In 1967, the primordial Porsche 911 Carrera T was free of luxuries such as electronic fuel injection, power windows, and headrests. Its roughly $6000 price tag made it reasonable. The 110 horsepower from its air-cooled flat-six engine made it gentle.

The Porsche 911 entered the hybrid era for the 2025 model year, but it hasn’t given up the keys to its old place in the gas-powered era. In fact, the latest 911 in the family looks directly to that past for inspiration.

It’s cute to see what happens when you threaten to take something away. After years of lazy two-footers, the realization that H-gates might not be long for this electrifying world sent Porsche buyers into a frenzy.

Championships on two continents made the Penske Porsche 963 a clear winner in 2024. Next up: plans to catch Ferrari and win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.