Porsche 911 - 50 Years

In Porsche 911: 50 Years, bestselling author Randy Leffingwell celebrates a half-century of one of the world's premiere sports cars, focusing on the major themes that have defined Porsche's rear-engined wonder. Randy tells the whole story design and development, racing and competition, engineering and technology, style and culture. All the iconic 911 models are included: the original 901 prototype that set the standard; the legendary RS models that made the little Porsche a dominant force on the world's racetracks; the infamous Turbo, the car that kept the performance flame alight during the dark, dismal decade of the 1970s; the fabled 959, the model that redefined the term "sports car"; the 993, last of the original air-cooled models; and the 996, 997, and 991, the liquid-cooled cars that brought the 911 into a new millennium. Beyond telling the story of the cars, Porsche 911: 50 years also spotlights the people behind them: Ferdinand "Butzi" Porsche, the son of legendary Porsche founder Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche, who co-designed the instantly recognizable 911 shape; Peter W. Schutz, the Porsche CEO who saved the 911 from extinction; and Dr. Helmuth Bott, the engineering genius behind many of the groundbreaking technologies that have defined the 911, including fuel injection, turbocharging, and all-wheel-drive. Leffingwell also tells the story of the 911 community the clubs and culture that surround the car. Together, all of these facets make Porsche 911: 50 Years the most essential book in any Porsche owner or fan's library.

Hardcover: 256 pages

Publisher: Motorbooks; First Edition, First edition (October 20, 2013)

Language: English

Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 1.1 x 12.3 inches

Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds

Reviews

"Originally published in 2013, Randy Leffingwell's celebration of one of the world's premiere sports cars, is still a top seller more than 3-years later."

- FLATSIXES

"Porsche 911: 50 Years is above all a celebration of a peculiarly individual car which in a rational world would never have existed and yet survived and prospered through a half century, evolving and adapting but never losing its highly distinct character. No other brand has ever managed this and Leffingwell’s achievement is the focus he brings to this compelling story. Some of the face-to-face discussions the author was able to hold with current Porsche movers and shakers would have been impossible only a few years ago and this greater openness has extended to the company’s image collection: the book is illustrated by a superb selection of previously unseen Archive photography. Leffingwell has created a splendid monument to the Porsche 911, which more than just the definitive sports car, has defied conformist pressures to become a symbol of endeavour and excellence." - Total911

"I was searching for a Porsche mug for my boyfriend and ended up buying this book for about the same price as the mug! I chose this book because it had a good balance of literature and photos. I'm not a car fanatic but my boyfriend is, and he knows a lot about the 901/911. He was pleased because there is enough information in the book to refresh his interest. And surprisingly, he has the same fifty year edition for the Corvette. Both are a good start to his small collection of sports car coffee table books. While the book doesn't go into meticulous details about the engine development and specs for every year, it is enough detail to surprise even some long-time enthusiasts."

- Gina

"I'm a 911 owner. I have read lots of Porsche books. This one told me many things I did not know about the 911!"

- Pman

"Excellent publication and overview of 50 years. Great gift for any Porsche 911 owner."

- DJR

"Great book. Not to technical and easy to read and enjoy the many pictures of this marvel of engineering!"

- Dynasys

"If you like Porsches you need this book. Especially interesting in describing the latest Porsches, and very up to date at that. A combination of engineering, personalities and history."

- Paul Ehrmann