Porsche Heresy? Don't hurt me!

[red77911s]

Back in the day I've had 4 VolksWagon's and at the risk of being Banned on this site I have to ask aren't the early and mid year cars really just, Elegantly redesigned Beetles with 2 more cylinders?. Flame on!.

[sc_rufctr]

I've heard this comparison many times. The thing is though it's not an insult even though it's intended to be...
The Beetle sold in the millions so the design must have a lot going for it.

The early cars are pure. If you've even driven one you'd know they are not Beetle like in power and dynamics.
Even the 356 feels very much a Porsche.

[wildthing]

I drove a 69 Beetle for years.

No, these Porsches are not *just* elegantly designed Beetles. They are so much more.

[Avanti]

Same DNA but NOT the same car.

[Jrboulder]

The Beetle was a 1930s design that saw few improvements over a long life. Porsche broke off in the late 40s and immediately started building cars at a different price point for different uses. They made lots of regular changes but by the early 60s they had modified the beetle core as much as they could. The 911 program was mostly to throw out the stuff about the beetle that was holding them back like the interior, suspension, steering, body construction, basic dimensions, engine, engine room, etc.

So yes, they're a direct evolution/redesign from the beetle. By the time you get from the beetle to a midyear just about everything has been redesigned many times though.

[Cairo94507]

I had several early beetles and they were all well made, quality cars. I see them as mini-Porsches.

[DanielDudley]

And a Ferrari 308 is just an X19 with siamesed engine blocks. But there is no replacement for displacement...

Some people actually prefer the Volkswagens and FIATs to the Porsches and Ferraris, and some people work their way up. But if you think about it, there may be only about 12 basic plots in screenplays. It doesn't stop people from going to the movies though.

When I got my first 911, I never failed to stop and turn around to look at it as I was walking away. No beetle ever did that to me, except maybe Ringo.

[jlex]

I love to drive my '70 VW but can assure you it's a different animal. The VW's are top heavy and you roll around the turns; not so with the Porsche. The difference is in the handling.

[john walker's workshop]

Well, when I applied at the local porsche dealer in the early 70s, after 5 years at the local vw dealer, the foreman asked what I knew about porsches. I replied "glorified volkswagen". He said, OK, you can start tomorrow.

[BE911SC]

^^LOL! Yep, I just laugh out-loud and heartily agree when someone says "glorified Volkswagen." Then I compliment them on knowing that.

[Jerome74911S]

Responses here sure are making the case that glorifying VWs results in most of what an air-cooled Porsche is about, except for degrees of refinement.

Funny that this idea has support on an air-cooled Porsche discussion forum. Are you guys making the case that we all should migrate to water-pumping Porsches?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

^^LOL! Yep, I just laugh out-loud and heartily agree when someone says "glorified Volkswagen." Then I compliment them on knowing that.

Glorified for valid reason. I often say "A VW on steroids" to kids who are actually interested. Just as tiny but stronger everywhere.

[Dan J]

Beetle with a sport coat
Same DNA for sure
My airhead BMW is the same

[fred cook]

A friend of mine (years ago) had a Karmann Ghia coupe that he put a 356 engine and tranny in. He called it his "Poor Man's Porsche". One of the projects that I am going to do someday is to put a 911 engine and transaxle in a Corvair coupe or convertible. Should make for a fun, under the radar ride! Meanwhile, I will just enjoy my 911SC with the 3.3SS engine!

[red77911s]

I have really enjoyed reading all your responses, I sure meant no criticism of porsche, after all I have one and love it, note my use of the term "Elegantly" most of you seemed to "get it". My VW's were all great cars too and 2 more cylinders would have made them almost crazy overpowered which my 77 almost is frankly, way more than enough to get in trouble with. I can't imagine what a turbo would be like. I tried to race one once in a 450SL boy was I naive, I blinked and it was gone. Thanks everybody!. Porsche Rocks!

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by red77911s

Back in the day I've had 4 VolksWagon's and at the risk of being Banned on this site I have to ask aren't the early and mid year cars really just, Elegantly redesigned Beetles with 2 more cylinders?. Flame on!.

If you ever watched the rebuild of a 911 you would know it is not just a souped up VW design.

Yes there are similarities since both are air cooled. Hans Mezger designed the 911 engine and that basis was used well into the water cooled years. His engine design for the 911 won at Le Mans and 24 hours of Daytona many times. Not just class wins, but overall wins as well. I would hazard a guess it has won more Le Mans and Daytona 24 hours than any other engine design.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Mezger

With dual chain driven cams and no pushrods and no oil pan the differences are much more than adding two cylinders.

Of course Dr. Porsche designed the original VW engine in the 1930s. The original 356s used VW engines that were just slightly modified. Later 356s used a Porsche designed engine based on the VW engine. The 911 engine was a new design in 1963.