![Porsche 911 versus BMW i8]()
by John Glynn | Jun 1, 2014 | New Models, Porsche News
My former paymasters at Autocar magazine continue to produce excellent new car features. Their latest sports car test of BMW i8 versus Porsche 911 Carrera 50* sheds more light on the data Ferdinand shared yesterday, comparing lap times around a California race track for our friend Jack Olsen’s 1972 Porsche 911 RSR hot rod, which runs a standard 1995 993 3.6-litre engine, to professional race drivers in a Porsche 918 and Porsche 911 50th Anniversary model.
Porsche 911 versus BMW i8
The 918 set a lap time of 1:23.54, while Jack’s car managed a 1:26.88. “This is beyond an eternity on a race track” was how one Facebook comment put it, but let’s put “eternity” back into context of dollars invested and remember these are road cars. Three seconds over a 90-second lap time is pretty close for an old 911.
Porsche 997 GT3 RS versus Porsche 991
My question was where would/will the 991 GT3 RS fit in? Jack pointed out that “the 997 GT3 RS ran a 1:33 with pro driver Steve Millen at the wheel, so the 1:28.53 for the 50th-Anniversary 991 model is very impressive.” Autocar’s test underscores this conclusion, as it pits a 911 celebrating 50 years of history against a sports car that has been around just a few minutes.
“The Porsche’s (PDK) driveline lacks the complexity of the BMW’s, but it is not shamed for power,” says Autocar‘s Greg Kable.”The 911’s naturally aspirated 3.8-litre flat six engine, mounted behind the rear axle, nominally delivers 395bhp at 7400rpm. Our test car is a US-spec model, and receives a power kit as standard, upping it to 424bhp.
“It can’t match the BMW’s torque, though. With 325lb ft at 5600rpm, it gives away a considerable 95lb ft…but the 911 is not gutless. Above 4000rpm, its naturally aspirated engine provides prodigious shove. But by then, the i8 has already benefited from its initial spurt of electric propulsion and is away down the road. BMW claims 0-62mph in 4.4sec, compared with 4.5sec for the Porsche. However, a constant, linear surge of energy right from the outset makes the i8 feel considerably faster.”
Porsche 911 Hybrid is Coming
While the BMW has that instant hybrid electric torque – torque you know will eventually find its way to a production 911 – the Porsche has something else. Once heavily criticised for terminal understeer in press-on driving, the new 911 has apparently tamed that shrew and passed it to the Beemer. Is this what makes the difference in lap pace compared to the 997 GT3 RS?
“The fluidity of the 911…is so pure and involving that it makes the i8 feel stifled and artificial. The Porsche displays a lovely balance that prompts you to keep pushing at the sort of cornering speeds that begin to trouble the BMW, and there is a compelling completeness to the whole car, even as you approach the limits.
“And then there’s the rest of the 911’s absorbing dynamic character: its superb body control at any speed, the outright grip it generates, the terrific poise when loaded through a quick corner, the traction on the way out, the well-controlled ride and the way that its electronic driver aids allow you to dabble in a spot of tail-out action. Even if you put the i8 on its optional wider and stickier tyres, I still doubt that it could match the 911.” Greg Kable is a fan.
The Moral: Play Nice
Yesterday’s point was don’t put old Porsche 911s in with other old cars: they can more than hold their own when the going gets tough. While BB2 beat the Anniversary 991’s lap time around a California race track, the gap between the two is not “beyond eternity”. It’s just an interesting benchmark and talking point.
Today’s point is don’t do the “life was better when I was a boy” thing and look down on all new 911s. When a 50 year-old concept beats the latest carbon fibre coupe for intoxicating chassis dynamics, its future is bright.
*Autocar material shared for information purposes only with link to original article.
by John Glynn | May 26, 2014 | Classic Porsche Blog, Project Cars
I recently encountered this very tidy Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Turbo Look. The car was brought in to a Porsche specialist to inspect a noisy wheel bearing, but the issue has turned out to be slightly more serious.
The giveaway was a problem pushing the car more than a few feet before it would lock up and go no further. Pushing it back a little and then forward, it would roll on another bit before locking again. The prime suspect is the diff, which could be in trouble. Unusual for a 3.2 Carrera you might think.
Pull the engine cover release, lift the tea tray fitted to these Turbo Look Carreras and one possible explanation for the diff woes is uncovered: a whacking great supercharger bolted to the crankcase. We likey very much.
This blower is an Eaton, also used on some Jaguars. The supercharger is the same one being used on a supercharged hillclimb Porsche Cayman with sequential transmission – more on that later – but the install is quite different. I think I may know where it was done: currently gathering some more information.
Paxton Supercharger on Porsche 911
When I first got into Porsche, one of the very first 911 guys I met was John, who owned a very smart 3.2 Carrera in one of the dark blue metallics. John lived in London and owned a supercharged 3.2 Carrera Coupe, using a Paxton blower.
I vividly remember one run up the M1 to Donington Park for a private museum tour. I was on the inside lane, he was in the middle. Sitting at 85/90 mph with the roof and windows down on my SC Cabriolet, John was on and off the throttle, giving me the full supercharger/eardrums experience: pretty exciting.
Horsepower from Supercharged Porsche 911
Pelicanites who have supercharged their 3.2s with Whipple, Paxton or Auto-Rotor blowers claim to be seeing up to 425bhp at the flywheel from the add-on. 400 horsepower in a standard Carrera would be a bit of a handful. At least the Turbo Look 911s get the proper 930 brakes and suspension, plus the chunky tea tray tail to hide this install and control the rear lift at speed.
More common power from a supercharged 3.2-litre 911 (US spec motor) is 340-360bhp, with instant torque and plenty of attention from the boys in blue if you don’t watch the right foot. Owners report the main consequence from the added power as drastically shorter transmission life.
I’m excited to see this car in a bit more detail, and what the transmission looks like when dissected.
![Porsche 911 versus BMW i8]()
by John Glynn | May 24, 2014 | Classic Porsche Blog, Modified Porsche Hot Rods, Road Trips
Tripped over these pictures from our shoot of the original Singer Porsche 911 on Pacific Coast Highway. I remember it as a very good day, but was amazed to find it was almost five years since I did this job with my partner in Porsche, James Lipman.
Back then, I was still working for motor trade publishers, Glass’s Guide, and Jamie had yet to fully establish himself amongst the favourite photographers of Rolls Royce, Bentley and the other top brands he now shoots for. I was just out there on a busman’s holiday, having fun in a twice-yearly visit with friends on the west coast, enjoying the Porsche scene and blogging it on the Internet.
This trip in November 2009 was a bit special. Singer’s Rob Dickinson had pinged me a few weeks previously, asking if we wanted to be first to shoot the Singer before it went out to a wider audience. Of course I was up for that and booked the cover of 911 & Porsche World. We did a few day’s work up in San Francisco before driving to Ventura for the Porsche show there, and dropping down to LA’s Mulholland Drive for the Singer shoot one Saturday afternoon.
Suffice to say, it did not run quite to plan. Mulholland was a challenge as the car was not a happy bunny. The famous road is a rat run in rush hour (which it was when we started) and there were few obvious spots for us to shoot it on the move. In the end, the light passed and we still hadn’t managed a cover shot.
We stayed late in the car park at the Bel Air Presbyterian Church on Mulholland, where Jamie shot some of the most shared Singer pictures on the Internet with just one light (above), but we were missing the drama of the car in motion. Not much chance to do it like this – find the car in this pic:
Next day, were were back down near LA to meet Bata Mataja at his house in Malibu and shoot his 356 Speedster. There might be a chance to shoot the Singer in Malibu on Pacific Coast Highway – also known as Highway 1 – at the end of the day. We all really wanted that shot, so Rob would try to get the car out to Malibu and we could have a go at doing it.
Even before meeting Bata, I knew the 356 would be a long day. After we started talking, it was almost the whole day: we had a fantastic time with an amazing character. This left precious little time to do the Singer.
After meeting at the famous Neptune’s Net (stunning seafood shack), we had a quick coffee, wiped the dust off the car and got going, driving down the legendary Highway 1 out of Malibu. As the sun began to set on the Pacific, Jamie hung out the window of my Craigslist-purchased 911 to grab some of my favourite Porsche pictures ever.
When you’re in the middle of a job, it’s tough to stand back and enjoy the moment as the focus is just on doing the work. Now I can enjoy the pictures, I remember the sun on my face, the wonderful golden light, the noise of two flat sixes and that feeling of driving my own 911 in such a fantastic part of the world.
People often ask how Jamie did this in Photoshop, but this is how it just about looked on camera. Rollin’ with the pros!
by John Glynn | May 16, 2014 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
Porsche of the 1990s was a very different company to the one we know today. Squeezed by recession, Stuttgart turned to final evolutions of its classic designs and pushed to slash production times (and therefore cost) on new models, to increase profitability.
The 964 Turbo – often referred to as the 965 – was one of the last Porsche models to be built in the old fashioned/traditional way, with plenty of hand-finished aspects. Good examples of 964 Turbo are amongst the most sought after 911s in the current classic market and this one may be the rarest of the rare: an X88 964 Turbo, ordered and owned by the Sultan of Brunei.
Sultan of Brunei Porsche Collection
Depending where you look, estimates for the Sultan of Brunei’s Porsche collection ranges from 160 Porsche models to over 200. The only one I have seen up to now was a special 959 at William Loughran’s in Preston, but now there is an X88 pack 964 Turbo with just 18,200 miles.
First registered on April 8 1994, this Horizon Blue 964 Turbo is amongst the last ‘965’ models built as part of Porsche Exclusive’s 964 Turbo run-out programme. The 3.6 already had a number of improvements over earlier 3.3-litre cars, including a 360 bhp engine, bigger brakes, upgraded final drive and the iconic Speedline split rim wheels. The X88 Turbo S versions had another jump in power: dyno testing this car a few years ago showed 402 bhp and 556 Newton metres of torque.
Delivered straight to Ruf in Pfaffenhausen, the car was fitted with the Ruf electronic clutch system, which has since been removed. The car now runs a five-speed transmission, albeit still Ruf badged. Post Ruf, the 964 Turbo entered the Sultan’s collection where it remained until 2003, when it was sold back to the UK.
Porsche 964 Turbo S X88 Spec
Originally supplied through Porsche Centre Malaysia, the Horizon Blue exterior is matched with a Marine Blue full leather trim, featuring electric ‘Comfort’ seats and the X26 leather steering wheel with airbag (bespoke to the Sultan’s collection). Options on the air-cooled cars are always amusing compared to today’s plethora of PCM, PMS and the rest, but this has an on-board computer, rear window wiper and holder for cassettes and coins. Plush to the max.
It’s offered for sale at just under £200k. Given that a standard 911 964 Turbo with this mileage could sell pretty quickly for around £130k, it’s conceivable that someone will pay this.
![Porsche 911 versus BMW i8]()
by John Glynn | May 12, 2014 | Classic Porsche Blog, Race and Rally
Tuthill Porsche driver and fellow Irishman, Howard Redhouse, has won the 2014 Mini Britannia one-day rally in an ice-driving Porsche 911 taken straight out of Sweden!
Tuthill Porsche wins Britannia Tour
Three Tuthill Porsche-prepared 911s took part in this precursor to the full Tour Britannia: the Belgian Historic Championship challenger of Glenn Janssens, Duncan Buck’s RSR-style rally car, and a Tuthill-built 3-litre 911, which had last run at Tuthill Porsche’s Below Zero ice driving camp on the frozen lakes of Sweden.
In changeable damp-to-wet conditions, Tuthill Porsche 911s traded fastest times on every stage of the historic motorsport event, including those run on the BBC Top Gear track at Dunsfold Park (pics by Steve Kilvington Motorsport Photography). In the end, the winning driver was long-time Tuthill competitor and experienced endurance racer, Meath’s own Howard Redhouse.
“This event was excellent fun,” smiled the victorious Redhouse. “It was my co-driver Scott Nicholson’s first motorsport outing, and we pushed flat out from the start. The sometimes damp, sometimes wet conditions were a great leveller in the inter-team battle between our 3-litre ice driving car and Glenn Janssens’ championship-winning monster. It’s a very satisfying victory!”
“Only one thing beats watching Tuthill Porsche cars in competition, and that’s watching our drivers compete for the win,” said team boss, Richard Tuthill. “Howard, Glenn and their co-drivers gave it everything and it’s especially rewarding to see one of our Below Zero Ice Driving cars take the win. A well-prepared Tuthill Porsche with a capable driver stands a chance on any event.
Tuthill’s Winning Week
“In the last seven days, Tuthill Porsche has claimed a category win in the British Historic Rally Championship, taken second and fourth place on the 2014 Sydney London Marathon rally and we’re about to confirm a former World Champion for our team on the Classic Rally of South Africa in September: another great Tuthill 911 adventure for experts and novices alike. It’s been a week to remember!“
