Porsche 911 Ss for Sale

Higher-performing derivatives of standard Porsches were an established tradition by the time the 911 replaced the 356 as this German sports car manufacturerâ€™s primary production model. While the standard 911 would be desirable on its own in any of its eig...

Higher-performing derivatives of standard Porsches were...

Higher-performing derivatives of standard Porsches were an established tradition by the time the 911 replaced the 356 as this German sports car manufacturer’s primary production model. While the standard 911 would be desirable on its own in any of its eight generations, the performance-focused “S” models offered through the years have been among the most coveted and valued by enthusiasts.

The original 911 debuted in 1964 with a 130 hp and 129-lb.ft. of torque (148 hp/140-lb.ft. SAE) from its 2.0-liter air-cooled flat-six engine. While this new car’s performance was reasonable, Porsche had more in store. The 2.0-liter 911 S debuted in the autumn of 1966 for the 1967 model year. This variant–the S stood for “Super”–rose above the base 911 with luxury equipment and changes in both the engine and chassis. The air-cooled, horizontally opposed six-cylinder used a 9.8:1 (versus 9.0:1) compression ratio, and two three-barrel Weber IDS carburetors replaced the twin Solex carbs, the result being 160 hp and 132-lb.ft. of torque (180 hp and 144-lb.ft. SAE) put to the rear wheels through a dogleg-first five-speed manual. Reining in that power were newly vented disc brakes behind now-iconic Fuchs forged magnesium five-spoke wheels. The suspension was upgraded with stronger MacPherson struts, adjustable Koni shocks, a larger diameter front anti-roll bar, and a new rear anti-roll bar where there was none.

The 1969 911 S, which shared a new longer wheelbase with lesser variants and was available in both coupe and open-top Targa forms, traded its Weber carburetors for mechanical fuel injection and made an SAE-rated 190 hp and 152-lbs.ft. of torque. This model got a displacement bump for 1970 to 2.2 liters, which improved output to 200 hp and 164-lbs.ft. of torque. The 1972 S got a front spoiler that helped the new 210-hp, 2,341-cc (badged 2.4) engine put its output to the ground. From 1973 into the G-chassis 911s of 1974-1977, the 2.7-liter, 175-hp 911 S was shifted into a mid-range position below the Carrera/RS.

While the “Super” 911 sat out the 1980s, it returned to glory with the 964-generation 1992-’93 911 Turbo S Leichtbau (Lightweight). Based on the rear-drive, 3.3-liter Turbo, the Turbo S underwent a serious strengthening and weight reduction regimen. It lost A/C, most soundproofing and undercoating, along with power steering and windows, and the rear seats; it gained race-style front seats, thinner glass, select carbon-composite body panels, and special air intakes. The monocoque was reinforced and the suspension stiffened, and a modified engine produced 381 hp. The Porsche Exclusive department would build just 86 examples.

The 993-generation 911 saw the S return to semi-regular production for a time. First came the naturally aspirated 282-hp 3.6-liter, AWD-equipped Carrera 4S of 1996-’98, distinguished by its Turbo-style wide body and ground effects, hollow-spoke 18-inch Turbo alloy wheels, and Turbo chassis with red-painted four-piston calipers. A rear-wheel-drive Carrera S version, new for 1997, looked like the C4S save for its uniquely styled retractable rear wing. Also in that year’s production was the aerodynamically optimized, high-specification 911 Turbo S, which put 424 horsepower–24 more than normal out of the twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter engine for U.S. models–to the ground through all four wheels.

When the water-cooled 996-generation 911 debuted, the Super designation appended the 2002-’04 Carrera 4S and the 2005 911 Turbo S: both followed tradition with the former blending a naturally aspirated engine with the Turbo body and chassis, and the latter featuring more power, more luxury features, and the availability of both coupe and Cabriolet body styles. The advent of the 997-generation car brought back the wide-body Carrera S and Carrera 4S, the S available in coupe and Cabriolet forms and the 4S as a coupe, Cabriolet, or Targa. Today’s standard production twin-turbocharged 992 911, soon to be a bona fide collectible, is Super in rear-drive Carrera S, all-wheel-drive Carrera 4S, and flagship Turbo S forms.

Hemmings is your first stop to find your favorite 911 S variants, Porsche parts, and repair specialists.

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