944 styling

[Fast Freddy 944]

I have a 951, I'm wondering if its styling is Ferrari like? The 924 was designed in the good old 70's and Ferrari was going in the way of wedge designs. I see elements of the gt-4 and the Datona, mabe even the Magnum pi-308? The car does not resemble the mighty 911 or the 914, hell I even see Jenson intetceptor cues on the car, any thoughts?

[Fast Freddy 944]

Cool, cool, but as you know all auto manufactures take design que's from other autos, I see it a lot, MGB's have Ferrari cues, and Ferrari has some cues from mustangs and
gt-40's.......

[dgcantrell]

I seriously doubt that Ferrari is or has benn taking design cues from Ford. More like the other way around.

[FrenchToast]

Originally Posted by 944 Ecology

the 924 (which was commissioned by VW as a safety car study.)

You're probably thinking of a study known as the FLA, which is not explicitly a safety study. Easy to mix up because they are a similar timeframe.

The 924 originated as the EA425 and was developed roughly the same time as the 928.

It was commisioned by VW, yes, but as a sports car for the VW lineup. When VW lost interest and funds, they sold the rights back to Porsche.

Early styling iterations:



The early styling is arguably inspired by American designs rather than those coming from Bertone, Giugario, and other Italian firms.

Interestingly, the Scirocco was developed at roughly the same time, which was styled by Bertone. Ultimately the 924 did take some cues from Italian designs.

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by FrenchToast

That is incorrect.

You're probably thinking of a study known as the FLA, which is not explicitly a safety study. The 994 study was similar. Easy to mix up because they are a similar timeframe.

The 924 originated as the EA425 and was developed roughly the same time as the 928.

It was commisioned by VW, yes, but as a sports car for the VW lineup. When VW lost interest and funds, they sold the rights back to Porsche.

Early styling iterations:



The early styling is arguably inspired by American designs rather than those coming from Bertone, Giugario, and other Italian firms.

Interestingly, the Scirocco was developed at roughly the same time, which was styled by Bertone. Ultimately the 924 did take some cues from Italian designs.

In the 70's the wedge shape was just becoming popular, I agree with your statement, so its safe to say our Porsche cars are very similar to the Ferrari, and other wedge shape cars of the 70's and 80's. I like those illustrations, where can I find them?

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by dgcantrell

I seriously doubt that Ferrari is or has benn taking design cues from Ford. More like the other way around.

You know a funny thing, I was in a Fiero club in Dallas, and we learned that the Fiero had sold complete re-body's of its car as a 308, Ferrari became upset, and Pontiac stopped selling them, they actually had each re-body numbered, I had an 87 fiero gt, I noticed the Ferrari 348, and the 355 had Fiero design similarity's which I found very interesting. lol!

[Fast Freddy 944]

Sometimes photos are a good way to present an idea. Here are a few pictures that best represent my styling thread.


Some minor stylin' cues!

[944tothefloor]

Of course the similarities are there. Look at car's from the 1930's. They all look similar. Look at cars today. They all look similar. So yes, if it looks like it was influenced by a previous design, it was.

[petrolhead611]

I read in one of the books about 924/944/968 that Lapine was influenced by the Ferrari 365 GT4(called Daytona later) and consequently the Porsche chassis has the same wheelbase as the Ferrari.

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by 944tothefloor

Of course the similarities are there. Look at car's from the 1930's. They all look similar. Look at cars today. They all look similar. So yes, if it looks like it was influenced by a previous design, it was.

Indeed, but today all cars seem like cookie cutters, back then you could spot the dfferences between lambos, Ferrari's, Porsche, vette, camero, mustang, Jaguars, today, same-o, same-o, 4-door 1 hit wonders.

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

I read in one of the books about 924/944/968 that Lapine was influenced by the Ferrari 365 GT4(called Daytona later) and consequently the Porsche chassis has the same wheelbase as the Ferrari.

Wow, so its safe to say the 924-968 was influenced by the 365-daytona, same wheel base? I am now learned in porscheology. thanx for the imput!

[Fast Freddy 944]

I suppose one could draw a conclusion, that most folks think of the 911 or 356 when they are ready to purchase a Porsche, and the 924-968 falls by the wayside....oh well ill paint mine red, find a Hawaiian shirt, grow a moustache, and find a black baseball cap. lol

Fast Freddy pi. I can dig it! just kidding!

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

I read in one of the books about 924/944/968 that Lapine was influenced by the Ferrari 365 GT4(called Daytona later) and consequently the Porsche chassis has the same wheelbase as the Ferrari.

Lapine also worked for GM. He was on the GTO design team.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy 944

Indeed, but today all cars seem like cookie cutters, back then you could spot the dfferences between lambos, Ferrari's, Porsche, vette, camero, mustang, Jaguars, today, same-o, same-o, 4-door 1 hit wonders.

A big reason cars look alike is about drag coefficient. Look how many cars have Kamm rear ends

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by jcommin

A big reason cars look alike is about drag coefficient. Look how many cars have Kamm rear ends

You got to love those Kamm rear ends!

[smudo]

I saw interesting article about interview with Anatolijs Lapiņš (this is how his name is written in Latvian – he was born and spent his whole childhood in Riga, Latvia). He mentioned that his second project at Porsche was 928 (first was VW 1600 that newer saw light). The work started in 1971. The work on 924 started later, although it went first to the production. He mentioned that 928 did spend some years in the shelves. 928 was developed for US market bearing in mind US market preferences and regulations of that time. He did not mention anything about the influences from other cars designs while working on 928 or 924, but he was not directly asked about it. Basically 944 was further development of 924, that was designed initially for VW as alliance project.
In this same article there was interesting quote about 914 that was developed before Lapins joined Porsche. The designers presented three prototypes and Ernst Fuhrmann (technical director at that time) thought that all three looked like *****, but if he has to choose one, he will go with that one designed by Harm Lagaay. Lapins said that in his opinion 914 was unfortunate copy of a Ferrari.

At the time of the interview he was 71. The interview was at his home in an informal atmosphere. This article also included some interesting quotes about 917 and also his time at GM and work on such cars as Corvette Stingray together with Larry Shinoda who led the team.

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by smudo

I saw interesting article about interview with Anatolijs Lapiņš (this is how his name is written in Latvian – he was born and spent his whole childhood in Riga, Latvia). He mentioned that his second project at Porsche was 928 (first was VW 1600 that newer saw light). The work started in 1971. The work on 924 started later, although it went first to the production. He mentioned that 928 did spend some years in the shelves. 928 was developed for US market bearing in mind US market preferences and regulations of that time. He did not mention anything about the influences from other cars designs while working on 928 or 924, but he was not directly asked about it. Basically 944 was further development of 924, that was designed initially for VW as alliance project.
In this same article there was interesting quote about 914 that was developed before Lapins joined Porsche. The designers presented three prototypes and Ernst Fuhrmann (technical director at that time) thought that all three looked like *****, but if he has to choose one, he will go with that one designed by Harm Lagaay. Lapins said that in his opinion 914 was unfortunate copy of a Ferrari.

At the time of the interview he was 71. The interview was at his home in an informal atmosphere. This article also included some interesting quotes about 917 and also his time at GM and work on such cars as Corvette Stingray together with Larry Shinoda who led the team.

Excellent write up! As I mentioned the water cooled early porsches did nothing to resemble the 911 and 356 style, they were Daytona like, and the 914, as charming as it was, did nothing to enhance the 911 hungary public. But Imo, I dig all porsches!

[FrenchToast]

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy 944

I like those illustrations, where can I find them?

See here: https://www.stuttcars.com/porsche-models/924/

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by FrenchToast

See here: https://www.stuttcars.com/porsche-models/924/

Thanx French toast!

[911tracker85]

hmmmm..... sounds like you wish you had a Ferrari....