The history of the widebody Porsche 911

You can thank the gorgeous 1973 Carrera 2.7 RS for kicking off this fabulous look, swiftly followed by the RSR in ’74. By adding a little more metal these cars could carry more rubber, meaning better handling and faster lap times. The aesthetics? Almost a happy by-product. When the 911 Turbo burst on to the scene in 1975, complete with wings, wheels and spoilers, the die was cast for almost all range topping 911s to have a more ample derriere.

The ’80s saw a trend for narrow body cars being widened by third party coach builders for this desirable look, causing the factory to jump on its own bandwagon and offer enthusiasts the chance to create a ‘Turbo look’ thanks to the M491 package. Originally a neat conversion, by 1986 the factory was offering a full ‘side in’ upgrade for those who wanted to enjoy the best of both worlds. Cynics might argue that it was a sign of the times, offering pure visual excess with ‘all mouth and no trousers’, but some feel these are among the finest Porsches ever made.

Since then, the widening stick has been Porsche’s go-to whenever it’s looked to create either more visual drama (think Speedster, Sports Classic, 991 R et al) or better perceived value and showroom appeal as with cars such as the 997 GTS and 993 Carrera S in this feature. To most, they’re the prettiest of all the 911s, offering the nicest proportions, the best stance and most imposing road presence.