First year of the 911...?

[schwaggen]

Prototypes were on the drawing board...?

What year did the FIRST 911 leave the factory?

What was the MFG year on the title?

Trying to tap into the giant collective hive mind of the PP dorkness....

Bring it.

[ossiblue]

Before anyone gets too serious on this, try: Porsche 911 P 911T Prototype 911 Rare Antique 235 3000 series National Treasure! - Porsche 911 P 911T Prototype 911 Rare Antique 235 3000 series National Treasure!

If you can figure it out, you will immediately become the undisputed resource for all things 911.

[70SATMan]

Is this a trick question?

[schwaggen]

Not a trick question- In a "debate" with a friend of mine- on what constitutes the first year of the 911.

[Daves911L]

Yeah, a trick question. Officially, 1965 was the first model year. Some of these cars were produced in 1964. But some got built before the fall break, and so might technically be considered by some as 1964 models. Then there were auto show cars on display in 1963, thus technically the first 911 must have left the factory sometime in 1963. So there you have it. 1963, 1964, or 1965.....depending.

[Grady Clay]

schwaggen,

It is generally considered that the 911 (901) was “Introduced” on September 11, 1963.
The “pre-Production" started in May 1964, just after the run of 904s was completed.
The “Series Production” began in September 1964.
It is widely believed that there were 232 Type 901s built before the end of the 1964 calendar year.


I recommend you buy the 1687 page, 3-volume set: “Porsche, Excellence Was Expected: the comprehensive history of the company” by Karl Ludvigsen; 3rd Ed.; © 2008; ISBN 978-0-8376-0235-6 from our host or my 45-year friend and bookseller (and Pelican contributor) Frank Barrett.
This work has the most complete and authoritative information on early 911 development, including the 1960 6-cylinder ‘prototype’ Type 745 and the 1962 Type 821 engines. The ‘new’ 901 transmission was a direct conversion from the 904 transmission which had been an up-rate from the earlier Type 718.
As you will see, there is a progressive development; the 911 (901) didn’t suddenly appear at the Frankfurt Auto Show on September 12, 1963. There was the predecessor 1961 Type 695 prototype vehicle that went through many modifications and a long sequence of trial-&-error in the development.

All said, these volumes are a ‘Porsche lover’s dream’.
If cost deters you, there are commonly available ‘used’ 2nd Edition 3-volume sets that are the same material in Volumes 1 & 2 with Vol. 3 ending with 2003. The 2nd Ed. is a complete re-write and huge expansion of the single-volume 1st Ed.

Best,
Grady

[schwaggen]

OK- so that's the crux of our argument: The first 901 appeared at the 1963 Frankfurt Auto Show, but it didn't have an engine, and was a prototype - the first production cars appear to have left the factory in 1964.

So would '63 or '64 count as the first year?

[70SATMan]

The "trick question" I was refering to was 901 or 911?

[porsche930dude]

i believe seinfeld suposidly ownes the first one sold and its a 64

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

i believe seinfeld suposidly ownes the first one sold and its a 64

Maybe not? Atico
http://www.atico.nl/camelot/300049.html
Perhaps the first one sold in the US , perhaps not...
& btw ,the contemporary photographic details of the #1 356 are also very different to the "#1" 356 in the P museum.
Ah , the mists of time

[ashleywebe]

Some of these cars were produced in 1964. But some got built before the fall break

[porsche930dude]

and dont forget the time zone difference

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Grady Clay

schwaggen,

It is generally considered that the 911 (901) was “Introduced” on September 11, 1963.
The “pre-Production" started in May 1964, just after the run of 904s was completed.
The “Series Production” began in September 1964.
It is widely believed that there were 232 Type 901s built before the end of the 1964 calendar year.


I recommend you buy the 1687 page, 3-volume set: “Porsche, Excellence Was Expected: the comprehensive history of the company” by Karl Ludvigsen; 3rd Ed.; © 2008; ISBN 978-0-8376-0235-6 from our host or my 45-year friend and bookseller (and Pelican contributor) Frank Barrett.
This work has the most complete and authoritative information on early 911 development, including the 1960 6-cylinder ‘prototype’ Type 745 and the 1962 Type 821 engines. The ‘new’ 901 transmission was a direct conversion from the 904 transmission which had been an up-rate from the earlier Type 718.
As you will see, there is a progressive development; the 911 (901) didn’t suddenly appear at the Frankfurt Auto Show on September 12, 1963. There was the predecessor 1961 Type 695 prototype vehicle that went through many modifications and a long sequence of trial-&-error in the development.

All said, these volumes are a ‘Porsche lover’s dream’.
If cost deters you, there are commonly available ‘used’ 2nd Edition 3-volume sets that are the same material in Volumes 1 & 2 with Vol. 3 ending with 2003. The 2nd Ed. is a complete re-write and huge expansion of the single-volume 1st Ed.

Best,
Grady

+1

I got the second edition... what a set! Get it!