The Porsche Club of America, Upper Canada Region (PCA UCR) Concours D’Elegance is a showcase of the finest cars from the German automaker over the years. It was a rare opportunity to see Porsche’s that range from the mid-60s all the way to cars that you will find at the dealership today.
PCA UCR Concours D’Elegance – A Porsche Gathering of All Ages
The Porsche Concours D’Elegance is organized by the PCA UCR. The event is open to all spectators, but entry into the Concours competition is limited only to Porsche cars.
All factory built Porsche’s models, including the Cayenne and Panamera, are qualified for peer judged awards. However, only the classics are eligible for the UCR club judged awards.
Vintage Porsche – 356, and Early 911
This 1964 356 C immediately caught my attention when I walked onto the field at Simeon Park. I wasn’t the only one mesmerized by its beauty; it was constantly surrounded throughout the day.
It didn’t look like a museum car and that’s exactly what made it so charming. This particular car looked like it has been driven every day since it left the factory floor. Imagine the stories a car like this must have!
A pair of pristine 912 and 911T are the only competitors in the next class. These cars were marketed as the entry level models at the time. The 4-cylinder 912 came first in 1965. Eventually it was made redundant by the 911T which had a less powerful version of the flat 6.
Interestingly, Porsche just announced the resurrection of the 911T nameplate for 2018. The Carrera T will be offered as a lightweight performance trim level of the lineup, bridging the gap between the base Carrera and the GTS.
Considering how prevalent turbocharged 4 cylinder engines have become, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a flat 4 powered 911 in the future, similar in concept to the 912.
The Golden Era of the Air-Cooled Porsche 911 – 930, 964 and 993
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the 911 Turbo stood at the top of the food chain. Even though Porsche had a lot of experience with turbo racecars, the 930 was actually their first turbocharged 911 roadcar. Who could have guessed that the entire 911 lineup (except the GT3) would eventually become turbocharged?
There seems to be a debate among 911 aficionados regarding the model designation of the 1989-1994 Turbo. The documentation refer to the car as a 964, but there are many parts that were stamped with the 965 designation instead.
Being the last of the air-cooled 911, the 993 has become increasingly valuable over the years. This 1995 example is modeled after the Carrera RS Clubsport, a lightweight track special much like the modern GT3.
Supercar Performance – Introduction of High Tech Water-Cooled 911
Fast forward to today, the 991 generation Turbo S is one of the fastest production cars money can buy. Armed with all-wheel-drive, sticky rubber, PDK paddle shifter, sophisticated launch control system and a 580hp engine sitting in the rear, the 2017 911 Turbo S can launch from 0-60mph in merely 2.5 seconds.
The most impressive thing about the modern day 911 Turbo is that they offer supercar performance while maintaining all the comforts of a daily driver. They are positioned more as a high performance grand touring car compared to the track focused GT3 and GT2 variants.
One of the cars Downtown Porsche showed off was this gorgeous Miami Blue 911. This may very well be my colour of choice for the 991!
Evolution of the Mid-Engined Porsche Sportscars – 914, Boxter and Cayman
Before the Boxter, Porsche had already produced a mid-engined entry level sportscar called the 914. Produced from 1969-1976, the 914/6 only made 109 hp out of a 2.0L flat 6 borrowed from the 911T. Less powerful 914/4 variants existed as well.
In contrast, Porsche has slowly begun unleashing the potential of their MR platforms. The Cayman GT4 is the best example, packing a slightly detuned naturally aspirated 3.8L flat 6 from the 911 Carrera S (991.1).
The 991.2 Carrera, 718 Cayman and Boxter have all moved to turbo motors. It seems like Porsche will have no choice but to put the 4.0L from the 911 GT3 into the next generation GT4, making it a formidable rival to its bigger brothers.
Closing
From the classic 356 C to the sophisticated 991 Turbos and everything else in between, it was truly delightful to witness the evolution of Porsche over the past decades.
A special thanks to Porsche classic specialist Jay Lloyds for inviting me to the PCA UCR Concours D’Elegance this year. Even though he did not enter his 934 Gulf Racing tribute car this year, it was definitely one of my favourite cars of the day.
If you like the classics, be sure to check out our upcoming special feature of Jay Lloyds KlassiX and his meticulously built 934.
Make sure to check out the Porsche Club of America – Upper Canada Region chapter if you are a Porsche owner in the Greater Toronto Area. They bring enthusiasts together by hosting events such as meets, cruises and autocross throughout the year.