The classic 911 is the coolest car on planet earth. Now I know that is a very bold statement, one that will certainly ruffle the grubby anoraks of the numerous car buffs that idle their tea breaks away perusing MotorPunk. Nevertheless, there it is, it’s out there. But firstly, before we actually award this automotive accolade to Stuttgart’s finest, I suppose we’d better clarify what do we actually mean by ‘cool.’ Well, rather ironically, it’s a term that was originally coined by black musicians in the steamy nightclubs of New Orleans as a means to describe an introverted, laid back style of jazz in the 1940s. Today, in motoring circles especially, it’s the laziest, most over-used and hackneyed catch-all label for anything that marginally stands out from the dreary droves of metallic grey Euro-boxes that clutter our highways and byways. But, none of this really answers the question does it? So, of course I turned to Google. It turns out that a couple of years ago a top boffin from the University of Tulane in Louisiana, a stone’s throw from the terms birthplace, was tasked with the tricky job of defining ‘cool’ in relation to famous characters. After a lot of deliberation, and time spent pouring over images of cult celebrities ranging from Debby Harry to Steve McQueen from Bob Dylan to James Dean, the clever academic boiled it down to a simple two word definition: ‘relaxed intensity.’ Now I quite like that; I think I can use that here. Personally, I don’t really know of any other car that demonstrates as relaxed intensity as the original Porsche 911 – a simplicity of design matched by an aesthetic sense of purpose – a car that I unashamedly ogle in the paddocks of Goodwood and classic car shows, and yearn to own like a pathetic love-struck schoolboy. It’s got the whole CV needed for iconic car status: rarity, motorsport pedigree, idiosyncratic design and a bassy flat-six soundtrack that sounds like nothing else. I love ‘em. But there’s the rub. Early 911 from the 60s and 70s are now fetching such stupid money that I have finally faced up to the simple fact that I’m probably never gonna scratch that air-cooled itch. As good unmolested cars get rarer, more expensive and more exclusive then, sadly, my secret fanboy obsession with classic Porsche is only going to get stronger. This is not a good thing. But I do have abackup plan. Watch this space in 2016 MotorPunks. I think you’ll quite like it. 8 Responses Norma Snob December 13, 2015 Would love an old Porka but missed the boat ten years ago when decent 964 could be had for £10k. No one wanted the leaky 80s version then. Maybe the 996 could be a good investment if you hung onto it for a few years? Reply Bob North December 13, 2015 Hmm, what about the Miura, Ferrari 250 or our the E Type? Reply Tony kaye December 16, 2015 Why do people go so giddy over this arse-engined soap dish? I’ve never really got the attraction. Surely the Ferrari 250 deserves this title? Reply Dr.Octane December 18, 2015 Well, I would agree with you if they were mass produced like the 911. Reply Tipex December 26, 2015 You can’t buy cool, The 911 is too expensive to be cool now, they’re all owned by car bores or hipsters that hugely modify them to try and hide the inherent flaws, the only affordable ones are the early water cooled ones, you know, those boggle eyed parts bin specials that have Boxster headlights, no thanks. Cool is a well used 205GTi or a Jensen Interceptor with intergalactic mileage. Reply Rich Duisberg December 26, 2015 The 205Gti looks like a great modern classic to us, super-cool, and we’d love an Interceptor if only for the name. Reply Tipex December 30, 2015 An interceptor with an LS V8 just to annoy the beards, doesn’t get much cooler than that! James Marson December 28, 2015 Did anybody say cool…a period E24 635CSI would steal a 911’s lunch money for a month and when his big brother came around to sort things out would give him a wedgy and send him packing… Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Current ye@r * Leave this field empty
Norma Snob December 13, 2015 Would love an old Porka but missed the boat ten years ago when decent 964 could be had for £10k. No one wanted the leaky 80s version then. Maybe the 996 could be a good investment if you hung onto it for a few years? Reply
Tony kaye December 16, 2015 Why do people go so giddy over this arse-engined soap dish? I’ve never really got the attraction. Surely the Ferrari 250 deserves this title? Reply
Dr.Octane December 18, 2015 Well, I would agree with you if they were mass produced like the 911. Reply
Tipex December 26, 2015 You can’t buy cool, The 911 is too expensive to be cool now, they’re all owned by car bores or hipsters that hugely modify them to try and hide the inherent flaws, the only affordable ones are the early water cooled ones, you know, those boggle eyed parts bin specials that have Boxster headlights, no thanks. Cool is a well used 205GTi or a Jensen Interceptor with intergalactic mileage. Reply
Rich Duisberg December 26, 2015 The 205Gti looks like a great modern classic to us, super-cool, and we’d love an Interceptor if only for the name. Reply
Tipex December 30, 2015 An interceptor with an LS V8 just to annoy the beards, doesn’t get much cooler than that!
James Marson December 28, 2015 Did anybody say cool…a period E24 635CSI would steal a 911’s lunch money for a month and when his big brother came around to sort things out would give him a wedgy and send him packing… Reply
