Full Name: 911 Full 4-Seater
Production Type: Concept/Prototype
Body Type: Coupe
Car Seating: 4
Production Run: 1969-1969
Produced In: Germany
Introduced At: Never shown.
Original Price: Never sold.
Number Made: 2 units
Outline of Number Made: Only two protypes were ever produced, each slightly different.
Taking a Porsche's appeal and stretching it? It wasn't the first time and it
wouldn't be the last time. In the late 60's, Porsche as a company was
undergoing important changes, while the model range itself was
remaining rather static. The 356 was long gone, and save for the lower
-market 912, the 911 was all alone: the company was living on the rather
specialized offering of two person sports cars. There were some things
resembling seats in the back, as attested by their shape and cloth
covering. However, these attempts by Porsche fooled no one, and owners
would at most place small children or, better yet, dogs, in the rear
seats. Why not make the car more practical?
The idea has been around for a long time. Porsche's roots were with the
Beetle, the famous people-mover, and plenty of work had been done with
expanding the size of that car. The 356 itself had four seat prototypes
built in its era, and during the development of the 911, 911-like cars also
featured larger, more accommodating rear. The progression to get a four
seat 911 on the drawing board was natural. Two prototypes were built in
1969, which Porsche based on the design of the contemporary B-body
911. The wheelbase was extended about half a foot through the area
between the rear edge of the door and the rear wheelhouse, precisely
where the extra space would be needed for the rear passengers.
As is common with such projects, each of the prototypes incorporated
different styling. One's looks merely resembled that of the 911, a truly
extended version of the sports car. The other car, had a tale that was more squarish, and also featured larger
lights. Most notable is the rear-quarter windows, which some have
remarked in a decidedly uncomplimentary fashion resembled those
of an Opel Kadett coupe.
Ultimately, neither was very attractive and they were not approved for
production. One did end up sticking around the factory for a number of
years, serving as development hack. However, this would not be the
end of the effort to expand the Porsche 911 beyond the two seater
configuration. In the late 70's, Porsche launched its 928, which it was
quite convinced would take over from the 911 a true four seat
evolution. That did not end up being as successful as envisioned, and the
911 still remains, seating configuration unmolested. In the early 90's,
Porsche yet again added more seats to a 911 prototype, the four door
989 saloon, which did not enter production either due to cost concerns. Its
looks did carry over to the then future-generation 911, the 996.
Nevertheless, it seems we will, over the coming years, definitely see the
911 grow to sport four seats. Building on the success of their Cayenne
SUV, Porsche has confirmed that it will produce a four seater model,
which will obviously take styling cues from the venerable 911.
|
ja jongens wavoor een dan 
