1989 Porsche 911 (964) Carrera 4 Coupe (73 RS Backdate)

Description

Launched in 1988, Porsche’s new 911 model – codenamed Type 964 – was the most radical redesign of Professor Porsche’s masterpiece yet, with around 85 per cent of the car entirely new but the classic shape still instantly recognisable.  The most radical development was the adoption of a coil sprung all-wheel drive system in place of the traditional torsion bar rear suspension, drawing on lessons learnt from the 959 project.  Torque was normally split of 31 per cent to the front transaxle and 69 per cent to the rear but the driver could manually lock-up the system for slippery driving conditions, while Bosch anti-lock brakes were offered as standard equipment for the first time.  The 964’s motor was virtually all-new, a 3.6-litre flat six with twin plug ignition enabling a high compression ratio of 11.3:1, giving a healthy 250 horsepower at 6100rpm.  Big improvements were made to the aerodynamics, particularly around the engine, along with a flush windscreen and an electronically controlled rear spoiler, while lift at high speeds was practically eliminated.  Despite the added weight of the four-wheel drive system, the Carrera 4 still offered electrifying performance (0-100km/h took just 5.2 seconds, aided no doubt by the better traction) and the 964’s roadholding earned plenty of praise from motoring journalists at the time.  The 964 generation 911s have become increasingly sought after in recent years, with values climbing steadily – combining additional performance, reliability and creature comforts in the last of the traditional 911 shape, the 964 is a fabulous all-round package.