There is no independently established answer to “Which Porsche 911 is the best?” This editorial selection weighs historical importance, engineering, intended use, competition connections, design, and cultural impact; the order is a judgment, not a Porsche ranking or a measured expert consensus.
The 911’s story runs from the car shown as the 901 in 1963 and sold as the 911 in 1964 to distinct branches built for touring, track use, all-weather speed, and even off-road driving. Here are 20 notable models and variants, with historical facts separated from opinion.
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The Porsche 911 Book: New Revised Edition | $28.71 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Complete Book of Porsche 911 4th Edition: Every Model Since 1964 (Complete Book Series) | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Porsche 911: The Ultimate Guide to the Greatest 911s of All Time | $25.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Porsche 911 60 Years | $33.38 | Buy on Amazon |
How to read this list
Porsche’s historical material supports the dates, specifications, and production details cited below. It does not establish a universal ranking or comparable test results across six decades. The selection therefore considers each model in its own period and intended role; the numbered order is editorial, not a claim that one car is objectively superior.
20 notable Porsche 911 models
20. 1964 Porsche 911 (901)
Shown as the 901 at the 1963 Frankfurt show, the car reached the market as the 911 in 1964. Porsche’s historical account gives the original six-cylinder, 2.0-litre model 130 PS and a top speed of 210 km/h. It established the rear-engine, flat-six foundation that subsequent generations developed.
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19. Porsche 911 Targa
Introduced in 1965, the Targa added an open-air body style to the range. Its place in the 911 story reflects a different use and design choice, rather than a claim that it outperforms fixed-roof models.
18. Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring
The Carrera RS 2.7 was a road-approved homologation special developed for racing and rallying. Porsche planned 500 cars for Group 4 homologation, sold that run quickly, and ultimately built 1,580. The Touring version retained more equipment than the lightweight Sport package, offering a less stripped-back expression of the RS idea.
17. Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Sport Lightweight
The Sport package, identified as M471, accounted for 200 cars. Porsche’s US account lists the lightweight at 960 kg and its injected 2.7-litre flat-six at 207 hp; Porsche also says the Touring package was 115 kg heavier. These figures come from that source and market context, and should not be silently combined with specifications quoted in other units.
Peter Falk, Porsche’s former Head of Testing for series-production cars, recalled that the RS 2.7 “was intended as a homologation special. It was to be a very light, fast sports car.”
16. Porsche 911 Turbo (930)
The 930 brought turbocharging into the 911 range and became a recurring high-performance branch. Porsche lists 260 PS for the first version and 300 PS from 1977. Its significance is the introduction of a distinct turbocharged character, not the unsupported “widowmaker” shorthand often used to describe every example.
15. Porsche 911 SC
The naturally aspirated SC represents another route through the G-series years, alongside Turbo and Carrera versions. It belongs in a historical overview because the 911 family was not defined by turbo power alone. The available research does not establish a single SC specification or reliability ranking applicable to every model year and market.
14. Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
The Carrera 3.2 is another notable naturally aspirated G-series model. It shows how Porsche continued to develop the standard sports-car branch while the Turbo drew attention as the range’s technical highlight. Its appeal should be assessed in its period context, rather than through comparisons based on power alone.
Rank #2
13. Porsche 911 Carrera 4 (964)
The 964 generation brought substantial modernization, including the 911’s first all-wheel-drive model, the Carrera 4. The rear-wheel-drive Carrera 2 followed. This makes the 964 a useful choice for readers interested in how Porsche extended the range while retaining the established rear-engine layout.
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Porsche’s Turbo history records a 3.6-litre 964 Turbo at 360 hp in 1992. It represents the Turbo branch of the 964 era, distinct from the Carrera 4’s all-wheel-drive introduction and the naturally aspirated Carrera models.
11. Porsche 911 Carrera (993)
The 993 was the final air-cooled 911 generation. Porsche highlights its redesigned aluminum chassis and integrated bumpers. Its historical significance is clear, though being the last air-cooled generation alone does not prove it is the best 911.
10. Porsche 911 Turbo (993)
The 993 Turbo combined twin turbochargers with all-wheel drive, making it a defining example of how the Turbo line developed. It is one of the clearest choices for readers drawn to the combination of air-cooled engineering and all-weather traction.
9. Porsche 911 GT2 (993)
The 993 GT2 represents the more track-focused side of the generation. It belongs on a list spanning different 911 purposes, but it should not be treated as interchangeable with the all-wheel-drive Turbo: the GT2 followed a distinct, more competition-oriented path.
8. Porsche 911 Carrera (996)
The 996 was the first water-cooled 911 and a comprehensive redesign. Porsche says its flat-six made 300 hp and frames the change in the context of emissions, noise, fuel consumption, comfort, and performance. Whether its styling appeals is a matter of taste; its importance as an engineering turning point is not.
7. Porsche 911 GT3 (996)
The GT3 appeared in 1999 as a successor to the Carrera RS tradition. It established a modern track-oriented branch within the water-cooled range. Its place here reflects that lineage and intended use, not a claim of direct test superiority over every other generation.
6. Porsche 911 GT2 (996)
The 996 GT2 offered a different formula from the GT3: rear-wheel drive and twin-turbo power. The contrast between these models illustrates why GT, GT2, RS, and Turbo labels signal different engineering and use cases rather than a simple ladder of “best.”
5. Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (997)
Porsche’s 2010 account lists the Carrera GTS at 408 PS. This model is a notable 997-era choice for readers interested in a performance-focused Carrera rather than a dedicated GT or Turbo. The figure is a period manufacturer specification, not a cross-generation comparison.
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4. Porsche 911 Sport Classic (997)
Porsche limited the 997 Sport Classic to 250 cars. Its double-dome roof and RS 2.7-inspired spoiler connect a special-edition 997 to the 911’s earlier design history. Rarity and styling help explain its significance, but the production figure alone does not establish that it is a better driver’s car.
3. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 (997)
Porsche described the road-approved GT3 RS 4.0 as making 500 PS and as the most powerful naturally aspirated 911 of its time. That dated description marks its place in the 997 range; it should not be mistaken for a current comparison across all 911s.
2. Porsche 911 Carrera T (991)
The Carrera T is one of the notable 991-era variants identified in Porsche’s historical material. Its significance in this selection is as a distinct Carrera branch, not as a specification-led winner: the dossier does not establish a single current specification or comparative test result for it.
1. Porsche 911 Dakar (992)
The Dakar shows how far the 911 concept can stretch: Porsche’s 2023 material highlights it as an off-road-capable 911. It earns the top spot in this editorial selection for broadening the family’s intended use, not because a common test proves it is better than a Carrera, GT3, or Turbo.
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| Label or branch | What it signals |
|---|---|
| Carrera | The core sports-car branch, with details varying by generation and model. |
| Targa | An open-air body-style choice, introduced in 1965. |
| Turbo | A recurring turbocharged high-performance branch; the first production 911 Turbo was the 930. |
| GT3 and GT2 | Different track- and competition-oriented approaches; GT2 models have used a rear-wheel-drive, twin-turbo formula in the cited generations. |
| RS and GTS | Distinct performance variants. Their meaning and specifications depend on generation; the labels are not interchangeable. |
| Dakar | An off-road-capable 992 variant, highlighted in Porsche’s 2023 material. |
Why the 911 changed over time
The early car’s rear-engine, flat-six identity dates to the model shown as the 901 in 1963 and sold as the 911 in 1964. Porsche later introduced the Turbo, all-wheel drive with the 964 Carrera 4, the final air-cooled 993 generation, and water cooling with the 996. Each step reflects changing engineering demands and different branches of the model family, rather than a single measure of progress.
Rank #4
Specifications need context. Porsche’s 2023 material gives 385 PS for the 992 Carrera and up to 650 PS for the Turbo S as of summer 2023. Those are dated manufacturer figures, not current 2026 specifications or a fair way to rank cars from different eras. Oliver Blume, Porsche CEO, described the eighth generation at its November 2018 presentation as “more powerful, more emotive and more efficient than its predecessor – with a wide range of digital features.” That is a launch-era characterization, not an independent test result.
FAQ
What are the best Porsche 911 models of all time?
There is no objective, universally accepted top 20. Notable choices include the original 911, Carrera RS 2.7, 930 Turbo, 993 Turbo, 996 GT3, 997 GT3 RS 4.0, and 992 Dakar, each important for different historical or engineering reasons.
Which Porsche 911 is the best?
It depends on what you value. The Carrera RS 2.7 is a defining homologation model, the 993 is the final air-cooled generation, and the 996 introduced water cooling. A GT3, Turbo, Targa, or Dakar serves a different purpose, so there is no single winner supported by comparable testing across all generations.
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Was the Carrera RS 2.7 built for racing?
Yes. Porsche describes it as a road-approved homologation special developed for racing and rallying. Porsche planned 500 cars for Group 4 homologation and ultimately built 1,580, including 200 Sport-package lightweight cars.
Which 911 was the first water-cooled generation?
The 996 was the first water-cooled 911. Porsche presented the change in the context of emissions, noise, fuel consumption, comfort, and performance requirements.
Was the 993 the last air-cooled 911?
Yes. Porsche identifies the 993, produced from 1993 to 1998, as the final air-cooled generation.
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