Introduction
The Porsche models are one of the most distinctive cars on the planet. The brand's popularity, specific design details, company logo, and sheer number of cars on the road made it recognizable even to people who are not car enthusiasts. On the other hand, Porsche's fan base is second to none, with its cars on the wish lists of probably hundreds of millions of fans worldwide and an enormous amount of content dedicated to this brand that can be found online. You would think that every Porsche model is well-documented and well-known. But you would be wrong. Even companies like Porsche have forgotten models or cars that mainstream enthusiasts were unaware of. In fact, there are quite a few such machines, and we will tell you more about them today.
1. Porsche-Cisitalia Type 360
Although forgotten and not a very successful racing car, the Porsche-Cisitalia Type 360 was essential for Porsche as a brand. It was the first post-war project that Ferdinand Porsche overtook, and the family managed to get him out of French jail using some of the money he received for engineering this Formula One car. The rest was invested in making the first Porsche 356, a car that put Porsche on the map and started this legendary company.
2. Porsche 968
People often overlook that between the last 944 and the first Boxster, there was a 4-year gap. Some even think Porsche abandoned this market segment until the 986 Boxster arrived. But this wasn't the case. In the early '90s, Porsche introduced the 968, sort of a warmed-up 944, with S2 3.0-litre 4-cylinder engine and headlights from its bigger brother, the 928. Even though the 968 brought several improvements over the 944, it failed to attract buyers despite decent power, excellent driving dynamics and one fantastic special version – the 968 Club Sport. When the Boxster exploded on the scene in 1996, Porsche fans quickly forgot about the 968 and even today, it is rarely mentioned.
3. Porsche 904 GTS
Although the rear-engine configuration was Porsche's signature feature from the beginning, in 1964, the company introduced one very advanced mid-engined model – 904 GTS. It was a barely disguised race car with the engine in the middle, a fibreglass body and a drag coefficient of 0.34 cw. The 904 GTS was immediately very successful on the track and produced in several versions, including flat-four, six and even eight-cylinder engines. The car was built over two years (1964-1965), and Porsche only made 108. Its influence is impressive since it paved the way for Porsche 906, 908 and 917 racing cars that created history.
4. Porsche 912
It is no secret that, during the initial years, the 911 had trouble finding buyers, and the company was very concerned—the solution – a cheaper, slower, but equally beautiful entry-level model called 912. Introduced in 1965 and sold until 1969, this was basically a stripped-down 911 with a 1.6-litre flat-four engine. Low on power but with excellent fuel economy, the 912 sold over 30,000 examples, keeping the company afloat and promoting the 911's timeless shape. In 1975, Porsche introduced the 912E for the American market with the 2.0-litre engine and the same idea, but this model lasted only a year.
5. Porsche Type 957
Porsche is not just a sports car brand but also an engineering company that has tried its luck constructing various other vehicles. When the German Military announced that it needed a capable, light and highly mobile vehicle, Ferdinand Porsche penned a Type 957, an all-wheel drive military vehicle powered by an air-cooled flat-four engine. The Type 957 was extremely capable off-road with great balance, dependable mechanics, and low weight. However, Porsche didn't get the contract due to the high price. The Type 957 was included in the regular Porsche production lineup for a few years, and only 71 vehicles were delivered.
6. Porsche Tractor
The conventional wisdom tells us that the first Porsche diesel was a 2009 Cayenne with a 3.0 TDI engine. But in 1956, Porsche introduced the Porsche-Diesel Super tractor with an air-cooled, three-cylinder oil burner. Not something you would expect from a prestigious brand like Porsche, but the company did anything that was profitable in those post-war years. The Porsche tractors were reasonably successful and sold in many European countries. They lasted until 1963, and the company stopped making tractors in preparation for the production of the brand-new model – the 911.
7. Porsche 356 Carrera GS 2
Although everybody lusts after Porsche 356 Speedsters, the 356 series has a hidden gem that is even more fascinating. We are talking about 356 Carrera GS 2, a pinnacle of engineering and predecessor to modern GT3 models. Using a very advanced and complicated twin-cam and four-valve, 2.0-litre racing engine, Porsche could extract 130 hp and make a very fast (but also costly) road-going machine. Produced in the mid-60s, when 911 was already making headlines, nobody really paid any attention to the fantastic 356 Carrera GS 2. That is why Porsche made only 101 coupes and 30 convertibles.
8. Porsche 911 SC/RS
During the '70s and '80s, 911 was often seen at rally events in Europe, and these attempts culminated with legendary wins at the Paris Dakar rally. However, in order to homologate the 911 for rally championships, Porsche needed a road-going version. So, in 1984, a special model was introduced under the name 911 SC/RS. With a 3.0-litre flat-six engine with 255hp, this model had a lightweight body, roll cage, special suspension components and bigger brakes. It was made in order for the Rothmans Rally team to get FIA approval and participate in rally events.
9. Porsche 914
When the production 912 ended in late 1969, Porsche replaced it with a very different machine – the 914. This two-seat, mid-engine car was built in cooperation with Volkswagen and planned to be offered by both companies. However, VW backed out at the last moment, leaving Porsche with a pretty slow machine, which sold surprisingly well. When production stopped in 1976, Porsche delivered over 118,000 cars worldwide. With a base 1.7-litre flat-four and only 80hp, the 914 was never a fast car, which is probably why nobody talks about them today!
10. Porsche 924 Turbo
Interestingly, the 911 Turbo gets all the attention, but nobody remembers the 924 Turbo, introduced in 1978. Porsche knew the standard 924 was underpowered and wanted to introduce the car to bridge the gap between it and the 911. In the late 70s, turbo technology was all the craze, and mounting a turbocharger on Volkswagen's 2.0-litre EA831 engine proved the right decision. With 170 hp on tap, significantly better performance and few cosmetic tweaks, the 924 Turbo was a great car to drive and press favourite. However, it is now a totally forgotten part of Porsche's history.
