super cars: March 2014

The Porsche Sports Car

A review of The Porsche Sports Car, covering development, important features, and technical data of each model in the range, from the 356 to the 993 Turbo S.

In this Article, I offer a nostalgic look at the Porsche Sports Car, one of an elite group of classic cars, which was manufactured during the period 1948 to 1995.

Ferdinand Porsche would have to wait until after WW2 to fulfil his dream of creating a sports car from the Volkswagen Beetle.

1949

In 1949, the 356 was the first Porsche sports car, and was debuted at the Geneva Motor Show where it created immediate interest.

Owners of the 356 were keen to race the car as well as drive it on the streets. As a result, orders reached some 10,000 units by 1964. When production of the Porsche 356 ended in 1965, 76,313 cars had been built.

1964

In 1964, the 911 Porsche sports car made it debut. It was a 2+2, with an air cooled, rear mounted, 2 litre, 6-cylinder, 130 bhp engine.

1966

In 1966, the more powerful Porsche 911S was launched with a 160 bhp engine.

1969

In 1969, fuel injection was added to the 911S, and the 911E became the new middle of the range model.

1970

In 1970, the engine capacity of all 911's was increased to 2195 cc.

1972

In 1972, all models received a larger 2341 cc engine. This was known as the "2.4L" engine. The 911S was the top of the range.

1973

In 1973, the next car to be introduced was the 911 Carrera 2.7 RS. It had stiffened suspension and a distinctive rear spoiler.

Carrera was Spanish for "race", and the RS meant "racing sports".

1974

In 1974, the 911 Carrera 3.0 RS appeared, with Bosch fuel injection and a 230 bhp engine.

It was designed with racing in mind, and had a number of successes.

In 1974, the 911 Turbo was introduced. The engine was a turbocharged 3 litre, 260 bhp unit.

Known as the Type 930, it had distinctive wide wheel arches and a large rear spoiler.

1976

In 1976, the Carrera 3.0 was introduced. It used the 930, 3 litre, Turbo engine with Bosch fuel injection, but without the turbocharger.

1978

By 1978, the engine of the 930 Turbo had increased to 3.3 litres.

In that year, the latest Porsche sports car to be introduced was the 3 litre, 911SC. In essence, this was a Carrera 3.0 with a detuned engine.

1980

In 1980, the power of the 911SC was increased to 188 bhp which, by 1983, was further increased to 204 bhp in non US models.

1982

In 1982, Porsche introduced the first 911 Cabriolet, the last such model being seen on the 356 in the 60's.

Its success meant that a Cabriolet would be offered in the future.

1984

In 1984, the 911SC was replaced by the 911 3.2 Carrera Porsche sports car. The higher compression engine developed 231 bhp in non US markets.

All Carrera models were offered as a fixed head coupe, cabriolet and targa (with removable hard top) versions.

This was, in effect, the last version of the original 911 series.

Also, that year, Porsche introduced the Supersport, which had a striking resemblance to the 930 Turbo, with wide wheel arches and the distinctive rear spoiler.

1989

In 1989, the 911 Speedster was launched, which was a low roof version of the Cabriolet. It was available as a narrow bodied version, or in the style of the Supersport.

Also that year, the 911 Type 964 series made it debut.

It was introduced as the 911 Carrera, 4 Porsche sports car, with a 3.6 litre engine. A rear spoiler was activated at high speed. The "4" signified four wheel drive.

1990

In 1990, the Carrera 2 was launched, with drive on the rear wheels only.

The 930 Turbo experienced unprecedented demand in the late 1980's.

In 1990, the Type 930 was replaced by the Type 964 Turbo, Porsche sports car, with a 3.3 litre, turbocharged engine.

1992

In 1992, the 3.3 litre 964 Turbo S was launched, with lowered suspension, and designed for performance.

In 1992, the 964 3.8 Carrera RS, Porsche sports car, was launched.

It had the Turbo Style body, similar to the Supersport, a 3.8 litre engine, and a large fixed rear spoiler in place of the moveable one from the Carrera 2 and 4.

1993

In 1993, the 3.6 litre 964 Turbo, Porsche sports car, producing 360 bhp, was introduced to complement other 964 models.

A year later, a limited edition 964 3.6 Turbo S appeared, available with the classic Porsche body style, or with the exclusive Slant nose option.

1994

In 1994, the Type 993 was introduced, and represented the final series of air cooled 911's, originally appearing in 1964.

The revised body styling was smoother, with a more aerodynamic front end, and a new rear.

The engine remained at 3.6 litres, but power increaseed to 272 bhp. In 1996, it was further increased to 286 bhp.

The Carrera 4 and 2 versions were available, the latter being simply called Carrera.

A rear wheel drive 993 3.8 RS, Porsche sports car, was introduced, with a 3.8 litre engine, developing 300 bhp.

1995

In 1995, the 993 3.6 Turbo, Porsche sports car, was launched.

It was the first of the Porsche cars to be fitted with twin turbochargers, which produced 408 bhp from the 3.6 litre engine.

1997

In 1997, the 993 3.6 Turbo S was launched, developing 424 bhp.

This represented the last air cooled 911 Turbo.

1998

In 1998, the Type 996 was introduced, in which the air cooled 911 was replaced with a water cooled version.

The body styling of all previous 911's was based on the original 1963 version. However, the 996 incorporated a redesigned body shell.

The 996 911 formed the basis of a whole series of variants, such as the Carrera 4 and "Turbo Look" Carrera 4S, the racing orientated GT3, and the 996 Turbo.

This marked the end of the classic Porsche sports car.

Beyond 2000, Porsche produced a number of exciting sports cars which, sadly, falls beyond the time frame of this review.

Perhaps this stroll down memory lane might have answered, or at least shed light on, a possible question:

"Which Porsche Sports Car Is Your Favourite?"

However, should this question still remain unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some detail, in future articles within this website, the entire range of Porsche sports cars which were featured in the memorable era spanning 1948 to 1995.

I hope you join me in my nostalgic travels "down sports car memory lane".

America's Sports Car: The Chevrolet Corvette

One of the most classic American sports cars is the Chevrolet Corvette, which was first introduced in 1953. It was the first completely American sports car built by an American car company, which is why it is often referred to as "America's Sports Car".

Today, Corvettes are manufactured in the city of Bowling Green, Kentucky, where they are created with great care. Though the main complaint with the car was its handling, Corvettes' handling has been continually improved to be on a par with popular European sports cars. However, they still remain relatively affordable, which is perhaps another one of the reasons why they continue to be such popular sports cars.

Corvettes are also created to be far simpler than the technical sports cars seen in Europe, which is one of the reasons they are cheaper. Due to their simplicity, Corvettes tend to be smaller and weigh less than sports cars manufactured abroad. The famous car designer Harley Earl was the person who originally designed the beloved Chevrolet sports car. He noticed that soldiers after the Second World War were bringing back European sports cars and that America didn't really have one. At the 1953 Motorama car show, the Corvette that Earl designed was finally unveiled to the shocked public.

The body of the car was originally made with fiberglass, which was brand new at the time. The performance of the car was similar to other Chevrolets produced at the time, but when Chevrolet released it with the first V8 engine in 1955, it became more powerful and therefore quite popular.

Since it was first introduced, there have been six different generations of Corvettes. The first version of the Corvette had about 290 horsepower and a relatively new fuel injection system. There were several options available to it, including power windows and a convertible top. The second version of the Corvette is also quite important as it was known as the Corvette Sting Ray and had four-wheel disc brakes. There are only five of these coveted models left in existence.

The third version had the oddest introduction of the entire group, as it was shown to the public through Mattel's Hot Wheels line, which had been released a few weeks before the actual car was meant to be shown. The fourth generation was praised for its aerodynamic design, which was uncommon at the time. The fifth generation celebrated the Corvette's fiftieth anniversary, but also improved the car's power in nearly every area. The sixth generation Corvette was recently released and has focused on improving the power of the car, rather than creating a new look.

Even though the Corvette name has been around for over fifty years, it continues to be noteworthy to automobile enthusiasts. In 1984 and 1998, it won Motor Trend's Car of the Year and has appeared on dozens of Ten Best Car lists. The car truly is a piece of automobile history. In fact, the oldest Corvette in existence recently sold at an auction at the price of one million US dollars. The classic American sports car truly is the Chevrolet Corvette, which is why it has been able to survive and remain popular for over half a century.

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The British Sports Car

A review of The British Sports Car, covering development, features and technical data of each chosen model, from the Mini Cooper S, Jensen Healey, Daimler Dart, to the McLaren F1.

In this Article, I offer a nostalgic look at British Sports Cars, an excellent example of a collection of some true classics, which were manufactured during the period 1959 to 1996.

Mini Cooper

John Cooper, who built Formula One and rally cars, was well aware of the tuning potential of the A-Series engine used in the Mini.

After extensive discussion and collaboration, the Austin and Morris Mini Cooper sports car made their appearance in 1961.

The Morris Mini used an 848 cc engine. However, with tuning, and giving it a longer stroke, the capacity could be increased to 997 cc. Power would increase from 34 bhp to 55 bhp.

The Mark 1 Mini Cooper had two SU carburettors, a close ratio gearbox, and front wheel disc brakes.

In 1964, the original 997 cc engine was replaced, in the Mark 2 Mini Cooper, with one using a shorter stoke and a capacity of 998 cc.

In 1992, the Rover Mini Cooper used a 1275 cc engine, with fuel injection replacing the SU's.

Sales of the Mini Cooper were: 64,000 Mark 1 and 16,000 Mark 2.

Mini Cooper S

In 1963, more powerful versions of the basic Mini Cooper sports car were debuted under the name of Austin and Morris.

The first was the 1071 cc Mini Cooper S, with a modified crankshaft and stiffened main bearings, to allow for further tuning.

It had enlarged servo assisted disc brakes, and was designated the Mark 1 Mini Cooper S. It was built for only one year.

In 1964, the 970 cc Mini Cooper S was launched, designed for racing in the under 1000 cc class.

However, it was not popular, and was only manufactured for a year. It was designate the Mark 2 Mini Cooper S

On the other hand, in 1963, the 1275 cc Mini Cooper S was introduced, and was an immediate success, with continuous production until 1971.

There was a Mark 1, 2 and 3 version. This model was designed for racing in the under 1300 cc class

Sales of the Mini Cooper S were:

19,000 Mark 1 (combined 970, 1071 and 1275)
6,300 Mark 2 (1275 only)
1,570 Mark 3 (1275 only)

A Mini Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967.

Jensen Healey

When production of the Austin Healey 3000 sports car ended in 1967, there were discussions between Donald Healey and the carmaker Jensen.

From the resultant collaboration was born the Jensen Healey sports car.

At the prototype stage, a number of engines were evaluated from Vauxhall, BMW and Ford. However, none were acceptable.

Finally, Jensen approached Lotus who had a new, but untested engine which met the requirements.

It was a 2-litre, twin overhead cam, 16 valve, aluminium unit called the Lotus 907.

The result was offered as a two seater convertible or coupe, with front disc brakes and rear drums. It used coil springs at the front, and a rear live axle.

European export models had two, twin choke carburettors, whilst US models had a single Stromberg, for emission requirements.

The Jensen Healey was popular in the US, but less so in the UK. A total of 3,777 were sold.

To offset financial difficulties, the Jensen Healey GT was introduced in 1975. It was a 2+2 coupe with a limited rear view.

Jensen went into receivership in 1976.

Jensen Interceptor

In 1966, the Jensen Interceptor sports car was launched.

It was offered as a two door, four seat hatchback, convertible or coupe.

The Mark 1 version used a 6.3 litre (383 cu in) Chrysler V8 engine, developing 325 bhp.

It had a distinctive, very large, wrap around rear window that also acted as a tailgate. It had disc brakes on all wheels, independent front suspension, and rear leaf springs.

In 1969, the Mark 2 was introduced with styling that was slightly revised.

In 1971, a larger Chrysler 7.2 litre (440 cu in) V8 engine was used with three, twin choke carburettors, developing 330 bhp.

This version of fuel delivery was called the SP, and was also available on the 6.3 litre engine, developing 385 bhp.

In 1972, the 7.2 litre engine now used a single 4-barrel carburettor.

In 1973, the Mark 3 had further minor styling changes.

Daimler Dart

By the late 1950's, the luxury carmaker Daimler was in financial difficulties.

As a result, the company decided to enter the US sports market with their own model.

Hence, the Daimler Dart, later known as the Daimler SP250, was born. The "SP" referred to Sports, and the "250" to its 2.5 litre engine.

Launched at the New York Auto Show in 1959, it was well received.

It was described as a 2+2 sports car, with a fibreglass body on a steel chassis.

Its engine was an all new 2.5 litre, hemispheric combustion chambered, overhead valve, V8 unit, with two SU carburettors.

The chassis in the original A-spec sports car had a tendency to flex on hard cornering, causing the doors to open.

However, this was rectified in 1960 with the introduction of the B-spec car.

In 1963, the C-spec version appeared, with luxurious extras as standard.

Daimler was acquired by jaguar in 1960 and, sadly, since the Dart had to compete with the E-Type, it wan't given the attention it deserved, which had an adverse affect on sales.

Mc Laren F1

In 1988, a simple drawing of a three seater sports car formed the basis for creating the ultimate sports car. Hence was born the F1.

In 1992, the McLaren F1 was presented at The Sporting Club in Monaco.

It used a glass fibre monocoque chassis.

It was decided that the engine should be normally aspirated since turbochargers and superchargers added a degree of complexity which might affect the drivers' level of engine control .

The final choice of engine was a BMW 6.1 litre, V12. It used an aluminium block and cylinder head, four overhead camshafts, and variable valve timing.

The road version had a compression ratio of 11.1.

In 1998, the McLaren F1 was the world's fastest road car, reaching 231 mph, with its revs limited, and 243 mph when able to rev freely.

Only 106 F1's were manufactured:

64 of the standard street version (F1)
5 were tuned versions (LM's), referring to Le Mans
3 were road cars (GT)
5 were prototypes (XP)
28 were race cars (GTR)
1 was an LM prototype

This marked the end of my review of the British sports car.

Perhaps this stroll down memory lane might have answered, or at least shed light on, a possible question:

Which British Sports Car is Your Favourite

However, should this question still remain unanswered, I will be reviewing, in some detail, in future articles within this website, this range of British sports cars which were featured in the memorable era spanning 1959 to 1986.

I hope you join me in my nostalgic travels "down sports car memory lane".

Where to Find the Best Sports Car Hire

By definition a sports car is equipped with two seats, has a low center of gravity and a front mounted high performance engine. I believe to be a true sports car in the old sense of the word it must be a soft top. I think the true sports car originated in Britain with models such as the Austin Healey 3000, MG B GT s and Triumphs of the fifties and sixties. These two seater sports cars were a revolution in motoring. Generally built with folding soft top, two seats and a throaty 4 cylinder engine they gave drivers of the day the thrills they had been looking for.

Today Sports cars have evolved to be affordable accessible and practical. The original cars of the fifties and sixties were badly fabricated, they had awful handling, poor reliability, were very slow compared to today's standards and didn't stop well at all. The sports cars of today are fun nimble and will be sure to bring a smile to your face.

Some sports cars today even have rear seats; sometimes referred to as a 2+2 these seats allow you to car 3 additional passengers but generally speaking aren't particularly comfortable over long journeys. Sports car hire in Spain is best suited to a couple traveling abroad looking for fun on the open road. If you intend to take a road trip or want to travel in style with a loved one there is no better feeling than putting the top down and heading out across the beautiful Spanish country side. With the breeze in your hair and the burble of exhaust notes behind you the road becomes your friend.

Taking a road trip in Spain couldn't be easier you aren't even restricted to return the car to the same place that you hired it from. If it suits I would suggest starting at one airport and ending at another. There will be very little difference in costs and this way you won't have to back track or see any thing twice.

Sports cars today range from things like the now defunct TVR s or the increasingly popular Mazda MX5 even BMW and Porsche build cars which fall under the category of sports car if you are feeling wealthy or want to turn heads as you cruise the streets and boulevards of Spain try hiring a Porsche Boxer or BMW Z4. These cars are top of their game and offer the driver unbeaten control and driving experience. A trip though Spain in a Sports car is sure to leave you with memories that will last a life time.

Travelling to your final destination can also save you money; if you fly to a relatively small airport outside of the main cities this will save you money you can then travel on in your hired sports car, eliminating any need for costly airport taxis. The Mercedes SLK, Peugeot Cabriolet range and Audi A4 convertibles are widely available throughout our Spanish destinations. They are more expensive than the very bottom range vehicles but this is because they cost more to buy and more for the hire companies to insure. Although a bit frivolous the memories and feeling you will get driving a sports car during your stay are immeasurable

When hiring a specialist sports car it is always best to book early, make reservations as soon as you have your holiday booked. By doing this you will get the cheapest quotes and ensure that your sports car is ready and waiting for you the moment that you pass through arrivals in Spain. You won't have to wait to fill out lengthy documents you can simply collect your keys put the roof down on your sports car and hit the open road. Don't forget to take a good CD of driving songs!

Sports Car Insurance Rates

Sports car insurance rates can vary based on several factors. Some companies who have taken the direct approach to the customers instead of reaching them through agents are able to offer lower rates. Some companies have taken sports car insurance as a special area, and such companies are able to offer specialist premiums for a considerable cheaper policy.

The driver's age as well as driving experience plays an important role in finding a cheaper sports car policy premium. The policies considerably reduce as the age increases over than 25 years old. Most standard insurance policies start to drop the price once the customer reaches the age of 30 because of the common notion that age slows down reckless driving and so the car would be less prone to accidents. In addition, driving history in driving sports cars will also contribute to a lower insurance premium.

A high performance car insurance policy provides the correct level of insurance at an affordable premium, allowing the car to be used without bothering about high premiums. These policies more expensive than other car insurance coverage. Since sports vehicles are mostly preferred by the younger generation, there are more chances for accidents. The companies have taken up a vote to provide lower premiums to car owners older than 25 and preferably older than 30 years of age. A safely garaged car can attain significantly lower insurance premiums.

Though the insurance policy provides sports cars with enough protection, the insurance does not cover the car in case of modifications on the body of the car. The insurance would need to be increased in such instances. Also, cars that are used in the city will have higher insurance premiums because of more chances of high-risk accidents compared to the cars that would be used in the rural areas or out of the city limits.

Why 2006 Was a Good Year For Sports Cars

In 2006 there were a few great sports cars that stood out from the crowd. The cars below stood out from the crowd. Even in the sports car industry there is a lot of competition, I love talking about sports cars and why they are so good or so bad. 2006 was the year of some cracking little sports cars.

The Audi A3 2 litre Turbo has enthusiasts on the edge of their seats and the Audi's responsiveness and how well it sticks to the road, but not only that the Audia A3 is a beautiful car the exterior the interior its just perfect.

The Audi A3 is powered by and intercooled turbo charged engine, the two litre engine is not by any means massive but with its 16 valves the Audi manages to get up to 197mph which is nothing to be sniffed at. Audi's just seem to get better and better and the introduction of the six speed transmission and front wheel drive gives great handling and a gear for every possibility.

The next car that has stood out from the crowd is the Honda Accord and with its fresh new look with the interior being completely redesign, the rear and the front of the Accord has also changed a lot an it is looking very nice.

When you buy a Honda it will always hold its value so when you go to resell it in the future you will not lose as much money as you might have thought. The high resale value is because Honda have such a good reputation for over engineering cars which can only give great reliability. The Honda Accord also comes in a V6 version which comes with a state of the art suspension stability system that gives better handling and road holding.

Those of you who have started to get to know me will know that I love Porsche, and the Porsche Boxster is a great car it takes all the great things from the 911 and twists them to make this fantastic looking car. The twenty four valved double over head cam engine with 2.7 litres is just a massive power plant for such a small car. With the perfect weight distribution it makes the Porsche Boxster an incredible car to drive. With Boxster the performance is not just in the engine it also has massive stopping power which is so important with a car of the Boxster's performance.

Over the course or history sports cars have just got better and better and they styling a lot more refined. But as long as there is competition there will always be great sports cars. The Car enthusiasts will be kept happy for many years to come. Sports cars are just going to get better and better.