1982 Porsche 911

The early sketches of the iconic 911, drawn by Ferdinand Porsche and known as the 'Neunelfer,' dates to 1958. With assistance from Edwin Komenda, who worked on the body profile, and Ing Hans Tomala who worked on the powertrain, the car was introduced in 1963, followed by decades of uninterrupted production. The 911 sports car has become one of the most popular, sophisticated, and admired vehicles of its kind. It is a symphony of technology, performance, handling, and design that was equally at home on the road as it was on the track. Its legacy would surpass even the 356 in longevity and in 1999, the 911 was awarded 5th place in the international poll for Car of the Century.

Porsche entertained plans to replace the 911 near the close of the 1970s with their new 928. The popularity of the 911 coupled with strong sales convinced management to revise its strategy and inject new life into the 911 editions.

A new version of the 911 was introduced in 1978 dubbed the 911SC, reinstating the Super Carrera acronym for the first time since the 356SC. The two-door 2+2 coupe with steel unibody came equipped with a three-liter engine with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and eight main bearings paired with a five-speed 915 transmission. Output was initially rated at 180 bhp, later 188 bhp and then in 1981, it was increased to 204 bhp. A cabriolet concept was introduced in 1981 at the Frankfurt Motor Show with the production version following a year later, as a 1983 model. This was Porsche's first cabriolet since the 356 of the mid-1960s. It was called the 'Targa' in honor of Porsche's numerous victories in the Sicilian classic. Due to expected U.S. safety legislation, engineers devised an ingenious approach to the soft-top 911, the Targa sporting a hefty roll-over bar to protect the occupants in the event of an inversion, together with removable roof and rear hood sections which were stowable in the boot. The popular Targa would remain in production well into the 1990s.

By the 1980's, the model was equipped with air conditioning and power windows. For 1981 it featured halogen headlamps and the following year saw the addition of leather seats and headlamp washers.

By the early 1980s, the Porsche 911SC coupes were equipped with air conditioning and power windows, along with a host of other standard features. For 1981, they gained halogen headlamps. The following year, they received leather seats in the front and headlamp washers.

The 2+2 Coupe sold for $27,700 in 1982 in the United States while the Targa version listed for $29,100. By 1983, Porsche had produced 59,914 of the 911SC.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2013