Porsche 911: The Definitive History 1997 to 2005 (Updated and Enlarged Edition)

Now in paperback! The fifth volume in Brian Long’s series chronicling, in definitive depth, the history of the evergreen Porsche 911, from the earliest design studies to the water-cooled cars of today. This newly updated and enlarged 2nd edition looks at each 911 model and its derivatives, taking in the various specials and competition cars along the way, and includes the 996 models up to 2005. Historical facts, full model specifications and racing history are covered in great detail. This book is beautifully illustrated throughout, with full colour photographs, official brochures and advertising. A must-have part of the ultimate Porsche library, this book covers the models from 1997 to 2005, and the complete series covers decades of progress from the earliest design studies to the era of the water-cooled cars.

Table of Contents:
Introduction & Acknowledgements 4 Chapter 1 A brief history of Porsche 5 The legendary 356 7 Porsche in competition 10 356 developments 13 Chapter 2 The early 911 models 15 The Type 901 16 One era ends, another begins 18 Racing news 18 The Targa model 19 The 911S 21 Progress of the 911 series 21 The B-Serie models 21 A joint project with VW 22 The 2.2-litre cars 24 Porsche in competition 24 The 2.4-litre range 25 Corporate matters 25 914 developments 26 A 911 update 27 Stark reality 28 A turbocharged future 29 End of the 914 29 The 924 30 The 911 line matures 31 The 1978 model year 32 The evergreen 911 32 Company politics 32 The 944 34 A new star in Frankfurt 34 The Carrera name revived 34 End of an era 36 The 911 story continues 36 The 959 project 36 The 1987 model year 37 The 1988 season 38 Boardroom drama 39 959 update & a new 4WD car 39 Matters of the moment 41 Competition news 41 The 1989 season 43 The 964 series 43 A new RS 43 The 968 44 More 964 models 44 Zuffenhausen blues 44 End of the line 45 A truly modern 911 45 The GT2 & RS 46 The 1996 model year 46 Links with a Stuttgart neighbour 47 A final fling 47 Chapter 3 The 996 series 48 Importance of the 996 50 The production body 51 Engine & transmission details 59 The 996’s underpinnings 63 Testing, testing ... 63 Initial press reaction 67 The home market 68 The new car in America 69 A new drophead 71 The rhd markets 77 The 1998 racing season 80 The death of Ferry Porsche 91 Chapter 4 Establishing the new breed 92 The 996 Carrera 4 93 American review 106 Other major export markets 106 The 1999 Geneva Show 113 1999 competition update 116 The 2000 model year 117 Stateside news 122 The right hookers 122 Chapter 5 A new turbocharged era begins 125 A new Turbo 125 Turbo exports 127 Racing in Y2K 132 News from Zuffenhausen 134 The GT2 144 The US 2001 model year 148 Rhd market review 148 Competition update 149 Chapter 6 Still a star attraction at forty 155 The new Carreras 157 The new C4S & Targa variants 162 News from Germany 163 America’s 2002 season 165 The UK, Japan & Australia 165 2002 competition review 175 The 2003 model year 176 The 2003 911 range 178 The new GT3 178 American news 182 The right hookers (rhd) 184 Racing update 184 The Carrera 4S & Turbo Cabriolets 190 The GT3RS 190 Other 2004 MY news 193 Export market review 196 2004 racing … and rallying 200 A 2005 model year preview 201 New Porsche 911 revealed 203 Swansong 206 The export markets 206 2005 racing review 208 Appendix I Year-by-year range details 213 Appendix II Engine specifications 215 Appendix III Chassis numbers & production figures 217 Index 223

About the Author :
Born in Coventry, the heart of Britain's motor industry, Brian comes from a family with a proud heritage in the automotive and aviation fields. He trained as a mechanical engineer, and worked for a time at his father's garage. Brian became heavily involved in the classic car scene at 19, and says he turned to writing by accident. He now writes full-time and, since 1990, when his first book was released, he has had over 80 titles published. Brian and his wife, Miho, have two children, Louis and Sophie-Mercedes. They currently live in Chiba, close to Tokyo, where they can enjoy life with their Dobermann and a Thoroughbred racehorse, now retired from the tracks.