Yes, that's right, there's no shortage of books about the Porsche 911 sports car archetype. Andreas Gabriel himself has already produced two with various co-authors, one of which deals with the 911 Speedster, the other with the 911 Turbo. Now Andreas Gabriel, Manfred Hering and Tobias Kindermann have turned their attention to the G model.
This generally includes all series produced between 1974 and 1989 (each year of construction), i.e. between the original 911 (up to the F model) and the 964, so to speak. However, and the Porsche novice learns this quite quickly in the book, the G-series was of course only built for one year, followed by the H-series in 1975.
Those who are said to be dead live longer
The Porsche 911 with air-cooled rear engine was actually already a discontinued model in 1974, with its successors, the 924 and 928, already in the starting blocks, so to speak. Even the biggest fans, e.g. the test editors of the magazine Auto Motor und Sport, announced the final fireworks of the 911 in 1977 with the test of the 911 SC (SC = Super Carrera) with the title "The Last". And the abbreviation "SC" also hinted at this, as the 356 SC was also the last of its kind.
Porsche management, namely Mr. Fuhrmann, were also convinced that the rear-engine design would soon come to an end.
The man in the background
But there were also counter-movements, and it is thanks to the efforts of Mr. Gabriel, Mr. Hering and Mr. Kindermann that a man who only a few people know has his say: Friedrich Bezner. The young Bezner had already started at Porsche in the fifties and in the sixties he was already involved in the development of the PDK, the Porsche dual-clutch gearbox, which today is installed in an improved version by many manufacturers. In 1979, he took over the project management for the 911, a job that nobody really wanted because the end of the 911 seemed to be sealed. But Bezner did not give up, received small development budgets and ensured a second youth for the 911, thanks to new model variants such as the Cabriolet, the Turbo and the Speedster.
In the literature, the recently deceased Peter W. Schutz is usually seen as the savior of the 911, but without Friedrich Bezner and his fellow fighters, Schutz would probably have had nothing left to save. This becomes clear after reading the interview in the book.
Chronological structure
The 425-page book is structured along the timeline. All model generations are introduced with explanatory texts and pictures.
There are also one or two anecdotes that were previously not so present. For example, that the prototype of the Turbo Cabriolet should actually have been shown with a wing at the IAA, but that the boss insisted on a wingless study.
The technical data of the individual model variants and the price developments of recent years are also listed.
Not least because the book is bilingual (German/English), this quickly leads to 30 or more pages per model year. In between, interviews (e.g. with Helmut Bott) and supplementary texts are integrated. Purchasing advice helps prospective buyers to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the various development stages.
The special models too
Andreas Gabriel is particularly proud of the fact that, for the first time, he has been able to document all the special models in full, including those that are not widely known.
You come across the "25 Years" anniversary edition and the 25 Anniversary Edition, as well as the Sonauto Turbo, which has only been produced ten times. And, of course, the sporty 3.0 RS and Clubsport variants are not missing either.
Selected images
The book is text- and information-heavy, but also shows many historical pictures from the 16 documented model years as well as some beautiful pictures taken later. The print quality and image selection are impressive, but some fans would probably have liked even more photos.
It would also certainly have been exciting to find more brochures and color charts from the one and a half decades of Porsche production.
Broad readership
Over 190,000 G models were built by Porsche in the 16 years until they were replaced by the 964. With over two-thirds of Porsche vehicles surviving, there is no need to worry that the new book will find enough buyers among the current owners of these cars alone. But the readership can certainly be defined even more broadly, because Porsche probably has far more fans than owners. And for all these readers, the book from Berlin Motor Books will certainly provide an enjoyable exploration of the history of this important car, for which many former owners still shed a tear today.
Bibliographical details
- Title: Porsche 911 - Aircooled Years - 1974-1989
- Authors: Andreas Gabriel, Manfred Hering, Tobias Kindermann
- Languages: German/English
- Publisher: BMB Berlin Motor Books
- Edition: 1st edition December 2017
- Format: Hardcover with slipcase, 27.1 x 4.3 x 32.1 cm
- Scope: 425 pages, around 250 pictures
- ISBN: 978-3981459234
- Price: EUR 99.80
- Buy/order: Online at amazon.de, online at the publisher Berlin Motor Booksor at the relevant bookstore
