Customer Reviews

Porsche 911 Story: The Entire Development History

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The author really knows these cars. He's owned them, driven them, and even raced them for the factory.

There's a huge amount of technical information, but its presented in a informative and well-written way. The chapter on engine development is worth the price of the book alone; every design change is described and explained.

Perhaps the only critisism is that Paul Frere likes the 911 too much. The disasterious self-leveling suspension episode isn't really mentioned, nor are the many problems that have occured with the 2.7 litre cars in the hotter climates of the USA.

Overall this is a great book; if you have any technical interest at all 911s, this is the book to get.

No living automotive author can match the elegance and technical depth of Paul Frere's writing. Accordingly, only Frere could produce such a book as this, dense with minute technical detail, yet balanced with a broad view of how Porsche designed, raced, and evolved the 911.

The look on Frere's face as he sits in his own Carrera (in the color photograph section of the book) says it all: the 911 is a singular automobile, and this is the author to tell its story.

This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in a technical overview on the evolution of the Porsche 911. Chapters include topics such as engine, transmission, and body evolution. Well illustrated and written by a true expert in the field. Excellent appendixes with comparison tables of every aspect of the car you can think of. A must read if you are considering purchasing a 911.

THE book for any fan of the 911. Frere's engineering knowledge combined with his racing experience mixed with his close relationship with the Porsche Factory makes this book the reference for all things 911. Mr. Frere's writing style is easy to read while containing vast amounts of detail and content. If I had one criticism or suggestion, it would be to rewrite the book in one cohesive style. Since the book has gone through 6 editions, the information on the later cars has been patched onto the existing manuscript. A total rewrite would allow Mr. Frere to integrate every aspect of the 911 evolution. It would give the book a seamless flow and greater continuity. With the end of the air cooled cars, now is the time for that rewrite.

Great book for any Porsche entusiast. Excellent coverage on the engines types, changes to body, suspensions, etc. If you want to get technical the infomration is also there. If you love Porsche this is a book to have!

I've read them all, and this is by far the most comprehensive and well written book on the 911.

The information in this book is detailed and extensive. However I prefer a model by model organization of material but instead the author has chosen to organize by Engine, Transmission, Body, etc. This make the material really hard to use when you are trying to compare a car of a particular year with another. You are constantly switching between chapters of Engine, Transmission, etc. I also was disappointed by the sparse use of photographs. This books looks like it started out a long time ago and has been added to through the years without rethinking the layout of the information.

By contrast, the book on the Porsche Boxster by the same author has a much better organization by chronlogical introduction of the different models. Within each chapter are the details on changes to the engine, transmission, body, etc. The pictures are also much better.

Its simple. No one knows more about Porsche's that Frere. This book is incredible rich in detail and a great resource. Its not like the other books, which might look good on a coffee table but lack substance. This is THE book for Porsche. Make no mistake.

This is a great book! Engine changes including horsepower and torque curves are shown. Colorful anecdotes are laced within the thorough technical detail. Body, interior, and suspension are also covered.

If you are not really looking for a "911 story", but for a "911 development story", as the subtitle properly says, this book is probably what you are looking for.

The book is very complete from the technical point of view. I doubt that there might be on the market another book able to rival its level of technical depth.

Just do not buy it thinking that this is simply a "911 story" in the conventional meaning of the word, because it is not. Too technical and fragmented, it looks at times more like a collection of specialised monographies than an organic "history" of the car.
It is as if one would read several books, written in succession (which is, in a sense, the case).

The numerous and ponderous appendices also show that the theme is not dealt with in an organic way, and information is often scattered here and there.

These little remarks notwithstanding, the book will certainly satisfy those in need of a book with a high level of technical information about the 911.