1967 was an even bigger year for the model with the introduction of the hotter 911 S-with 160-hp and 131 lb-ft from a 2.0-liter flat-six, plus iconic Fuchs alloy wheels-as well as the open-top Targa model. Early cars were powered by a 2.0-liter flat-six offering 130 horsepower and 129 lb-ft of torque, connected to a dogleg five-speed transmission.Īs 356 production ended in 1965, Porsche introduced the 912, a bargain model 911 with the 356SC’s four-cylinder and fewer luxury items. Hence, the new Porsche became known as the 911. Porsche began building the 901 in 1964, though only about 60 cars were completed before Peugeot threatened legal action, claiming a right to all three-digit car model names with a zero in the middle. The Porsche 901 maintained the 356's rear-engine, 2+2 layout, but brought sleek bodywork, McPherson strut front suspension, a five-speed gearbox, and most importantly, a new overhead cam air-cooled flat-six to replace the old pushrod flat-four. The brand needed a new model with improved performance and comfort, and at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show, that successor arrived. By the late Fifties, Porsche knew that its first sports car, the four-cylinder 356, was growing old.