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Comfort in a sports outfit - the new Porsche 901

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Created on November 1, 1963

Reading time 6min

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Porsche 901 (1964) - ein früher Testwagen

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Porsche 901 (1963) - auf dem Titelbild der Zeitschrift 'hobby'

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Porsche 901 (1963) - Eddy Barth bei der Präsentation des neuen Sportwagens im Jahr 1963

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Porsche 901 (1963) - übersichtliche Armaturen, grosses Gepäckabteil, schön verpackter Motor

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Porsche 901 (1963) - Butzi Porsche war am 901 stark beteiligt

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Porsche 901 (1963) - Abbildung auf Verkaufsprospekt

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Porsche 901 (1963) - Durchsichtszeichnung

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Porsche 901 (1963) - eines der ersten Exemplare des neuen Sechszylinder-Sportwagens

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Porsche 901 (1963) - Grosser vorderer Kofferraum

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Porsche 901 (1964) - Blick in den vorne liegenden Kofferraum eines Testwagens

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Porsche 901 (1963) - aufgenommen im September 1963

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Porsche 901 (1963) - ein neuer 901 inmitten seiner Vorfahren, einem Taunus 17M und einem Opel Rekord

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Porsche 901 (1963) - hier hiess er noch 901, später sollte Peugeot intervenieren

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Porsche 901 (1964) - ein Testwagen von vorne

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Porsche 901 (1964) - Heckansicht eines Testwagens

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Porsche 901 (1963) - Seitenprofil des neuen Sechszylinder-Sportwagens

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Porsche 901 (1964) - Amaturenbrett - Genfer Automobilsalon 1964

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Porsche 901 (1964) - Lenkrad und Amaturenbrett eines Testwagens

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Porsche 901 (1964) - Frontgestaltung mit den charakteristischen Schweinwerfern - Genfer Automobilsalon 1964

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Porsche 901 (1964) - Blick auf Gebläse und Motor eines Testwagens

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Porsche 901 (1963) - Neuer Zweiliter-Sechszylinder

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Porsche 901 (1964) - Blick in den Motorraum - Genfer Automobilsalon 1964

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Summary

The Porsche 901, which later had to be renamed the 911 because of Peugeot, was a risk for the small sports car manufacturer, as many cherished features of its predecessor were "sacrificed" and many new paths were taken. The editors of the magazine 'hobby' wanted to know from the developers exactly why which conceptual decisions were made. In the end, they were convinced of the quality of the new product. This report reproduces the original wording of the vehicle presentation at the time, shows rare archive photos and even a sales brochure.

This article contains the following chapters

Talking to the chief developer
Why a boxer engine, why air cooling!
Why six-cylinder?
Why a new body?
Why not a four-seater?
Why change the suspension?
Why disc brakes?
Safety written in capital letters
Comparison 901 and 356 Carrera 2000 GT

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The new Porsche six-cylinder has made it: the worldwide 'Porsche family' has not only accepted it, but also embraced it with enthusiasm. In the order books on display at the Frankfurt show, the enthusiasm was expressed in DM, dollars, francs and many other currencies and is therefore by no means purely platonic. We ourselves approached the 901 rather skeptically, and it took some discussion to convince us that the 'new one' really represented progress for Porsche. Eddy Barth, the 1963 European Hillclimb Champion, took us around the 901 and into its deepest corners. And where Barth was not yet able to convince us one hundred percent, Dipl.-Ing. Hans Tomala, technical director in Zuffenhausen, finally tried.

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