Porsche has a storied history with some of the most recognizable cars ever made. There’s a reason the company is number 58 on Forbes’ list of the world’s most valuable brands.
Whether you’re interested in the best looking, fastest, or most technologically advanced cars ever made, a Porsche will be on the list. Let’s take a look at five of the best Porsche models of all time.
1. Porsche 356
The 356 was the first model Porsche made, way back in 1948. It was a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive design with body design cues that are still visible on modern Porsche models.
The 356 was manufactured for several years and came in a couple of different versions, the most revered being the 356 Speedster. They are difficult to find for sale, with most remaining vehicles being in private collections, but if one does go to auction they can fetch over $250,000.
The 356 went from 0 to 60 in 13.9 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 19.2 seconds.
2. Porsche 550 Spyder
The 550 Spyder was the first purpose-built race car from Porsche. It featured a mid-engine configuration with the engine sitting in front of the rear axle and transmission instead of behind it.
The 550 Spyder is most recognizable as James Dean’s “Little Bastard”. It is one of the most common kit cars built today.
The 550 Spyder went from 0 to 60 in 7.0 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 16.2 seconds.
3. Porsche 911 Carrera RS
The Carrera RS, or Rennsport, was built for racing homologation requirements. As such, it was lighter and more powerful than other 911 models while still maintaining that classic Porsche profile.
The RS is one of the most collectible sports cars from any brand, fetching over $2 million at auction for a car in top shape.
The Carrera RS went from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 13.6 seconds.
4. Porsche 959
The 959 was another model that was tailor-made for racing, this time as a Group B rally car in the Paris-Dakar rally. It is essentially a 911 with all-wheel drive and some added body panels.
The 959 featured a 450 horsepower flat-six engine that introduced sequential turbocharging. Porsche only made 300 of the 959, selling for $225,000 in 1986. Even at that price, Porsche lost money on each car. The cost to manufacture them was almost double that. They fetch over $1 million today if you manage to find one for sale.
The 959 went from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 11.9 seconds.
5. Porsche 918 Spyder
The 918 Spyder is the most technologically-advanced car Porsche has made. It coined the term hybrid hypercar when it debuted in 2010.
The 959 features a 4.6-liter V-8 engine along with two electric motors. The combination produces 887 horsepower and an astounding 944 lb-ft of torque.
The 959 goes from 0 to 60 in 2.3 seconds and can run the quarter-mile in 9.9 seconds. It is the fastest production car to lap the track at Nurburgring, clocking in at 6:57.
Lots More to Come
Over the last decade or so, Porsche has started to branch out into new styles like the Macan, and Panamera. These don’t look like a typical Porsche sports car but there’s no doubt about their pedigree.
And models like the 718 Cayman keep the sports car tradition alive. The Porsche Cayman GT4 specs speak for themselves.
It’s Hard to Settle on the Best Porsche Ever
The models we’ve covered here are all contenders for the best Porsche title, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Porsche has made so many amazing models over their 70-plus year history that any list is going to leave something out.
It’s a testament to the company’s attitude to the cars they make and is a good sign that they’ll continue to push the envelope. There will no doubt be many more models to add to this list as time goes by.
Check back often for more interesting posts like this one.