotive Museum Chief Historian Leslie Kendall recently took viewers on a virtual tour of the 1964 Porsche 901.

First debuted in September 1963 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the 901 would later be renamed the 911 after a legal dispute with Peugeot, claiming the worldwide trademark rights to all three-digital car model designations with a “0” as the middle number. Advanced in comparison to the Volkswagen-derived Porsche 356 engine, the newly designed Porsche 901/911 power unit was a two-liter, air-cooled flat-six that produced 130 horsepower.

Over several years, this remarkable 901 coupe has been restored to prize-winning condition and represents one of the pivotal moments in Porsche’s history.

Watch the tour in the video above.

By A.J. Hecht

A.J. Hecht is the managing editor of THE SHOP and host of the In Gear with THE SHOP podcast. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Contact A.J. at ahecht@cahabamedia.com.