Owning an air-cooled 911, like any serious relationship – has its ups and downs. It takes sacrifice and humbleness. But the relationship rewards in ways that aren’t easily confined to words. The air-cooled Porsches have long-since attained a must-drive status, so much so that they have entered parody status. Nevertheless, the joys of owning this classic sports car are the kind worth experiencing and rarely surpassed. 

Like all older cars, vintage 911s are fairly easy to work on. This is especially true since the air-cooled engines have no radiator or coolant plumbing (obviously). This means fewer connections and joints that can leak, fewer components to replace, and a somewhat more accessible engine bay. One of the greatest advantages old 911s have over just about any other vintage sportscar is the unique fact that the platform hardly changed from 1964 to 1989. A majority of the parts across all the decades are as interchangeable as Legos. This also means that finding and buying parts is easy. Note I did not say inexpensive. This isn’t a VW bug, and the “Porsche Tax” is very real. 

Once you’ve bought your parts, finding the information and knowledge to tackle wrenching jobs for yourself is easy. There are how-to books, forums like Pelican Parts and Rennlist, and ample YouTube videos to walk you through changing a fuse or rebuilding an engine. If you still get in over your head, finding a reputable repair shop will be critical. Luckily, locating one is a lot easier than trial-and-error. The Porsche Club of America (PCA) is a great resource for finding local shops that can be trusted. Oftentimes, high-quality shops are local PCA chapter sponsors or host meetings at their facility. Browsing through your local PCA website should reveal who the best shops in your area are. The aforementioned forums are also a great place to ask about shops near you that other owners have had experience with. Lastly, there are always the secret “Porsche whisperer” shops that you can only get into with a referral. These seem to be all over, and if you can get in to one of these, you’ll have a lifelong mechanic you can trust. 

While the car is in the shop and all torn apart, it’s also a good time to think about modifications. Air-cooled 911s evolved constantly over their 34 years. Engine displacements grew, oil circulation improved, and fueling systems went from carburation, to mechanical injection, to electronic injection. Depending on the generation of 911 you have, there are categories of must-do modifications, should do modifications, and money-is-no-object modifications. All are thoroughly documented in forums and the standard how-to books focused on 911s. Body modifications are generally as easy as swapping one generation’s parts onto your car, with the current obsession being a “long hood backdate.” The interior is also easily interchangeable between the generations, enabling you to craft just the look you are going for. 

One thing your modifications will be unlikely to solve is the one problem that plagues all air-cooled cars – leaks. All vintage Porsches leak. It’s inevitable, but a drop or two per day is no reason for concern. If your garage floor looks like a black and grey Jackson Pollock after a single weekend, then you can start considering rebuilding or resealing your engine. Anything less, and just tighten up any suspect hoses, replace simple items you think might be leaking, and just enjoy the car. 

Enjoying is the whole point of these cars, and you’ll have no problem giving yourself broad smiles when you’re on the road. The air-cooled Porsche’s whole reason for existence is enjoyment. The cornering performance and lightweight nature are addicting, and the soundtrack is unmistakable. Before you carve corners too aggressively, make sure you are insured properly. The name brand insurance houses can certainly protect your car, but they will likely be more expensive and less tailored to your needs. Look for insurance from Hagerty, Heackock, or Chubb. All offer agreed-value classic car insurance that will be both inexpensive and customized to vintage automobiles. Many also come with free towing and parts replacement coverage. 

When you’re up and running, you get to enjoy the second-best part of 911 ownership – the abundant groups and organizations. Both formal and informal, these collections of like-minded enthusiasts are everywhere and make Porsche ownership a community activity. These are people who will help keep you on the road and provide endless motivation to get out and drive.

Much has been made of old 911s and their peculiar driving dynamics. Having the engine hang out behind the rear tires certainly makes a vehicle behave differently from a big V8 out front. The perennial boogeyman, snap oversteer, is certainly a concern but should only occur at the ragged limit of the cars capabilities. In 5 years of ownership and countless hard mountain drives, I’ve never encountered it. Chalk that up to Porsche’s superlative capabilities, and of course my otherworldly driving skills…

Air-cooled Porsches are popular because they are iconic, they are beautiful, the rich and famous have owned them, but mostly because they are very very good. Owning a vintage 911 is certainly a relationship that takes commitment, but the experience rewards and gratifies you every time you get behind the wheel. 

Interested in a day behind the wheel of a classic air-cooled 911? We have just the experience for you! Registration is now open for our Porsche 930 Driving Experience.