11-27-2017, 12:51 PM
for the past few years, I've been doing a lot of research on the 968's development history, specifically from a design standpoint. I wanted to share with you all an observation I've made recently regarding the 993 and the 968 because there's some cloudiness regarding which of the two, stylistically, was developed first.
I took a few nose shots of our 968 and 993 from above (from the same vantage point) because I wanted to see just how similar the two shapes were. I took half of the 993 and spliced it to the opposite half of the 968, the results were interesting...take a look.
when you consider where Porsche styling was headed, there's no denying that the origin, or DNA, of these two models was borne from Aufstragnummer (order number) 965. out of respect for the forum's position on copyrighted material, I can't share the developmental images I have from Porsche. I will say that, save for a few details, the similarities are striking.
the 965 was destined to replace the 911 (930) Turbo. it's development was taking place alongside the 964 beginning on the 27th of April, 1984. Porsche stylists were borrowing a lot of cues from the 959 since this car was the foundation for Porsche's "look" going into the 90s.
Dick Söderberg, who designed the 959 (and A LOT of other Porsches he's not given credit for journalistically), was primarily in charge of the 965's design which took place during the changing of the guard in the studio. Tony Lapine was on his way out in '87 when Lagaaij stepped in. Tony Hatter, the 993's designer, worked along Söderberg on the 965. but by 1988, it was decided the 965 had become to expensive to build at a time when Porsche couldn't really afford to take such risks...so it was killed.
Lagaaij pulled Hatter away from a few projects (including this one) he was working on to focus on the 964's replacement, the 993. this happened in 1989 that's when development of the 993 officially started; it was slated for launch in 1993 which is why its Aufstragnummer was 993. if you've ever wondered why it's called the 993, this was the reason.
this is where details become sketchy.
the 968's face (styling) was inspired by the 965; this was taking place in 1989. so as it goes, the 968's design and development was already being finalized by the time the 993's shape was being penned. the irony here is that by the time the design went from the 993's tail to the doors, its budget had been cut...it was decided then that the 993 would use the roof, hood, and doors from the 964...they'd have to figure out the nose of the 993 somehow with this in mind. and where would they get that face? that's right, the 968.
did these cuts in the 993's development costs mean that it may have had a slightly different nose then was produced had more funds been available? it's possible, but in the end, the 968's looks proved the best solution which prompted Ferry to ask, "What happened to the 911's front fenders?"
ask the 965.
<del>el jëfe</del>
below is the superimposed image of the 993 and 968.
I took a few nose shots of our 968 and 993 from above (from the same vantage point) because I wanted to see just how similar the two shapes were. I took half of the 993 and spliced it to the opposite half of the 968, the results were interesting...take a look.
when you consider where Porsche styling was headed, there's no denying that the origin, or DNA, of these two models was borne from Aufstragnummer (order number) 965. out of respect for the forum's position on copyrighted material, I can't share the developmental images I have from Porsche. I will say that, save for a few details, the similarities are striking.
the 965 was destined to replace the 911 (930) Turbo. it's development was taking place alongside the 964 beginning on the 27th of April, 1984. Porsche stylists were borrowing a lot of cues from the 959 since this car was the foundation for Porsche's "look" going into the 90s.
Dick Söderberg, who designed the 959 (and A LOT of other Porsches he's not given credit for journalistically), was primarily in charge of the 965's design which took place during the changing of the guard in the studio. Tony Lapine was on his way out in '87 when Lagaaij stepped in. Tony Hatter, the 993's designer, worked along Söderberg on the 965. but by 1988, it was decided the 965 had become to expensive to build at a time when Porsche couldn't really afford to take such risks...so it was killed.
Lagaaij pulled Hatter away from a few projects (including this one) he was working on to focus on the 964's replacement, the 993. this happened in 1989 that's when development of the 993 officially started; it was slated for launch in 1993 which is why its Aufstragnummer was 993. if you've ever wondered why it's called the 993, this was the reason.
this is where details become sketchy.
the 968's face (styling) was inspired by the 965; this was taking place in 1989. so as it goes, the 968's design and development was already being finalized by the time the 993's shape was being penned. the irony here is that by the time the design went from the 993's tail to the doors, its budget had been cut...it was decided then that the 993 would use the roof, hood, and doors from the 964...they'd have to figure out the nose of the 993 somehow with this in mind. and where would they get that face? that's right, the 968.
did these cuts in the 993's development costs mean that it may have had a slightly different nose then was produced had more funds been available? it's possible, but in the end, the 968's looks proved the best solution which prompted Ferry to ask, "What happened to the 911's front fenders?"
ask the 965.
<del>el jëfe</del>
below is the superimposed image of the 993 and 968.
(This post was last modified: 11-27-2017, 05:23 PM by dianeandpablo.)
