The Porsche 911 (pronounced as nine eleven) is the everlasting flagship model and trademark of Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. The famous, distinctive and durable car has undergone continuous development since its introduction in autumn 1963 while still maintaining the basic shape and design.
Mechanically it is notable for being rear engine powered by the infamous flat-six producing a very typical sound and, until the introduction of the Porsche 996 in 1999, previously all models were air-cooled. Also the interior of the 911, especially the instrument panel with its five round instruments of which the rpm meter is the largest, was only changed conservatively when the 996 was introduced.
Since its inception the 911 has been modified, both by private teams and the factory itself, for racing, rallying and other types of automotive competition. It is often cited as the most successful competition car ever, especially when its variations are included, namely the powerful 935. The flagship model of the 911 series being a turbocharged (forced induction) version first introduced in 1975 known as the 911 turbo, a sports car which combines extreme performance with a unique and timeless design matched with perfect daily driveability constantly redefining the ultimate benchmark for the competitors with every new model released.
In the international poll for the award of Car of the Century, the 911 came fifth after the Ford Model T, the Mini, the Citroën DS and the Volkswagen Beetle. It is the most successful surviving application of the air (or water) cooled rear engine layout pioneered by its original ancestor, the Volkswagen Beetle.
