VINTAGE PORSCHE MODELS WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF

Porsche has become the default sports car brand for most car enthusiasts, employing a long history of incremental upgrades and technical prowess. Its haloed sports car, the 911, is the most successful sports car of all time, amassing a fanbase like no other thanks to stellar handling and enough model variants for everyone to get a slice.

In this article, we've listed some of our favorite models that we're wondering how we'll ever afford. While the 911 gets all the praise, we've mixed up our list with some different models that remind us rear-engined classic Porsche models aren't the only thing out there. You'll be wondering how to fill your pocket for a Porsche after this one.

1972 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS

The Grandfather Of Modern Track Weapons

For some, this is the ultimate classic 911. The 2.7 RS was the fastest German production car when it came out, and was the first car to be outfitted with front and rear spoilers, the latter being a staple of this roadgoing racer. The 'ducktail' not only helped the rea of the car stay planted through corners, but also increased the top speed by almost three miles per hour. The 2.7L engine pushed it to over 150 miles per hour, and as a homologation special, it helped the 911 take on the Group 4 racing.

The Carrera name was all new to this car, too, and it was the first 911 to be named after the famous Carrera Panamerica race, where Porsche had found recent success. Back then, Carrera was reserved for the most hardcore Porsche racing models, so it was only right that this car would adorn the name. We love this car, as everyone in the automotive world wants to own a piece of history, and it doesn't get much better than this.

Values Today

The only drawback to all these firsts is that values have skyrocketed. While Porsche only had to build 500 as per homologation rules, they ended up building 1,580 examples, many in bright colors with graphic decals across the side. Classic.com has a benchmark price listed for this car of $550k, but many go for over that price at auction. There was even a recent example that went for over a million dollars last year, so you better get your pocket money up...

1978 Porsche 928

The Car That Couldn't Kill The 911

Porsche thought that most people would outgrow the 911 and the market would move towards the "traditional" layout of a front-engined, rear-drive GT car. The 928 was the car that was meant to topple the 911 dynasty, and while it failed to do that, it still deserves our love for its technological prowess and performance. While it was upgraded throughout its lifecycle, it always featured a water-cooled V8 engine that was fast, full of torque and matched its grand-touring characteristics perfectly.

This old Porsche was the first to be designed entirely in-house, and it's become an icon through shows like Top Gear. The late-model GTS trim is just as fast as 911 Turbo models of the time, and when you choose the automatic, it can become a relaxed cruiser to eat road trips with.

Values Today

The value of a Porsche 928 varies by the exact variant you get, and especially varies by the gearbox you choose. Manual options are commonly more expensive than their automatic counterparts, and some, like the GTS, can step over $130,000 when there's a third pedal involved. Whatever variant you pick, this Porsche is known for its reliability and ability to keep going for thousands of miles before any major work.

1986 Porsche 959

A Halo Car To Take On Giants

The Porsche 959 is a technological marvel and the peak of 80s automotive technology. First off, it took the 930's turbocharger technology and pushed it to the max with twin sequential compressors, making a total of 443 horsepower in a very linear fashion. Having the turbos sequential meant there was virtually no turbo lag, as the turbos would engage at different moments. It went against the Ferrari F40 to become one of the first near-200 mph cars, but many people believe that Porsche's numbers were conservative, and it could've eclipsed the special number.

It was the first car to feature tire pressure monitoring, and although its engine shared virtually nothing with the 911 of its day, the chassis, wheelbase and windows are all the same. While a separate model, it is known as the most hardcore speed-focused 911 of the 80s. It even competed in the Dakar and was successful thanks to an advanced AWD system.

Values Today

The Porsche 959 is a halo car. That means that values are super high, often exceeding $1.5 million. Classic.com has a market benchmark of over $1.8 million for this car, and that figure is only set to rise. The most expensive sale was for over $2.5 million. We're lusting after it as we know we'll never afford it.

1995 Porsche 911 (993) GT2

The Ultimate Air-cooled Porsche

We all want the peak of something. Whether it's an artist's work at the top of their career or watching an athlete dominate when nothing else can stop them, witnessing greatness is always impressive. Consider the 993-generation 911 GT2 as the peak of the air-cooled Porsche models, taking everything the company has learned over decades and turning it up to the max. The GT2 is a road-legal track car that features a powerful twin-turbo flat-six that pushes 424 horsepower. Porsche upgraded this to 450 hp in the final year of production.

This vintage Porsche was truly hardcore. Wheel arches were bolted on in case of a collision on track, thinner glass, and lighter materials all contributed to a diet of 451 lbs compared to a regular 993 Turbo. There are no rear seats or all-wheel drive, contributing to the driver being the most important part of this car. Oh, and who doesn't love air intakes on the side of the wing?

Values Today

Naturally, with under 200 units built, this isn't a car you'll simply buy at a used car lot. It easily sells for over $1 million every time it hits the market, and that's very rare as these are collector vehicles now, unfortunately. The most expensive car sold of the original batch was the Wölkchen, or Little Cloud, due to its light blue paintwork. It wasn't disclosed how much the original price for that car was, but a base GT2 already cost over double the price of a base Carrera.

1996 Porsche Boxster

An Affordable Step Into Performance

Before the 2000s, Porsche was struggling financially and decided to take a leap of faith with the Boxster, which paid off dearly for the brand. As a line of more affordable, yet no less desirable, Porsches that were sold alongside the newly-released 996-generation 911, the company could appeal to more people. This car shared many of its parts with its bigger brother, including many engine components that made this a downsized Porsche classic.

It might not be as old as others on our list of old Porsche models, but not everyone wants to deal with oily hands and a lack of tech in their cars. The Boxster is from a period of computers starting to influence driving, but not enough to distract you from the poise and balance of this German roadster. While the 2.5L engine is the most 'purist' powerplant, those who want more power can also reach for the 2.7L or 3.2L versions.

Values Today

This is the best part of the 986-generation Boxster. Values today vary massively due to condition, mileage and version, but you can easily get a tidy early example for around $15k, while more modern Boxster S models may command slightly more. Maintenance is quite affordable on these cars, too, with how many were produced, and the only big worry is bore scoring on the larger-displacement models. This is one of the best ways to get a set of Porsche keys.

Sources: Classic.com, Porsche, Excellence Porsche Magazine

2026-02-08T10:39:43Z