Porsche 901
The 911 began as the 901: a sleek 2+2 with a new flat-six engine behind its rear wheels.
Porsche 901 prototype at Pebble Beach Concours 2023.jpg · Prova MO · CC BY-SA 4.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Porsche unveiled the Type 901 at Frankfurt's IAA on September 12, 1963 as the successor to the 356. Series production did not begin until September 1964, so this is a launch-story profile rather than a claimed 1963 customer car. Peugeot's rights to three-digit names with a zero in the middle prompted Porsche to rename it 911 soon after production began. The basic rear-engine, air-cooled flat-six idea defined the model for decades.
Look a little closer.
Changing one digit—from 901 to 911—created one of the best-known car names in the world.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A 1963 debut, not a 1963 production run
The public first saw the 901 in September 1963. Porsche says production began on September 14, 1964 and the 911 name followed shortly afterward. Joyride keeps the show debut separate from manufacture.
Source: Porsche Newsroom · first-generation 911 ↗A newly engineered flat-six
The 1,991 cc engine used one chain-driven overhead camshaft in each cylinder head and dry-sump lubrication. It made 130 hp while staying compact enough for Porsche's rear-engine layout.
Source: Porsche Newsroom · from Type 754 to 901 and 911 ↗More useful than the 356
The 901 added two fold-down rear seats and a larger front luggage area while keeping a low sports-car silhouette. It was planned as a 2+2 that could still be used every day.
Source: Porsche Newsroom · 60 years of the 911 ↗Where these facts come from
- Porsche Newsroom · first-generation 911
- Porsche Newsroom · 901 engineering history
- Porsche News historical specifications
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.