Porsche to mark 70 years in Oz with unique model

PORSCHE Cars Australia (PCA) has announced it will be launching a new limited-edition sportscar Down Under next year to commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the brand arriving in Australia.

Just 25 examples of the new mystery sportscar will make it to showrooms with the only detail revealed thus far being that all units will be finished in ‘Fish Silver Grey Metallic’ paint in a nod to the original fish silver grey 356 Cabriolet – the first Porsche to be offered locally.

While the commemorative car’s identity is being kept closely under wraps, there are really only two plausible possibilities; a 911 or 718.

More specifically though, we expect the model in question to be some sort of cabriolet or Targa – most likely a 911 – given the link to the aforementioned fish silver grey 356 Cabriolet, however comments made by Porsche executives in Germany also open the door for a possible Speedster.

“Porsche and Australia have a close bond and tradition and Australians love our

sportscars, especially the iconic Porsche 911,” Porsche AG executive board member for sales and marketing Detlev von Platen said.

“Our Australian fans are keen on everything Porsche’s DNA is about: sportiness, performance and an emotional design – this hasn’t changed in seven decades.”

According to a brand spokesperson, the project has involved almost every aspect of the Porsche brand, including the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur department, the Style Porsche design team and PCA.

Style Porsche director of special projects Grant Larson said the project had been an exciting one “to work on for everyone here in Stuttgart” and that the mystery model would be “based on an iconic, modern Porsche sportscar, but with a nod to the very first car” shipped to Australia in 1951.

While the 718 is undoubtedly a competent sportscar, it fails to compare as an icon to the 911 which has been offered in Australia since 1965.

Further conclusions can be drawn from the promotional images shared by PCA showing Mr Larson holding a silver moulding of what we suspect to be the car in question, the proportions (short rear end) of which resemble the rear-engined 911 far closer than the mid-engined 718.

Regardless of which model the mystery car turns out to be, PCA CEO and managing director Sam Curtis was excited about the upcoming milestone and the launch of the commemorative model.

“Australia holds a special place in the history of Porsche,” he said.

“2021 will be a special year for Porsche enthusiasts. It is fitting that we will celebrate 70 years in Australia just as we launch the Taycan, our first all-electric Porsche sportscar and a signal of the future of the brand.”

PCA has sold 3850 new cars so far this year ending November, just 47 units (1.2 per cent) down on the 3897 it shifted over the same period last year.