www.QV500.com - Porsche 964 Part 1: 964
 
By the late 1980's, Porsche were in some financial trouble. The German firm had become an unfashionable symbol of an era defined by conspicuous consumption and with some outdated models that had weakened the once strong brand, many long-standing customers began to walk away. Porsche's problems were compounded when the late eighties recession began to bite and for a while, this illustrious firms future seemed to be hanging in the balance. The 964 was introduced during those dark days and did a lot to secure the organisations future.
   

It was available in a plethora of alternative specifications, these including four body styles (Coupe, Cabriolet, Targa and Speedster), two transmissions (five-speed manual or semi-automatic Tiptronic), two or four-wheel drive and a host of alternative engines ranging from 250 to 381bhp. The earliest to arrive was Porsche's Carrera 4 Coupe in August 1989 (for the 1990 model year). This was the first time four-wheel drive had been used on a series production 911, the 959 having introduced customers to the benefits of all-wheel drive a few years earlier. Heavily revised suspension was clearly influenced by lessons learnt with the 959, the new set up greatly improving ride quality and also reducing noise. Power steering was fitted for the first time whilst the brakes got four-piston aluminium calipers derived from the 928 S4. Convex seven-hole Club Sport wheels gave the 964 a refreshing new stance and distanced it from the often garish colour-coded look provided by the old Fuchs alloys. Porsche wanted a quieter, more powerful engine that was suitable for use in all world markets. The result was the Typ M64/01, a new 3.6-litre flat six with ceramic cylinder head port liners and a lightweight crankshaft. Bore and stroke were stretched from 85 x 74.4mm to 100 x 76.4mm respectively. As a result, displacement was now 3600cc exactly and with compression upped to 11.3:1, output rose to 250bhp at 6100rpm.

 
New Bosch Motronic engine management was installed along with a lightweight five-speed transmission and free-flow catalytic converter. This meant 964's were capable of passing the most stringent emissions tests and still came out quicker than the 3.2. Despite the roof, windscreen wipers, exterior mirrors, front wings, front lid and doors all being left unchanged, the 911 was given a mild face-lift to make it more appealing for the curve-conscious nineties. New bumpers were fabricated from deformable thermoplastic and mounted on an aluminium subframe.
   

North American versions had bumpers mounted on telescopic dampers. There were also new new tail lights with subtly re-profiled rear wings, extended side sills, a smoother underbody and an exhaust now exiting from the back bumpers right-hand side. One of the most innovative additions was a rear spoiler that normally lay flush on the rear lid until rising electronically into the air flow at 50mph. It would then retract back down again once the speed dropped below 6mph. Inside, the seats were carried over from the 3.2 along with the instrument binnacle, dash and door trim. One new feature was a 959-style transmission tunnel whilst a footrest was now positioned next to the clutch pedal. A revised heating and ventilation system was used although air-conditioning remained a cost option. The 964 Carrera 4 Coupe was launched in August 1989 having been announced nine months earlier in November 1988. Performance was sparkling with a top speed of 158mph and 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. In October 1989, a two-wheel drive version was announced, the Carrera 2 going into production during early 1990 and weighing some 150kg less than the 4x4 derivative. At the same time, Porsche also launched their optional Tiptronic gearbox, this facilitating either sequential-style or fully automatic shifting. In Tiptronic mode, the driver would shift up or down by pushing the gear lever forwards or backwards respectively.
 
Hailed as the best system of its type, Tiptronic unfortunately slowed acceleration quite dramatically and despite its eminent useability, wasn't that much better than the old Sportomatic fitted back in the seventies. More changes were made in August of 1990 (for the 1991 model year), a ten-speaker stereo becoming optionally available along with a trip computer. The electronic rear wing became adjustable from within the cockpit (via a toggle switch just in front of the gear lever), but more importantly, both the Carrera 4 and Carrera 2 could now be specified as Cabriolet's
 
Fitted with electric hoods for the first time on a 911, customers could alternatively opt for the halfway house Targa. From August of 1991 (when the 1992 model year 964's were introduced), it was possible to order a Carrera 2 with the ‘Turbo-Look' accessory pack. This consisted of the Turbo's larger cross-perforated brake discs, thicker and stiffer anti-roll bars and the Turbo bodyshell with its flared wheelarches, wider wheels and low profile tyres. Another desirable new option was sports suspension with shorter and stiffer shocks and springs plus more substantial anti-roll bars. Driver and passenger airbags were introduced as standard for left-hand drive variants, right-hand drive examples not being equipped as such until mid-'93. A few minor detail changes were made to the interiors of 1992 model year derivatives, these including a light delay switch, new central locking system and seat back release buttons positioned atop the rear seats. Outside, Cup Design alloy wheels and teardrop mirrors became standard. For the 1993 model year 964's (built from August 1992), Porsche introduced another new version, the America Roadster having essentially been a Turbo-Look Carrera 2 Cabriolet. It was a North American market special edition kitted out with all the normal Turbo-Look accessories, just 250 being built. Two months later a Speedster made its debut and then entered production during February 1993.
 
Based on the Carrera 2 Cabriolet, the primary differences were a cut-down windscreen and body-coloured glassfibre moulding under which an emergency hood was stowed. This distinctive polyurethane moulding meant the Speedster was strictly for two passengers, the rear seats being junked. Finally, to acknowledge 30 years of 911 production, Porsche launched the limited edition Carrera 4 Celebration in March 1993. Featuring a Turbo body but none of the other Turbo-Look goodies, the C4 Celebration could be identified via stylised 911 scripting on the engine lid.