Porsche Icons: Air Brigade Choices for Classic Porsche Icons

Porsche has released a video of Patrick Long sharing thoughts on what Porsche believes are the great American Porsche icons. They include the: 1) Porsche 356 Speedster, 2) Porsche America Roadster, 3) Porsche RS America, 4) Porsche 917/10 race car and 5) Porsche 934 race car

These are terrific Porsches, and Air Brigade can appreciate the five models chosen but what about the icons for the average Porsche Classic owner and driver. Porsche focused on models produced just for the American market, Air Brigade is focusing on the Porsche Classic air-cooled models that are obtainable for the American buyer like you and me.

Here are the Air Brigade Porsche air-cooled icons in our opinion.

1. Porsche 356

2. Porsche 911

3. Porsche 912

4. Porsche 911SC

5. Porsche Carrera 3.2

Porsche 356C

The Porsche 356 started it all so you have to start the list with this one. Air Brigade chose the C because it is the most developed of the 356’s and is still within reach if you choose a coupe. We all love a cab in 356’s but they have gotten expensive. The 356C Coupe will provide you with the classic shape and provide a driving experience of an early Porsche with the four-cylinder air-cooled engine.

Porsche 911 Targa

Prices have cooled off a little bit for the early air-cooled Porsches so you can still acquire a 1970 – 1972 Porsche 911T in the $50,000 - $100,000 range. The early-70’s 911’s will give you a reliable drive in a little more powerful car as the “new 911” now offered a six-cylinder engine with 2.0, 2,2 and 2.4 liter engines.

Porsche 912

The affordable option for those who want the 911 body style but don’t require the power of a six cylinder will put the Porsche 912 on the iconic list. It retained the four cylinder air-cooled engine but offered it in the 911-body style. At the recent Monterey Collector Car Auctions, quality Porsche 912’s were selling in the $40-$50,000 range.

Porsche 911SC

The fourth model of Porsche Icons is the 911SC. In 1978 Porsche introduced the SC (Super Carrera) with a 3.0 engine and the optional whaletail that set the design look for Porsche in the late-70’s and 80’s. This model is available in both coupe and targa models though a cabriolet was offered in 1983 for the first time in the Porsche lineup since the 356 version. With a little work and patience you can still find a good 911SC in the $35-$45,000 range. This is a model that is often overlooked but provides terrific value in air-cooled Porsches.

Porsche Carrera 3.2

The final Porsche icon for Air Brigade is the Porsche Carrera 3.2 introduced in 1984 as the last version of the original 911 series but with new body styling, electronics and braking technology. ABS did not come into the line until the 964 but braking was dramatically improved in the new Carrera. The Porsche Carrera was offered in Coupe, Targa and Cabriolet versions that are available in the price range of $40 -$60,000 depending on the model and condition of the car.

So, who is right: Porsche or Air Brigade? American icons or Porsche icons?

Appendix

To view the Porsche video featuring Patrick Long sharing Porsche’s American icons visit their site on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQgZRLNGIRg&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1YFIZyfPFhS7VWtYRIh4gKCciGhvkMljhxPiISab4tYOoSYbgAJr24W0U