If you’re a car guy and a Porsche fanatic (is there any other kind?), then you’ll be saddened to hear that Ferdinand A. Porsche III, the designer of the 911 and other road and race cars, died April 5 in Salzburg, Austria at 76. Nicknamed "Butzi’ (boot-see) by his family to distinguish him from his father and grandfather who were also named Ferdinand, he also designed the 904 Carrera GTS, Porsche’s first fiberglass-bodied design, which was among the last dual purpose machine (road car, race car) in the company lineup until the factory began hot-rodding the 911 in the mid-1960s. But it’s the 911 (originally called the Type 901), which put the company on the map as production cars go, and is arguably the most recognizable and long-lasting design ever conceived, as it’s about to turn 60. After leaving Porsche in 1972, he started Porsche Design, which designs everything from sunglasses to speedboats.
Having owned two “poor mans Porsches” (a 912 and a 914) I do appreciate the car and the man who designed it.
I actually prefer the design of the Cayman…I just need to add on a fourth stall…
edit: And you’d think after that I could spell “Porsche” correctly!
Looks correctly spelled to me. Or did ya fix it? 
Actually, I am so used to typing Porsche that when I attempt to write “porch,” while discussing models, I write porsche. Old habits die hard.
I like the Cayman too, but in a different way. It’s more compact, livlier and looks a lot like the 550 Spyder-based coupes of that era, as it’s meant to. But the 911 has, and will continue to have, more power because the company philosophy (and I’ve been told that by them repeatedly) is that the Cayman/Boxster will never usurp the 911. Truth be told, if it got more power and stuff, it would probably run circles around the 911. Still, I love the new one (the Type 991) and every time I see one of their ads, I foam at the mouth. Unfortunately, unless we change our lifestyle, I’ll have to settle for my old 1967 911.
I to like the Potsche. All I need is to add the fourth wallet.
I fixed it!
I know the Cayman will never beat the 911 but I think you are right, more power and it might just do it. The Corvette will always be the fastest Chev for the same reason, corporate policy.
I am admittedly a shallow guy when it comes to cars, I rank looks above performance…It’s the reason why I bought a Solstice instead of a Boxster. The Cayman just has “that look” for me. It may just be enough to push the Sol out of the garage.
I’ll still rather get my hands on the 550 spyder or a 356. But an older 911 or 912 would be fine with me. I like the older versions.
Yeah, Victor, the older Porsche models are pretty clean (no safety bumpers, etc) and kinda tidy looking. And they are finally starting to appreciate in value, which would be good news if I ever were to sell mine. I would probably be able to double or triple my money with an average car, not one restored to mint condition. However, what I could kick myself over is not bying a Ferrari when they were cheap. Over at Cycle World, back in the 70s, we had an ad stroke (that’s what ya call advertising salesmen) who had his 275GTB on the market for $8,000. Shoulda bought it because today, even though these are not the rarest Ferraris, you’re looking at in the hundred of thousands (not being a Ferrari guy I don’t know an actual price). But my biggest regret was not buying a GTO (39 or so built), which you could have had for $12,000 to $18,000 back then. At the height of the market when the Japanese collectors were buying everything with a prancing horse, these cars were selling for the multi millions. Even today, they are up in that range. But then, I didn’t have the kind of money it would have taken to buy them.